Chris Kreider
Kreider is a second-line left wing with second-unit power-play time on a one-year deal, and his production depends on whether he stays beside Kapanen or moves back to the top line.
Role
Inside the Rink's 10/31 preview against Pittsburgh (a search result, not a live page I fetched) projected Kreider at left wing on line 2 with Oliver Kapanen and Josh Anderson. It projected him on the second power-play unit with Newhook, Kapanen, Dobson and Texier. The first unit was Slafkovsky, Dach, Bolduc, Caufield and Hutson. The Morning Puck's line page, seen in a search result 16 days ago and not fetched, showed the same trio and units. In training camp he skated on the top line with Suzuki and Caufield, and on Oct. 6 he was on the first power-play unit in the Dobber Frozen Pool game log. Montreal is 8-3-2 as of that 10/31 preview. I found no ice-time figures and no coverage that says how long he stays on line 2.
He started camp beside Suzuki and Caufield, and Eric Engels of Montreal Hockey Fanatics predicted he would open there. The case is that his size and net-front drive fit that line and that he can move back up. A Yahoo analysis also said his underlying numbers are consistently solid, unlike Demidov's and Kapanen's. Montreal's projected second power-play unit gives him a role on the man advantage. He scored 22 goals and 50 points in 78 games with Anaheim last season, per The Hockey News.
He is 35 and has settled on the second line with Slafkovsky and Newhook ahead of him, and he is on the second power-play unit. The Hockey News and Yahoo both raised the third line as an option. Yahoo suggested it as a way to manage his ice time, provided he got power-play minutes to make up for it. Last Word on Sports said his point total depends on his line and that the most realistic outcome is a repeat of last season's 50 points, not a jump.
Where analysts split
The question is which line he settles on: a top-six slot with skilled linemates, or a third-line role with carefully managed minutes. The pre-season coverage was split between those options, and I found no recent reporting that settles it.
Research confidence: thin. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
Others at LW
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