A data-backed look at what Chris Kreider still does well, where he could fit in Montreal, and what the move means for fantasy hockey managers.
Chris Kreider wearing a Montreal Canadiens jersey is going to take some getting used to.
The Canadiens signed the longtime Rangers forward to a one-year deal after his contract was terminated by Anaheim, adding another veteran to a young roster that reached the Eastern Conference Final last season. At 35, Kreider is obviously no longer the 52-goal player we saw in New York, but dig into his 2025-26 numbers and there is an interesting story. Kreider still does several things extremely well, and they happen to fit Montreal's roster remarkably well.
Kreider's 2025-26 Season
Kreider finished his lone season in Anaheim with 22 goals, 28 assists and 50 points in 75 games. He recorded 139 shots on goal, eight power-play goals, 17 power-play points and 69 hits while averaging 17:03 of ice time per game.
Those numbers alone suggest a useful middle-six veteran, but his underlying numbers were arguably more encouraging. At five-on-five, Kreider posted a 54.0% expected-goals share and 56.0% Corsi share, with both numbers outperforming Anaheim's results when he wasn't on the ice. His relative expected-goals share was +2.6%, while his relative Corsi was +4.4%.
In other words, this wasn't simply an aging winger hanging around because of his reputation. Anaheim generally controlled play with Kreider on the ice, and the underlying numbers suggest he was still having a positive impact at even strength.
The Net-Front Game Is Still Elite
This is where the acquisition gets particularly interesting. According to NHL EDGE, Kreider recorded 73 high-danger shots on goal last season, ranking in the 93rd percentile among NHL forwards. He converted those opportunities into 14 high-danger goals, placing him in the 87th percentile.
That is important because Kreider has never made his living by firing pucks from everywhere. His value comes from where he gets his opportunities, and few players of this generation have been better around the crease.
Over the last three seasons, Kreider has scored 25 tip-in goals, the most in the NHL. Sidney Crosby ranks second over that span with 20. Stretch the sample further and the gap becomes even more impressive. Since 2019-20, Kreider leads the NHL with 63 tip-in goals, well ahead of Sam Reinhart in second with 39.
Since 2015-16, Kreider has accumulated 102 goals via tip-ins or deflections. That isn't a short-term shooting percentage spike. Getting to the front of the net, creating screens and redirecting pucks has been a repeatable skill throughout his career, and it remains one of the strongest elements of his game at 35.
Exactly What Montreal's Power Play Can Use
Montreal's power play was already dangerous last season, operating at 23.1%, while Kreider produced eight power-play goals and 17 power-play points in Anaheim. The Canadiens certainly aren't short on skilled puck handlers, with Nick Suzuki capable of distributing, Cole Caufield providing an elite shooting threat, Ivan Demidov creating opportunities and Lane Hutson manipulating defenders from the blue line.
Kreider gives them something different because he doesn't need the puck to be effective. Put him at the top of the crease and Montreal suddenly has one of the NHL's most accomplished net-front players occupying defenders, screening goaltenders and looking for deflections while Suzuki, Caufield, Demidov and Hutson work around him.
Kreider may initially see second-unit power-play time, but his skill set makes him an obvious candidate for PP1 if Montreal wants a dedicated net-front presence. If he does earn that role, his fantasy ceiling changes considerably. Even without huge five-on-five minutes, consistent exposure to Montreal's top offensive players could give him another legitimate opportunity to produce double-digit power-play goals.
He's Still Surprisingly Fast
Another encouraging number comes from NHL EDGE's skating data. Kreider reached a top speed of 22.89 mph last season, placing him in the 82nd percentile among NHL forwards. Remarkably, that's actually faster than the 22.70 mph maximum he recorded during his final season with the Rangers.
There are still signs of age in the data. Kreider recorded 22 bursts above 22 mph in 2021-22 and 21 in 2022-23, placing him in the 97th percentile in both seasons. That dropped to 12 in each of the following two seasons and just four in 2025-26, putting him in the 73rd percentile last season.
That's a legitimate sign of decline. Kreider can't access his top gear as frequently as he once did, but the top gear itself is still there. For Montreal, that distinction matters.
The Canadiens recorded 2,142 bursts above 20 mph last season, sixth-most in the NHL, along with 100 bursts above 22 mph, ninth-most. Suzuki reached 23.62 mph, Josh Anderson hit 23.28 mph and Alex Newhook reached 23.14 mph. Montreal wants to attack with speed, and despite his age, Kreider still has enough of it to fit that identity.
Where Does Kreider Actually Play?
This is probably the biggest question for fantasy managers. Kreider doesn't need to be a permanent top-six winger to help Montreal, and a third line featuring some combination of Kreider, Phillip Danault and Josh Anderson would give Martin St. Louis an experienced, physical unit capable of playing difficult minutes.
At the same time, Kreider gives Montreal considerable lineup flexibility. He can move alongside Suzuki and Caufield when the Canadiens want more size in the top six, provide a dedicated net-front option on the first power-play unit, or simply offer secondary scoring further down the lineup. He scored 22 goals and 50 points last season despite averaging only 12:40 of five-on-five ice time per game, suggesting he doesn't necessarily require massive even-strength minutes to remain productive.
There is also reason to be intrigued by the possibility of Kreider playing alongside Demidov. Kreider's ability to find space around the crease and finish opportunities could complement Demidov's creativity and playmaking particularly well. Rather than viewing Kreider as a locked-in third-line winger, it may make more sense to view him as a middle-six player with situational top-six and PP1 upside.
The Fantasy Hockey Angle
For redraft managers, Kreider suddenly becomes an interesting late-round target. His 50-point season in Anaheim probably represents a reasonable baseline rather than evidence that a massive offensive resurgence is coming, but the goals are where things get interesting.
Kreider scored 22 times last season despite generating 73 high-danger shots and continuing to dominate the areas of the ice where he has historically been most dangerous. Give him regular exposure to Montreal's best playmakers, particularly on the power play, and another 20-plus-goal season is very realistic.
There is useful category value here as well. Kreider contributes goals, power-play production, hits and shots while potentially receiving opportunities alongside significantly better offensive creators than his projected depth-chart position would normally suggest.
For dynasty managers, the calculation is different. Kreider is 35, so there is virtually no long-term appreciation play here. He is a win-now asset, but that doesn't make him useless. Contenders looking for inexpensive depth could do much worse than a veteran who just produced 50 points while posting a 54.0% expected-goals share, generating high-danger shots at a 93rd-percentile rate and still reaching a top speed that ranked in the 82nd percentile.
DynastyPuck Outlook
Don't expect vintage Chris Kreider, but don't assume he's finished either. The underlying data from Anaheim paints the picture of a player whose game may be aging in a relatively sustainable way.
His elite-speed bursts are declining, but his maximum speed remains strong. His overall goal totals have fallen from his peak, but he's still getting to the dangerous areas of the ice. Most importantly, the net-front skill that has defined his career remains intact. That's a skill set that doesn't necessarily require Kreider to be the fastest player on the ice or dominate possession of the puck to remain effective.
Montreal doesn't need Kreider to drive its offense. The Canadiens already have Suzuki, Caufield, Demidov and Hutson to create opportunities. What Kreider can provide is someone capable of finishing them, particularly around the crease.
If Kreider earns meaningful power-play time and continues generating chances around the net at anything close to last year's rate, 20-25 goals and roughly 45-55 points is a reasonable range, with additional upside if he finds himself regularly playing in Montreal's top six.
For a one-year addition, that's exactly the type of complementary piece a young contender can use. For fantasy managers, Kreider may have a little more left in the tank than his age suggests.