For a long stretch, the Montreal Canadiens were trying to sell a future. Now they may finally be able to sell the present.
Chris Kreider’s move to Montreal is about more than adding a veteran winger. The bigger story is that Kreider reportedly reached out about the possibility of joining the Canadiens, which says plenty about how the organization is being viewed around the league.
That’s a meaningful shift for a franchise that spent years wondering if its rebuild would ever make it an appealing landing spot for established NHL players. Montreal has always had the history, the fan base and one of the biggest stages in hockey.
But those things only go so far. Winning is what changes minds.
Kreider’s interest matters because of who he is and where he’s been. He spent most of his career with the New York Rangers, another Original Six team, and he has seen his share of playoff hockey. He also has obvious history with the Canadiens, and Montreal fans haven’t forgotten his collision with Carey Price during the 2014 Eastern Conference Final.
Still, the more important point is that the Canadiens were not the side doing all the persuading here. Kreider saw Montreal as a place worth choosing. For a veteran with that kind of background, that is a real sign of progress.
The Canadiens are no longer just pitching what they might become someday. They can point to what they already have.
Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson give Montreal a young core that looks capable of growing together for a long time. After another step forward in 2025-26, the expectations around the team have clearly changed.
That change matters because it alters the kind of conversations Montreal can have with players. During most of the rebuild, Kent Hughes was building through trades, the draft and lower-risk bets on younger players who needed a bigger opportunity.
That’s the standard path for a team coming up from the bottom. Proven veterans usually want to land with clubs already in the contender category.
Montreal is starting to edge into that group.
The Canadiens’ progress over the past few seasons has shifted the perception of the team. This is still a young roster, but it is no longer being treated like one that is years away from mattering. The group has already shown it can compete, and its best players are either entering their primes or still getting better.
That also makes Montreal more attractive on a practical level. A veteran joining now does not have to arrive as the player carrying everything. Kreider can fit alongside the existing core, bring experience, and give the Canadiens another scoring option while playing meaningful hockey.
There’s another layer here for Hughes, too. Kreider’s decision is a win for the organization as much as it is for the player.
When Hughes arrived, the Canadiens were near the bottom of the standings and had plenty of ground to make up. The mission was never only about collecting prospects.
It was about building something that could win consistently and eventually make Montreal a place players wanted to choose.
That kind of momentum can change how the next few seasons unfold. If the Canadiens keep winning, Hughes may have more leverage in free agency and in trade talks involving players with no-trade protection. Kreider might not be the last veteran who looks at Montreal and sees an opportunity.
Players talk, and agents notice. Around the NHL, reputations move fast.
Montreal already had the market, the history and the support. What it needed was a competitive team and a clear direction to make those advantages count again.
It looks like the Canadiens now have both.
Of course, one signing doesn’t erase every obstacle. Taxes, pressure, weather, family considerations and plenty of other factors will still shape where players want to go. But this is still a strong sign.
And maybe that’s the real takeaway here. Kreider’s arrival is not just about what he might do on the ice.
It’s about what his interest says about Montreal itself. The Canadiens spent the early part of their rebuild trying to convince people something special was taking shape.
Now, players around the league are starting to see it for themselves.
In Other News...
Canadiens Should Be Watching Kirill Marchenko Very Closely
Kirill Marchenko is suddenly a name worth monitoring around the league, and for the Canadiens it is the kind of situation that can shift quickly if Columbus decides to take calls. Marchenko was productive last season with 67 points and carries a $3.85 million cap hit, making him the sort of forward who would draw attention from teams looking for help without having to tear up the rest of the roster.
The uncertainty comes from the Blue Jackets own internal picture, which has been a little hazy of late. Marchenko missed a recent team golf event, though he has since arrived in Columbus, and Rick Bowness has not exactly painted a detailed picture of where things stand. Don Waddell has also left the door open to movement by saying he is willing to listen on players, so this is one of those situations Montreal will want to keep an eye on rather than wait to hear about after the fact. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Just Put Arber Xhekaj At Center Of A Big Camp Battle
The Canadiens have settled one piece of their blue-line picture by bringing back Arber Xhekaj on a one-year, $1.5 million contract after his restricted free agency lingered through most of the summer. The short-term deal gives both sides some flexibility, and it also keeps the 24-year-old in the middle of the conversation as Montreal sorts out its defense depth heading into camp.
Xhekaj has already built a resume of 230 games over four seasons with the Canadiens, and his physical style has made him a recognizable part of the mix when Montreal wants more edge on the back end. Now the real issue is how he fits into the opening-night picture, with a regular role still to be earned and the camp competition expected to be wide open. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Players Make One Thing Clear About Martin St. Louis
The Canadiens decision to extend Martin St. Louis through the 2029-30 season only formalized what has been building for a while in Montreal. Under his leadership, the club has steadily climbed, turning incremental progress into playoff appearances and better point totals, and the players around him have been quick to note how much his coaching has mattered.
Nick Suzuki and Chris Kreider have both been among the strongest voices backing St. Louis, pointing to his teaching ability and obvious passion for the game. Kreiders respect for him goes back even before St. Louis arrived in Montreal, while Suzuki has made it clear the coach has earned a level of trust in the room that is hard to miss, which makes the long-term commitment feel as much like a reflection of the players as the front office. [Read more 🡒]