The New York Rangers are entering a bold new chapter that doesn’t include Chris Kreider for the first time in over a decade. The veteran forward, long considered a franchise cornerstone, has officially agreed to waive his no-trade clause, clearing the path for a significant deal that sends him to the Anaheim Ducks.
It’s a moment fans saw coming but still hoped wouldn’t arrive so soon. With this move, the Rangers’ offseason shakeup has truly begun, and a legendary era has quietly ended.
Chris Kreider Clears the Way for Anaheim Ducks Trade
Kreider’s departure from New York feels like more than just a trade; it’s the end of an era. The longest-tenured Ranger, who debuted in the 2012 playoffs straight out of Boston College, has signed off on a move to the Anaheim Ducks.
While trade talks had been brewing for months, the one major roadblock — Kreider’s no-trade clause, stemming from the seven-year extension worth $45.5 million that he inked in 2020 — was removed on June 12. Kreider green-lighted the trade, per Larry Brooks.
The Rangers will receive 20-year-old center prospect Carey Terrance, selected 59th overall by the Ducks in the 2023 NHL Draft, and a third-round pick. In return, the Ducks will take on Kreider and a fourth-round pick from New York, absorbing his full $6.5 million cap hit over the next two seasons. The Ducks, aiming to meet the NHL’s salary cap floor, will benefit financially, while the Rangers will create space for a retooling effort.
Kreider has signed off on the trade to Anaheim, Post has learned
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) June 12, 2025
For Kreider, this trade ends a 13-season relationship with the team that drafted him 19th overall in 2009. He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy: 883 games played (eighth-most in franchise history), 326 goals (third), 116 power-play goals (tied for first), and 48 playoff goals (most in team history).
His clutch play, including 16 goals in playoff elimination games (tied with Mark Messier for the NHL record), earned him the “Mr. Ranger” award in 2022 and the deep admiration of fans across the league.
This will be Kreider and a mid-round pick to Ducks for Carey Terrance and a mid-round pick…upon official completion
End of an era for NYR https://t.co/mDA9R23wzs
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 12, 2025
The 2024-25 season, however, brought its share of challenges. Injuries plagued Kreider’s performance, and the decline didn’t go unnoticed. As early as November, Rangers GM Chris Drury circulated a memo around the league to gauge trade interest in several players, including Kreider. The signs were clear: changes were coming.
And they have. With Kreider’s exit, the Rangers bid farewell to yet another core piece. Jacob Trouba, Barclay Goodrow, Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren have all moved on as part of a broader organizational shift.
Even in departure, Kreider’s influence resonates. His work off the ice with the Garden of Dreams Foundation and other charities has been as impactful as his performances. For Rangers fans, he wasn’t just a goal scorer; he was a leader, a mentor, and a symbol of everything good about the franchise.
As for his future with the Ducks, Kreider’s presence adds experience and grit to a rebuilding team. But for fans in New York, seeing him in another uniform, especially not red, white, and blue, is a monumental shift. His tenure may have ended without a Stanley Cup, but Kreider’s legacy is etched permanently in Rangers’ franchise history.
