Chris Kreider ended up with the Montreal Canadiens, but not because the Anaheim Ducks were willing to pay to move his contract.
That was the key detail Elliotte Friedman laid out on his 32 Thoughts podcast, where he explained why trade talks never got over the line. Around the league, teams were pushing Anaheim to attach a draft pick if they were going to absorb Kreider’s deal.
“People were asking for 1st and 2nd rounders, we'll take Kreider, but you gotta give us a 1st or a 2nd... Verbeek was like, we're not doing that.”
Pat Verbeek took a hard line instead of surrendering extra assets just to clear the money. The Ducks were looking to open up cap space, with Cutter Gauthier’s situation specifically mentioned as part of that goal, but Verbeek still chose to terminate the contract rather than sweeten the deal for another club.
That decision is what opened the door for Kent Hughes and Montreal. The Canadiens were able to sign Kreider as a free agent, and Hughes landed a productive veteran without giving up anything from his own asset pool.
Given Hughes’ track record in these kinds of negotiations - including the Sean Monahan trade and the Patrik Laine trade - it’s easy to picture Montreal as one of the teams that would have wanted a first- or second-round pick attached if they were taking on Kreider’s contract.
So the Ducks held their ground, the trade market stalled, and the Canadiens came away with Kreider for free.
In Other News...
Canadiens Just Settled One Summer Decision Fans Were Watching
A busy summer in Montreal took another turn when the Canadiens locked up Zachary Bolduc on a four-year deal worth $4.2 million, according to Elliotte Friedman. Bolduc arrived in last offseasons trade and quickly gave the organization enough reason to keep him in the fold, adding to a roster that has already seen Chris Kreider come aboard as part of an active stretch of team-building.
The move clears one item off the Canadiens to-do list, even as another remains unresolved. Restricted free agent Arber Xhekaj is still without a contract, leaving at least one more summer decision hanging over the club as it tries to sort out the next layer of its depth and identity. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Kreider Changes Everything About How The Canadiens Are Viewed
Chris Kreiders arrival gives Montreal a different kind of weight entering the season, not just because he brings playoff mileage, but because he clearly views this group through contenders eyes. After leaving the Anaheim Ducks, he landed with the Canadiens on a one-year contract and instantly changed the way the organization is being discussed around the league, with his experience and track record adding a layer of credibility to a team trying to reestablish itself among the Easts better clubs.
The surprise is as important as the signing itself. Kreider had been tied more often to Boston and Philadelphia, so Montreal was not the destination many expected, especially for a player with his background and the kind of market interest he generated. Instead, the Canadiens got the player who believes they can chase a Stanley Cup, and that alone says something about how far this roster has come and how it may be viewed going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Former Canadiens Pick Had An Alarming Moment Overseas
Alex Galchenyuks start with Spartak Moscow has already drawn attention back home, and not just because the former Canadiens forward is producing right away in the KHL. In his second game with the club, he picked up another assist and continued to settle into a new role overseas, giving Montreal fans a reminder that there is still some skill there even after a winding career path.
The unsettling part came during Spartaks win over SKA St. Petersburg, when Galchenyuk left the game with a visible eye injury after taking a slap shot in the face area. He stayed upbeat afterward, but the moment was a jarring one for a player who was later recognized by the club following the victory, and it adds a fresh layer of concern to an otherwise encouraging beginning in Moscow. [Read more 🡒]