MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens officially signed veteran forward Chris Kreider to a one-year contract on Saturday worth $2.15 million, featuring performance bonuses that can push the total value up to $5.4 million. While the signing reopens old wounds for fans who still hold Kreider responsible for ending Carey Price’s historic 2014 playoff run, the strategic reality in 2026 is clear: adding the former villain fills a critical playoff experience gap for the Habs.
Overcoming the 2014 Playoff Trauma in Montreal
For a dozen years, Montreal fans pointed to Kreider’s Game 1 collision with Price during the 2014 Eastern Conference Final as the pivotal moment that halted the franchise’s best path to a Stanley Cup since 1993. On May 18, 2014, then-head coach Michel Therrien announced Price was done for the series, a moment where time virtually stopped in the city given that Price was never quite the same afterward.
However, twelve years have passed since that fateful incident. The current Canadiens organization features a completely transformed roster, and clinging to past grievances distracts from the immediate benefits Kreider brings to the lineup today.
Why Chris Kreider’s Playoff Experience Upgrades the Canadiens
Before securing Kreider, Montreal was on the brink of remaining the second-youngest team in the entire NHL, trailing only the Chicago Blackhawks. For an aspiring contender hoping to make a deep postseason run, a lack of acquired playoff knowledge presents a clear hurdle. While the pre-Christmas acquisition of Phillip Danault last season aimed to address this issue, Kreider immediately vaults to the top of the roster in postseason games played.
- Chris Kreider: 135 playoff games
- Phillip Danault: 81 playoff games
- Josh Anderson: 67 playoff games
- Nick Suzuki: 56 playoff games
- Alex Newhook: 51 playoff games
- Cole Caufield / Mike Matheson / Noah Dobson: 44 playoff games each
Beyond mere appearance numbers, Kreider plays a physical postseason style that produces results. Over the last five years alone, Kreider has skated in 55 playoff games, racking up 26 goals and 18 assists. By prioritizing 2026 postseason success over 2014 history, GM Kent Hughes has executed a low-risk, high-reward move for the franchise.