Chris Kreider’s first game in a Canadiens sweater didn’t produce a point, and it also didn’t exactly scream instant chemistry.
The American logged 17 minutes and 5 seconds in Saturday’s preseason action, and while there’s no reason to overreact after one exhibition outing, he did appear a bit out of sync. Even the postgame scene offered a strange snapshot, with Kreider looking unsure of where to go as the celebration unfolded.
That kind of adjustment usually takes a little time, and this was only his first chance to get settled in. Still, a few people watching the game came away with the same impression: he looked a little lost on the ice, too.
What really turned heads, though, was the work done by David Reinbacher and Luke Mittelstadt.
Reinbacher had already set the table earlier in the week when he said fans would see the real David Reinbacher this weekend. He backed it up. Saturday’s performance looked like a clear step in the right direction and reinforced the belief many already have in his potential.
Mittelstadt also had a chance to make a statement, and he did exactly that with a strong, convincing showing.
Those kinds of outings matter even more now, with the preseason schedule trimmed down and the roster decisions coming fast. The Canadiens don’t have much time to sort out the final group, and every game feels more valuable because of it.
Kreider will have more runway to settle in before the regular season begins. For Reinbacher and Mittelstadt, though, Saturday was the kind of night that can tilt a competition. The next few games should be worth watching.
In Other News...
Slafkovsky And Demidov May Be Key To Montreals Biggest Line Puzzle
The Canadiens preseason has already offered a familiar sight in the reunion of the Kid Line, with Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield back together and looking like the kind of trio Montreal can build around. The top line picture also shifted with Chris Kreider added into the mix, giving the coaching staff another forward combination to study as it sorts through what the opening-night alignment should look like.
Beneath all of that, the real puzzle may be less about the headline line and more about the pieces behind it. Montreal has been experimenting with where Ivan Demidov fits best and how that affects the rest of the forward group, while the second-line centre spot remains one of the most important decisions left before the regular season begins. For a team trying to balance talent, chemistry and depth, those next tweaks could wind up mattering just as much as the reunion everybody noticed first. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face One Big Question In Potential Blue-Line Upgrade
Alexander Nikishins uncertain status in Carolina has already turned him into one of the more intriguing names to watch as training camp opens around the league. The Hurricanes still have the rights to the big Russian defenseman, but until his contract situation is settled, he sits in that gray area where talent, timing and team need can quickly create opportunity for someone else.
For the Canadiens, the appeal is obvious enough. Montreal has been looking to add to a young blue line, and Nikishins size and offensive upside fit the kind of profile teams covet. The question is less about whether he would make sense and more about how the Canadiens would make the deal work, with cap space to clear and real assets likely required before anything could move beyond speculation. [Read more 🡒]
Kent Hughes Has One Canadiens Draft Pick Already Facing Questions
Corey Pronmans latest 2024 NHL draft redraft has given Canadiens fans another reason to revisit last years class, and the early read is a mixed one. Montreal still comes out looking good at the top, with Ivan Demidov placed near the top of the board, which is not exactly a surprise given the buzz around his upside and the attention he has drawn since draft day.
The more interesting wrinkle is what the redraft says about the rest of the group the Canadiens invested in. Michael Hage landed a touch lower than where Montreal originally selected him, a small but notable sign that evaluators may not be as sold on that pick as the organization was in June. For a front office still trying to stock the pipeline and hit on every chance it gets, those kinds of early reassessments can matter as much as the headline names. [Read more 🡒]