The story

Chris Kreider signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens worth $2.15 million in base salary and up to $3.25 million more in possible incentives, according to The Athletic. The 35-year-old became an unrestricted free agent after the Anaheim Ducks waived him earlier in the week. Kreider had a cap hit of $6.5 million for the upcoming season with Anaheim and reportedly wanted to return to the East Coast.

Kreider chose Montreal to reunite with former Rangers teammate Martin St. Louis, now the Canadiens' head coach, and Jeff Gorton, president of hockey operations who was a Rangers general manager during Kreider's time in New York. NHL insider Pierre LeBrun revealed that Kreider's decision came down to three teams. Montreal's director of sports medicine Jim Ramsay also worked with Kreider during his Rangers days.

Kreider spent most of his career with the Rangers, who drafted him 19th overall in 2009. He ranked seventh in Rangers history in games played, third in goals, tied for first in power-play goals with 116, and 10th in points. He left New York with 582 points in 883 regular-season games after being traded to Anaheim on June 12, 2025. Last season, he had 22 goals and 50 points in 75 games with Anaheim, plus seven points in 12 playoff games.