Rangers Close to Shocking Deal: Could Chris Kreider Be Heading to the Ducks?

Could this mark the end of an era at Madison Square Garden? Chris Kreider, the stalwart winger who’s been synonymous with the Rangers’ blue jersey for 13 seasons, might be skating off the ice in New York for the last time. Word on the street is that the Rangers and the Anaheim Ducks have sunk into “advanced” trade talks, inching closer to a deal that involves a young prospect and a draft pick heading to New York, while Anaheim takes on Kreider’s hefty $6.5 million cap hit. Though nothing’s set in stone yet, sources expect negotiations to stretch into Wednesday, with everyone watching closely. With Kreider’s no-trade list and current contract still in play, this move—if it lands—would signal a seismic shakeup, especially after a season plagued by back spasms and a “weird illness” that left his stats at a surprising low. As someone who’s tracked hockey’s heartbeat for years, this potential trade feels like a turning point—for Kreider, the Rangers, and maybe even the NHL landscape itself. LEARN MORE

Chris Kreider might have played his last game with the Rangers.

The Rangers are in “advanced” talks to trade the 13-year veteran to the Ducks, NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported Tuesday.

A deal is not yet completed and discussions are expected to continue into Wednesday.

Lohud reported that a “framework” for a trade exists that would send a prospect and a draft pick from Anaheim, while the Ducks would cover Kreider’s $6.5 million average annual value.

The winger, who has a 15-team no-trade list, is under contract for this season and next.

Back spasms and a “weird illness” that caused vertigo limited Kreider to 68 games in 2024-25, and his 30 points (22 goals, eight assists) marked his lowest season output since the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign.

This past season also saw Kreider, 34, get listed in a league-wide memo in November as general manager Chris Drury sought potential trade partners.

At the end of April, Kreider said how much playing in New York meant to him and he hoped to help the Rangers turn things around after missing the playoffs this season.

“I mean, this is home for me,” Kreider said. “This is the organization that gave me an opportunity to live out my dream. I’ve developed so many incredible relationships and grown up and spent so much time in this area. So, obviously, this is where I want to be and this is the group I want to help in whatever fashion and win hockey games.”

Kreider, who has scored at least 30 goals three times, ranks in the top 10 in a slew of Rangers lists, with his 326 goals ranking third and 582 points ranking 10th in franchise history.