The Anaheim Ducks may be trying to move money, and Chris Kreider has suddenly become one of the most interesting names on the board.
According to David Pagnotta, Anaheim is willing to attach a second-round pick to any team that takes on one of its expensive contracts, and Kreider is among the players available. That means a club could land a proven veteran scorer and get a draft pick as part of the deal.
That kind of setup is rare, and it puts the Montreal Canadiens in the conversation. Coming off a 106-point season and carrying plenty of salary cap space, Montreal is positioned to make a move like this if it wants to.
Kreider is not being treated like a player on the decline, either. He scored 22 goals and 50 points last season, and his track record still carries real weight. He has made a living by camping in front of the net, tipping pucks and creating havoc around the crease, the sort of presence that can tilt playoff hockey.
His $6.5 million cap hit is the obvious hurdle, but Anaheim’s willingness to include a pick changes the equation fast. Kreider scored 52 goals a few seasons ago, then followed that with 36 goals in 2023 and 39 goals in 2024. On top of that, his contract expires next summer, so any team taking him on would not be signing up for a long-term commitment.
Pagnotta also mentioned two other Ducks who are available for free: Alex Killorn and Frank Vatrano. They are not as appealing as Kreider, though. Killorn finished with 33 points, while Vatrano managed just 9 points in 50 games.
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