The Anaheim Ducks are placing forward Chris Kreider on waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract, according to multiple reports.
The move will help both the player and the team.
The Massachusetts native wants to return east, according to Sportsnet, which first reported the waiver move. If he clears waivers and has the final year of his contract terminated, that makes him a free agent and a new team can sign him for less than his current $6.5 million cap hit. He already received a $1 million signing bonus.
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Kreider, 35, had played the first 13 years of his career with the New York Rangers before being traded to the Ducks in June 2025.
The Ducks would benefit because they are in a cap crunch after matching the Philadelphia Flyers’ offer sheet to Leo Carlsson that makes him the NHL’s highest-paid player in 2026-27.
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Luke Evangelista was traded to the New Jersey Devils.
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Luke Evangelista was traded to the New Jersey Devils.
(Steve Roberts, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Veteran winger Patrick Kane is returning to Chicago, signing a two-year deal with the Blackhawks after spending the last three seasons in Detroit.
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Pavel Dorofeyev was traded to the New York Rangers.
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Defenseman Darnell Nurse was traded to the San Jose Sharks.
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Defenseman Simon Nemec was traded to the Calgary Flames.
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Forward Vincent Trocheck was traded to the Utah Mammoth.
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Forward JJ Peterka was traded to the Boston Bruins.
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Mason McTavish was traded to the St. Louis Blues.
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Mavrik Bourque was traded to the Nashville Predators.
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Defenseman Bowen Byram was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks.
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Alex Tuch joined the Washington Capitals in a sign-and-trade.
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Jordan Kyrou was traded to the Washington Capitals.
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Goalie Jacob Markstrom was traded to the Florida Panthers.
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Blake Coleman was traded to the Minnesota Wild.
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Keegan Kolesar was traded to the Detroit Red Wings.
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Forward Nick Paul was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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Forward William Eklund was traded to the Ottawa Senators.
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Defenseman Darren Raddysh joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade deal.
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Nick Paul was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
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Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo was traded to the New York Rangers.
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Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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Goaltender Frederik Andersen signed with the Edmonton Oilers.
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Forward Viktor Arvidsson signed with the Detroit Red Wings.
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Anthony Mantha signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Mason Marchment signed with the San Jose Sharks.
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Defenseman John Carlson was signed by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Jack Roslovic signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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Forward Jaden Schwartz signed with the Colorado Avalanche.
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Defenseman Ian Cole signed with the Chicago Blackhawks.
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They have a little more than $9 million left with Carlsson averaging $18 million. But they still have to sign restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier, who led Anaheim with 41 goals and 69 points last season.
Taking Kreider off the books would give them a lot more room to play with in a new Gauthier contract.
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Chris Kreider stats
Though Kreider’s numbers have gone down, he has scored 22 goals the past two seasons and scored 17 of his 50 points on the power play last season.
There are teams out there that could use that scoring depth, such as the Buffalo Sabres, who lost three-time 30-goal scorer Alex Tuch in a sign-and-trade deal with the Washington Capitals.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ducks to terminate Chris Krieder’s contract: How that helps both sides
