NHL EDGE stats: Kreider signing complements Canadiens' young core

NHL.com's fantasy staff continues to cover the latest trends and storylines in the League through the lens of NHL EDGE puck and player tracker stats. Today, we look at three underlying reasons Chris Kreider could help the Montreal Canadiens reach their ceiling this season.

1. High-danger prowess

The Montreal Canadiens signed Chris Kreider to a one-year contract on Sept. 12, complementing their young core with a veteran power forward who covers some key advanced stats categories. Montreal, which still has the fifth-youngest team in the NHL (average years: 25.68) even after signing the 35-year-old Kreider, reached the Eastern Conference Final last season and has a ceiling of reaching the Stanley Cup Final as early as this season.

Kreider, who scored an NHL career-high 52 goals with the New York Rangers in 2021-22, the start of three straight seasons of at least 30 goals (had 36 in 2022-23, 39 in 2023-24), has then scored 22 goals in each of the past two seasons. Last season with the Anaheim Ducks, Kreider was still a productive player with the man-advantage with eight power-play goals and 17 power-play points. He was also one of six players on the Ducks with at least 50 points last season, providing veteran leadership for Anaheim’s young core to help the team make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2018 and win a postseason round for the first time since 2017.

Kreider, who’s been a standout in high-danger areas through the years, continued that trend last season with the Ducks after previously playing his first 13 regular seasons with the Rangers. Kreider ranked in the 93rd percentile among forwards in high-danger shots on goal (73) last season and 87th percentile in high-danger goals (14). Now, he has a chance to strengthen a lineup led by Montreal’s young stars in forwards Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, defenseman Lane Hutson, goalies Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler.

Three seasons ago with the Rangers, Kreider ranked third in the entire NHL in high-danger shots on goal (136) and was also tied for fourth in the entire League in high-danger goals (31). During Kreider’s career-best season in 2021-22, he led the entire League in both power-play goals (26) and high-danger goals (41); the only player to score more high-danger goals in a single season during the puck and player tracking era (since 2021-22) was Zach Hyman of the Edmonton Oilers in 2023-24 (45).

2. Goals scored on tip-ins, deflections

Taking a deeper look at Kreider’s career track record of scoring goals, especially from high-danger areas and/or on the power play, he is a perennial leader in goals scored on tip-ins and deflections and brings his net-front presence to the young Canadiens.

Kreider could be an option on Montreal’s second or third line at even strength, potentially on a unit with fellow 30-plus year olds in Phillip Danault (33) and Josh Anderson (32), and also second power play. That said, Kreider is also capable of fitting in on the team’s top line and/or first power play over the course of the season to provide a spark on any given shift.

Over the past three seasons combined (since 2023-24), Kreider leads the NHL in tip-in goals (25) five more than the next-closest player (Sidney Crosby with 20 in that span). Since 2019-20, he also leads the NHL in tip-in goals (63; Sam Reinhart of Florida Panthers is second with 39). Since 2015-16, Kreider leads the entire League in tip-in plus deflection goals (102; 91 tip-ins, 11 deflections), reinforcing the idea that his finishing ability and versatility can help further elevate Montreal’s young talent.

3. Skating speed

Although Kreider is not as speedy of a forward as he was in his prime goal-scoring years, he still ranks highly among forwards in some key skating metrics. Last season with the Ducks, Kreider ranked in the 82nd percentile in max skating speed (22.89 mph) and 80th percentile in offensive zone time percentage (44.5).

His max skating speed was actually higher last season than his final year with the Rangers in 2024-25 (22.70 mph; 71st percentile). Kreider ranked highly in max skating speed in each of the first three seasons of the tracking era: 89th percentile in 2023-24 (23.02) and 93rd percentile in both 2022-23 (23.21 mph) and 2021-22 (23.19 mph). In terms of 22-plus mph speed bursts, last season was a potential outlier consider he’s ranked in the 93rd percentile or higher in four of the past five seasons:

Kreider’s 22-plus mph speed bursts during tracking era:

• 2025-26: 4; 73rd percentile
• 2024-25: 12; 93rd percentile
• 2023-24: 12; 93rd percentile
• 2022-23: 21; 97th percentile
• 2021-22: 22; 97th percentile

Montreal already ranked among the top teams in terms of 20-plus mph speed bursts (2,142; sixth) and 22-plus mph (100; ninth) last season. The max skating speed standouts on the Canadiens, including Suzuki (23.62 mph; 96th percentile), Anderson (23.28 mph; 92nd percentile), Alex Newhook (23.14 mph; 89th percentile), Hutson (22.97 mph; 92nd percentile) and Mike Matheson (22.81 mph; 90th percentile), could get Kreider to join the rush more often in Montreal’s transition offense.

Kreider, who is now Montreal’s oldest player, is also the leader in career playoff games (135), goals (50; tied for 11th among active NHL players) and points (83) on its active roster. Kreider, who reunites with former teammate and current Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis, could provide a boost in secondary scoring, physicality (69 hits last season; 1.7 per game in career), penalty killing and playoff experience to help the young Canadiens take the next step.