Kreider Confirms Montreal Once Again A Desired NHL Destination
The Montreal Canadiens remain one of the world’s most successful sports franchises. Yet for years, top players steered clear of the organization after it lost the lustre of its glorious past.
That perception has changed, as the comments of the team’s newest member, veteran forward Chris Kreider, make clear.
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“Pretty amazing,” exclaimed Kreider at the team’s yearly golf tournament. “It’s a pretty iconic logo. I’m thrilled to be here.”
While the Canadiens were aggressive in recruiting him once he and the Anaheim Ducks agreed to a mutual contract termination, it was the former New York Rangers forward who first approached the Habs.
Familiarity with head coach Martin St-Louis and president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton certainly helped. In the end, though, the decision came down to what drives most hockey players: the chance to win games in front of passionate fans.
“Everything that they’re doing here, that they’ve been doing for many years now,” explained Kreider when asked why he picked the Canadiens. “The culture that they built, the group that they have, obviously it’s a pretty big hockey city. The passion! I tried to explain to some of my friends that it’s not just a sport here, it’s a religion. It’s a pretty amazing place to get an opportunity to play.”
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Beyond their clear upward trajectory, Montreal’s team-first approach is also turning heads around the NHL. Their recent playoff run, in particular, added extra shine to the appeal of playing at the Bell Centre.
“I think the skill, the speed, especially watching them in the playoffs as well,” said Kreider. “They connected as a group. There’s a pack mentality. It’s a really tight group, you can tell it’s a team.
“[Even if] you get a lot of skilled individuals on a team, you don’t necessarily get a team. But this is truly a team. They seem to really care about each other. It’s a special thing, it’s a hard thing to create, and it’s something they’ve cultivated here.”
While local fans are already convinced something special is happening with this lineup, it is encouraging to hear that the perception extends well beyond the island.
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Much of the credit belongs to the management group. However, having an outstanding leader in place has been crucial. Without Nick Suzuki at the helm, it is difficult to imagine how the rebuild would have unfolded.
The odds are strong that it would have hit more roadblocks, along with an unhealthy dose of drama, which is often par for the course in a hockey-crazed market.
Simply put, due to strong leadership at all levels, the Canadiens are in the midst of one of the fastest and most efficient rebuilds in NHL history, one that has quickly transformed the perception of the team from a has-been franchise into a true destination organization.
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