Canadiens integrate Chris Kreider into power play for 2026-27 season
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 13, 2026, 5:03 PM
Last updated Sep 13, 2026
The Montreal Canadiens enter the 2026-27 season following a successful campaign that saw the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals. After securing a 48-24-10 record and deep playoff runs last year, the organization recently signed 35-year-old free agent Chris Kreider. Team management intends to deploy Kreider primarily as a net-front presence on the power play to complement scoring threats Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. While the top line of Suzuki, Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky remains intact, the club seeks growth from second-line forward Ivan Demidov. Head coach Martin St. Louis must now establish the optimal role for Kreider within a deep roster as training camp begins. The team aims to build on last year's performance to contend for the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1993.
- •Montreal finished last season tied for second in the Atlantic Division with 106 points.
- •Chris Kreider recorded 22 goals in each of the last two seasons.
- •Nick Suzuki tallied 101 points during the previous regular season.
- •The Canadiens eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres in the 2026 playoffs.
- •Training camp marks the beginning of the team's preparations for the upcoming season.
- 5:03 PMYahoo Sports — Last-minute move Canadiens must make ahead of 2026-27 season
"The Montreal Canadiens have been making serious progress. They turned themselves into a playoff team two years ago and the progress continued last year when they finished the season with a 48-24-10 record that resulted in a tie for second place in the Atlantic Division with the Tampa Bay Lightning and 106 points. The most encouraging aspect of the […] The post Last-minute move Canadiens must make ahead of 2026-27 season appeared first on ClutchPoints.
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