The Time Zdeno Chara Almost Signed a Contract with the CH

Just imagine: Zdeno Chara with the Montreal Canadiens.
We can all agree… that would have been quite a story.
That said, Renaud Lavoie shared a rather unique story involving the former Bruins defenseman and former Canadiens general manager, Marc Bergevin. During the pandemic, when the free-agent market was completely out of the ordinary, Bergevin had tried to lure Chara to Montreal.
The problem?
Chara wanted to prioritize his family, since it was easier for him to stay in the U.S. because

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. DFA
The Diamondbacks are moving on.
The D-Backs designated Lourdes Gurriel Jr. for assignment.He was in the final year of his contract, which included a $14 million club option for 2027. https://t.co/TcjzdfZdsG
— Brandon Wile (@Brandon_N_Wile) September 13, 2026
The money is there
That's what Ashkan Karbasfrooshan says about the Expos' return.
MLB's return to Montreal: “The money is there,” says Ashkan Karbasfrooshanhttps://t.co/67FMU5BPA9
— RDS (@RDSc

After several quiet weeks, big news has been coming one after another this weekend.
Of course, there's the signing of Zachary Bolduc, who finally reached an agreement with the Canadiens, but the big talking point is Chris Kreider's arrival in Montreal.
We've said it before, but with Kreider, the Habs are adding a 6-foot-3, 232-pound power forward who will bring speed and physicality—which should help the team, especially in the playoffs.
However, as Arpon Basu explains in an article on The

When the Blue Jays had three catchers on the roster, many people wondered what management would do.
In the end, Danny Jansen and Gabriel Moreno were traded to make room for Alejandro Kirk on the roster.
Would the team have been better off keeping Moreno, who was younger? In terms of potential, the answer is yes.
But at the same time, if there's one guy who isn't the Blue Jays' biggest problem, it's Kirk.
All this to say that as time goes on, Moreno is getting closer to free agency. This winter,

Are you one of the fans who's still upset about Chris Kreider's signing because of what he did to Carey Price?
At first, I was one of them, but I quickly realized that he's here to help the team, and he'll be able to do so in many ways.
We need to stop dwelling on the past—it's been 12 years, after all.Fans at the Bell Centre are still booing Chris Kreider a decade after the Carey Price collision in the 2014 playoffsJoe Micheletti asks Sam Rosen if he wants to be the one to tell them to st

Finally, Zachary Bolduc has signed with the Montreal Canadiens.
Elliotte Friedman was the first to report the news.
The Habs forward will earn $4.2 million per season over four years.Zach Bolduc 4 x $4.2M
Montreal
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 13, 2026After yesterday's big signing of Chris Kreider, the Habs are following up with more good news today.
The situation had been dragging on for far too long, and with the season fast approaching, we were all wondering what was goin

Carlos Correa underwent surgery last May to repair a tendon in his left ankle. At the time, everyone thought the injury would end his 2026 season.
The 31-year-old, however, had other plans and has made enough progress to hope for a return to the field by the end of this season. Correa has been spending time at the Astros' facility in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he has been practicing at the plate, in the field, and on the running trails.
And when Correa officially returns to the Houston Astr

The Montreal Canadiens scored a home run yesterday by signing veteran Chris Kreider to a very reasonable contract.
I was the first to have mixed feelings about the signing: yes, it's an excellent addition on paper, but it's too easy to dwell on the past.
But you have to move on, as they say. It's been 12 years since that happened, and Price is technically no longer with the organization. In any case, Price doesn't hold a grudge against Kreider.
Let's focus on the positive side instead: A talente

Everyone agrees that signing Kreider was a really smart move by the Montreal Canadiens' front office.
It's a great acquisition, as Kreider will bring exactly what the second line was missing last season: physicality and scoring ability to support Ivan Demidov.
Of course, by taking a spot in the top six of the lineup, some forwards will be pushed down the order, including one who will have to settle for the role of 13th forward.
It's clear that this forward will be unhappy, but at least he'll be

On August 3, the Toronto Blue Jays acquired right-handed pitcher Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels. To do so, the Blue Jays had to part ways with outfielder Eddie Mitcheletti Jr. and pitcher Angel Rivero, but most notably with 20-year-old shortstop Arjun Nimmala.
The Toronto team thus traded away its second-best prospect (ranked in the MLB's top 50) to acquire Soriano, a 27-year-old starting pitcher under the team's control who is expected to stabilize the starting rotation for seasons to

Several National Hockey League teams were in action yesterday, with a number of rookie games taking place between various teams.
The Montreal Canadiens' rookies lost 3–1 to the Winnipeg Jets' rookies.
And in the other teams' games, one specific event caught everyone's attention.
This event took place during the game between the San Jose Sharks' rookies and the Los Angeles Kings' rookies, where fans got to see the 7-foot-1 giant, Alexander Karmanov, in action.
For those who don't know him,

The Montreal Canadiens pulled off a real masterstroke yesterday by acquiring a tough, experienced, and talented top-six forward in exchange for nothing but cash.
In fact, Kent Hughes and his team didn't give up anything to sign Kreider, as no prospects or draft picks were traded to acquire the 35-year-old forward.
On top of that, the deal is based on an excellent one-year contract worth $2.15 million, with the potential for $3.125 million in bonuses.
The Habs have thus added the ideal physical t

By driving in three runs yesterday against the Baltimore Orioles, Alejandro Kirk helped his team close the gap once again on the Cleveland Guardians in the race for the playoffs. As of this morning, the gap between the two teams stands at just one game.
The Jays' catcher's significant contribution to his team's 7-3 victory has given hope to the Toronto team's many fans. In the third inning, the Mexican slugger hit his tenth home run of the season off Orioles starter Kyle Bradish. This set the to

Signing Chris Kreider is truly a masterstroke by Kent Hughes and his team, as the physical forward is exactly what the Montreal Canadiens' top-six lineup was missing.
And fans have clearly recognized that this is an ideal addition, with the majority of people welcoming the news warmly and putting the 2014 Kreider–Price incident behind them.
So everyone seems very enthusiastic and excited to see the 35-year-old veteran join the Habs.
We can all obviously see Kreider playing alongside Ivan D

The CH announced early this evening that it had reached an agreement with Chris Kreider. The club has signed a player who, for several years now, hasn't been a fan favorite.
But more importantly, they've acquired a player who will undoubtedly improve their team. And that's what matters most.
Given that the Canadiens hadn't added anyone since the start of the summer, this news is causing quite a stir. But Eric Engels gave the team's fans (yet another) glimmer of hope tonight.
In an article for Sp

Now that Kent Hughes has found his top-6 forward, the next issue to address is the identity of his goaltenders.
Will Jacob Fowler start the season in the AHL? Will Samuel Montembeault be traded?
Pierre McGuire believes waiving him is a good solution to “get rid of” the Quebec native.Pierre McGuire may have the solution to the #GoHabsGo's 3-goalie dilemma! #thesickpodcast @GaumondShayne pic.twitter.com/P6T2yNeh9Z
— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) September

It’s all Daniel Brière’s fault.
No, Luc Gélinas hasn't written a new book. It's literally Daniel Brière's fault that the Habs acquired Chris Kreider for a song.
Let's go back to July 3. Daniel Brière offered Leo Carlsson a five-year contract worth $18 million a year—a deal that Anaheim eventually matched. The problem now is that there's no money left for Cutter Gauthier.
The result: Pat Verbeek had to get rid of Kreider, who is still a respectable pl

Lately, American players have been requesting trades to return to the United States.
Dylan Larkin is already in the States but wants to stay there; Connor Hellebuyck wants to leave Winnipeg; and both Tkachuk brothers have left Canadian teams for the Florida Panthers.
Chris Kreider, on the other hand, did the opposite. The 35-year-old American went from New York to Anaheim to… Montreal. And it's not as if he was traded to the Canadiens without having a say in the matter. No, he deliberatel

Season Over for Eric Lauer
His elbow is the problem.Eric Lauer’s elbow issue will keep him out for the rest of the 2026 season, regardless of how far the #Dodgers go in the playoffs:https://t.co/P5vdasRI1N pic.twitter.com/9r5iTjIWks
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) September 12, 2026Carlos Correa at second base?
He might switch positions when he returns to the lineup.
Carlos Correa at second base? The Astros are considering it. https://t.co/x0iFpbRS97
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_

Chris Kreider is a perfect acquisition. He makes the Canadiens a better team, and as my colleague Félix Forget said a few minutes ago: let's stop dwelling on the past.
Carey Price—by the way, my all-time favorite player—is no longer here, and this is a new organization that wants to win.
As for the fans' reaction, I expected a lot more negativity. It surprised me.OMFG LETS GOOOOO
— William Leblanc (@xwleblancx) September 12, 2026
WELCOME HOME!
Went Hughes, and I'm a Hugh

Chris Kreider is officially a member of the Montreal Canadiens. It still feels a little strange to write that, but we'll get used to it.
Because yes, even though he hasn't been a fan favorite for the past 12 years, this signing couldn't be better. He checks all the boxes, and if we stop dwelling on 2014, he undoubtedly makes the Habs a better team.
If you set aside the emotional aspect, it's a home run.
By the way, for those who were wondering, Kreider is expected to attend the Habs' golf tourna

It's now official: Chris Kreider has reached an agreement with the Canadiens. The Habs announced the signing of the forward, who has signed a one-year contract with the team.
He'll earn $2.15 million… and could earn an additional $3.25 million in performance bonuses.
Obviously, all of this is causing a stir in Montreal because we know Kreider isn't a fan favorite. After all, many still hold it against him for injuring Carey Price during the 2014 playoffs.
But if we stop dwelling on the pa

It’s official.
Chris Kreider, who was a free agent, has just decided on his next destination. We knew the Canadiens were in the running for his services.
And in the end, he will indeed continue his career in Montreal. The team has just made the announcement.
The forward has signed a one-year contract.
And the Habs have just landed a big, powerful winger capable of scoring—exactly what they needed.The Canadiens have agreed to the terms of a one-season contract (2026–2027) with f

This afternoon, the Yankees had the chance to clinch their spot in the playoffs. The team needed the Blue Jays to lose to the Orioles… but more importantly, they also needed a win against the Mets.
Gerrit Cole took the mound for the occasion. It was his chance to bounce back after a rough last start in which he gave up four home runs, including three in a row to start the game.
Except he didn't exactly make us forget that outing. Far from it, in fact.
Once again, Cole gave up a home run t

This afternoon, the Canadiens' rookies were in action in Gatineau for their first game of the rookie tournament. For the occasion, the CH's young players faced off against the Jets.
And at first glance, we expected a rather lopsided matchup. The Jets had quite a few more big names than the CH, whose top prospects are mostly in the NCAA and in Russia.
And in the end, logic prevailed: the Jets won 3-1… and they were the better team on the ice.Undefeated in 2026-27!pic.twitter.com/nteLKPhR8c

Spencer Miles is having a great season in Toronto. The pitcher, who had never pitched in the majors before 2026, has a 2.77 ERA in 87.2 innings.
And he's done all this while being used in every possible role—he can both start games and come in late in the game.
The fact that he's so versatile, however, raises questions about his future. People are wondering if the long-term plan is to use him as a starter or a reliever.
And John Schneider, who spoke to the media about all this, mentioned t

Over the summer, there were some changes in the Canadiens' player development department. The club saw Rob Ramage, who served as director of player development, retire.
He played a key role, overseeing the organization's prospects.
The question at the time was who would replace Ramage. The Canadiens haven't announced any hires or promotions since then… but one might wonder if Francis Bouillon, though it hasn't been announced (yet?), has been promoted.
It's worth noting that Bouillon, who

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Where will Chris Kreider play in 2026-27? It's a question that's generating quite a bit of buzz throughout the NHL right now.
The Ducks, who need cap space to sign Cutter Gauthier, reached an agreement with Kreider to terminate his contract. This allowed the forward to become a free agent and decide which team he'll continue his career with.
And right now, there's a lot of talk about the Canadiens (due to his ties to Jeff Gorton, among other reasons) and the Bruins (since he was born in Massachu

As you may know, the Atlanta Braves made a big move at the last trade deadline: they tried to acquire pitcher Jacob deGrom.
Alex Anthopoulos thought the deal was a good bet, but in the end, deGrom said no. The pitcher wanted to stay in Texas and refused to waive his no-trade clause.
That's his right—that's one of the purposes of a no-trade clause.
But what we didn't know was what the Texas Rangers wanted in return for their star pitcher's services.
According to what Mark Feinsand reported