After 13 years with the New York Rangers, Chris Kreider is officially turning the page. The veteran winger, who’s been a franchise staple since his debut in 2012, was traded this summer to the Anaheim Ducks.
It’s the kind of move that shifts more than a jersey — it changes one’s identity entirely. For a player who became synonymous with Rangers hockey, starting over at 34Â presents both challenge and opportunity.
How Will Chris Kreider’s Fresh Start Impact the Anaheim Ducks?
Kreider’s departure didn’t come out of nowhere. Rumors had swirled for months, especially following the Rangers’ late-season struggles. What made this different was the tone. This wasn’t a messy breakup. It was a mutual parting, with both sides recognizing it was time.
He joins Anaheim in exchange for a third-round pick and young prospect Carey Terrance.
The Rangers are trading Chris Kreider and a mid-round pick to the Ducks for Carey Terrance and a mid-round pick, per @FriedgeHNIC.
Kreider has waived his no-trade clause to go to Anaheim. pic.twitter.com/dAR4bsnaYh
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 12, 2025
The trade brings immediate benefits for both sides. The Ducks gain a seasoned leader with playoff experience. Kreider, 34, gains a fresh challenge and a bit of familiarity, reuniting with former teammates Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano, and now sharing the ice with young talents like Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish.
However, this move comes after a frustrating 2024-25 season for Kreider. He had just come off three straight years with 36 or more goals, so expectations were high. But instead, he battled setbacks at every turn during the 2024-25 campaign.
The troubles started early with back spasms. Then came vertigo during the holidays, knocking him out of the lineup again. Just as things seemed to settle in February, a hand injury in Buffalo derailed his progress once more.
Chris Kreider said he dealt with back troubles early in the season, an illness that resulted in vertigo midseason, and then suffered a hand injury the first game after 4 Nations.
His hand might require surgery.
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) April 21, 2025
“One little push and it was just back to square one,” he said recently.
Despite the constant setbacks, Kreider pressed on. The hand injury eventually required surgery, leaving behind a three-inch scar and some metal in his hand. Still, he was back in training weeks ahead of schedule. It didn’t erase the lost season, but it showed his determination to bounce back.
Can Kreider Rebuild His Game in Anaheim?
The transition hasn’t been easy for Kreider. He spent his entire NHL career with the Rangers, from being drafted in 2009 to wearing the “A” on his sweater. He became part of the team’s fabric, making his departure particularly emotional. Leaving wasn’t something he took lightly.
“For me it’s been kind of gradual, which I think is nice,” Kreider said. “I don’t know; I have nothing to compare it to. There are brush points where it’s kind of like ‘this is happening, for sure.’ (After Anaheim) shipped out my new equipment, jumping on the ice with Ducks stuff on, and people coming up to me and being like ‘you look weird.'”
But Anaheim presented something unique: a chance to start fresh and to do so with people he trusts in the room. Reports suggest coach Joel Quenneville’s involvement helped tip the scales in favor of the move.
Now, he’s focused on what’s next. Rebuilding his game. Getting healthy. Contributing to a young team with potential. The Ducks are betting on a comeback story. Kreider’s betting on himself to deliver it.
