Chris Kreider is set to be the first casualty of the Rangers’ highly anticipated offseason changes.
Joining the team after a successful run at Boston College, the 34-year-old Kreider has reportedly signed off on a trade with the Ducks, as reported by Larry Brooks.
Kreider had the power to approve the trade, given that the Ducks were on his 15-team no-trade list.
Once finalized, the Rangers will receive a 20-year-old prospect, Casey Terrance, who was selected 59th overall in the 2023 draft by Anaheim.
With the Ducks needing to spend over $14 million to meet the salary cap floor, they’ll be taking on Kreider’s $6.5 million cap hit for the next two seasons.
This marks the first time in more than a decade that Kreider won’t be part of the Rangers, debuting in Game 3 of the 2012 Eastern Conference quarterfinals after being picked 19th overall in the 2009 NHL Draft.
Throughout his 13 seasons, Kreider has had his highs and lows, but last season was particularly challenging, impacted by injuries that hindered his performance. He was identified as a trade option last November by General Manager Chris Drury after a disconnect with the franchise seemed apparent.
Now, Kreider will follow several former teammates, including Captain Jacob Trouba and others like Barclay Goodrow and Kaapo Kakko. In Orange County, he’ll reunite with Trouba and former Rangers Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano.
Kreider leaves a significant legacy in Manhattan. He was the inaugural recipient of the “Mr. Ranger” award in April 2022, sitting next to legends like Rod Gilbert. It’s hard to envision Kreider in any colors other than those of the Rangers. He even wore their colors while representing Team USA under newly appointed NHL head coach Mike Sullivan during the Four Nations tournament in February.
The two teams will only face off twice in the upcoming season, competing from different conferences. Despite not clinching a Stanley Cup during his time with the Rangers, Kreider’s name is etched in franchise history, having reached the Conference Finals five times and being a key part of their record book.
He stands as the all-time playoff goal scorer for the team with 48 goals, and his 116 power-play goals are tied for the franchise best. His 326 total goals put him third all-time, while his 50 playoff game-winning goals are second-best as well.
Yet, the statistics don’t entirely capture what Kreider meant to the Rangers—his impact, commitment, and those crucial moments on the ice are immense. Tied with Mark Messier for the most goals scored in elimination playoff games (16), Kreider’s contributions extend beyond just numbers.
His charitable work, particularly with the Garden of Dreams Foundation, is well-known and adds to his legacy.
The debate over whether someone should wear Kreider’s number again will likely continue, but it seems that another No. 20 will be hard to find. From his playoff hat trick against the Hurricanes to clearing cap space, Kreider made unforgettable contributions to the Rangers in New York.
Regardless of how it ends, his legacy is undeniable.
