At least one hockey team has major news this week.
The Anaheim Ducks and Chris Kreider announced that they are mutually parting ways, with Kreider clearing waivers late Thursday. Kreider, who scored 22 goals and 50 points in 75 games last season, approaches free agency once again. According to Kreider's agent, the 35-year-old's preference is to play in the Eastern Conference.
This has led fans to speculate on Kreider's place with the Detroit Red Wings.
The Red Wings are, after all, missing a veteran scorer with the departure of Patrick Kane. They're in need of some consistency and stability, and Kreider might just be that solution.
But there's also a chance he could be a detriment.
The pros of Chris Kreider
Kreider is nothing if not consistent. Over the last ten seasons, he's scored at least 20 goals, hitting the 30 goal mark three times in that timeframe. During the 2021-22 season, he actually broke the 50 goal plateau, scoring 52 in 81 games.
But this isn't the 2021-22 season. This is 2026-27, and Kreider is now 35. What can he provide for a team like the Red Wings?
In short: more scoring.
The Red Wings are in desperate need to generate offense. With the departure of goal scorers like Patrick Kane and James van Riemsdyk (and the eventual departure of Dylan Larkin), the team needs to make up those goals one way or another. Sure, some may come from newly acquired Viktor Arvidsson. More could emerge from up-and-coming young players like Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and, potentially, Carter Bear. A bounce back season for Marco Kasper would go a long way.
But the safest guarantee to goal-scoring is a consistent veteran threat like Kreider.
If the Red Wings secure Kreider to a short, one-year deal, they could add some much-needed offense to a team in desperate need of it. In addition, should the Red Wings become sellers closer to the trade deadline, they've got an extra asset to flip to a contending Eastern Conference team.
With that said, the Red Wings would, of course, need to hire a general manager to facilitate a deal. But, should the GM come in ready to act, this could be a great first acquisition.
Why signing Chris Kreider is a bad idea
On the flip side, there are plenty of downsides to bringing on a veteran like Kreider. First and foremost, Kreider is 35. He'll be 36 by the end of the season. He isn't the 50 goal-scorer he once was. In fact, he's about as slow as an NHL vet can get. The Red Wings, of course, already have experience with this, having paid Patrick Kane for three seasons, but is that what the Red Wings need right now? Another slow veteran?
It just doesn't make sense at this juncture.
Now, more than ever, the Red Wings need to prioritize bringing up prospects and young players. This season isn't a particularly exciting one by any means, but it should be seen as a season full of opportunity. This is the time to build something that stretches beyond an 84 game slate. It's time for younger players to get their shot and establish a winning culture in Hockeytown again.
Bringing Kreider on board just kicks the proverbial can down the road. At this point in the Red Wings' rebuild/retool/whatever you'd like to call it, Kreider's presence would only further destabilize an already unstable locker room.
Until the Red Wings bring on a new GM, though, it's safe to assume we'll need to wait on any Kreider to Detroit updates.
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