The Montreal Canadiens may be down another forward, and it did not look good. Chris Kreider left the game in the third period against the Boston Bruins after Michael Eyssimont fell on his leg. There have yet to be any updates on the extent of Kreider’s injury, but he looked to be in serious pain, staying down on the ice before hopping off without putting any weight on his left leg.
The Canadiens cannot catch a break on the injury front this season. It seems like whenever someone returns to the lineup, another player goes down right after. The Canadiens are still waiting for Ivan Demidov to return, with no clear timeline for his recovery. If Kreider misses significant time, Montreal will once again need its young players to step up.
However, if Kreider's injury proves serious, the Canadiens may need to explore options outside the organization. There is one intriguing name still available in free agency.
Who can step up in Kreider's absence?
Everything seemed to be going right for the Canadiens against their historic rivals. They jumped out to a four-goal lead and held off a Boston comeback attempt to secure the 5-2 win. The victory moved the Canadiens into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division with the Tampa Bay Lightning, but it came at a cost.
With Kreider going down, the Canadiens could lose their big offseason addition. He had a slow start in his new home, but began to turn his game around, recording two goals and three assists in his last seven games. If Kreider misses an extended period, the Canadiens will likely turn to one of their extra forwards, Florian Xhekaj or Owen Beck, at least until Demidov returns.
Little Xhekaj seems like the most obvious choice to come into the lineup to replace Kreider. Xhekaj is physical and plays with a ton of energy, making him the logical fit to replace Kreider on a line with Jake Evans and Josh Anderson. Xhekaj’s offensive game is not as refined as Kreider’s, but it is impossible to ask a player with 12 games of NHL experience to replace a veteran who has played nearly 1,000. The Canadiens have been getting plenty of depth scoring lately, and they will need that to continue if Kreider misses significant time. However, depending on the severity of his injury, Montreal may need to consider bringing in an experienced forward.
Could another former elite goalscorer fill the void?
Kreider was not brought in solely for his ability to provide depth scoring. He also brings veteran leadership and a proven playoff track record, which they will need if they want to go on another deep playoff run. If Kreider's injury turns out to be season-ending, the Canadiens should consider finding someone who could provide those same qualities.
Going through the trade route will always be an option, but if the Canadiens do not want to move assets to add a veteran, Vladimir Tarasenko is still available as a free agent. Like Kreider, Tarasenko is not the player he once was, but he can still be valuable. He recorded 23 goals and 24 assists in 75 games last season, which makes it puzzling that he is still available. He is a player with playoff experience, winning the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 and adding a second with the Florida Panthers in 2024.
Tarasenko may not be the game-changer he once was, but if Kreider is facing an extended absence, his playoff experience and ability to contribute offensively could make him an intriguing option for the Canadiens, who are looking to make another deep playoff run.
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