Chris Kreider Placed on Waivers by Ducks for Contract Termination, Eyes Return East

Chris Kreider’s tenure with the Anaheim Ducks is coming to an abrupt end. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Wednesday that the Ducks are expected to place the veteran winger on waivers for the purpose of contract termination, a mutually agreed-upon move that will wipe his remaining $6.5 million cap hit off Anaheim’s books. Kreider has signed off on the decision, and according to Friedman’s sources, he wants to return to the Eastern Conference to be closer to family.

The 35-year-old spent the first 13 seasons of his NHL career with the New York Rangers before being traded to Anaheim on June 12, 2025, along with a fourth-round pick, in exchange for prospect Carey Terrance and a third-round selection. Kreider left New York with 582 points on 326 goals and 256 assists across 883 regular-season games, ranking third in franchise history in goals and tied for first in power-play goals with 116. He rebounded from a down 2024-25 campaign by posting 22 goals and 28 assists for 50 points in 75 games with the Ducks last season, helping Anaheim reach the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

Why the Ducks Are Moving On

According to Friedman, general manager Pat Verbeek explored trade offers for Kreider but couldn’t find a deal that didn’t require Anaheim to absorb unwanted salary in return — the kind of “sweetener” teams often demand when taking on a big-money veteran. Rather than sacrifice more assets just to shed the contract, the Ducks and Kreider agreed to part ways outright through termination. Kreider is owed roughly $4 million in salary for the 2026-27 season after receiving a signing bonus on July 1, meaning he’s walking away from real money to get what he wants: a return east.

The timing lines up directly with Anaheim’s other roster priority. The Ducks still need to lock up restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier, and with limited-term deal projections running as high as $13-14 million annually, cap space is at a premium. Clearing Kreider’s $6.5 million hit — on top of moving Brossoit off the books — pushes Anaheim’s available space well past $16 million, more than enough to get a Gauthier extension across the finish line before the season begins. If a claiming team ends up with Kreider’s rights instead, that outcome would actually work in Anaheim’s favor financially, since the claiming club would absorb the full $6.5 million cap charge rather than Anaheim.

Where Could Kreider Land?

If Kreider clears waivers untouched, he becomes an unrestricted free agent and controls his own next chapter. Friedman noted that Kreider “will not report if claimed somewhere he prefers not to play,” giving him effective veto power over any claim he doesn’t like. That has fueled speculation about a handful of Eastern Conference fits. The Boston Bruins, close to Kreider’s hometown of Boxford, Massachusetts, have long been floated as a sentimental landing spot. A reunion with the Rangers hasn’t been ruled out either, alongside the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning, all teams that could use another proven scoring winger in their middle six. Bettors already tracking the futures market can check the latest Stanley Cup odds as the situation develops.

Kreider’s power-play production alone makes him an attractive add for a contender looking for immediate net-front scoring rather than a rebuild piece. At 17 goals on the man advantage over the past two seasons combined and a track record of 40-plus point campaigns, he still profiles as a legitimate top-nine winger even at 35. The bigger question now shifts from where he’ll sign to how quickly the process moves — Anaheim’s training camp is already underway, and both sides have incentive to get this resolved before puck drop on the 2026-27 season.