The Anaheim Ducks placed veteran forward Chris Kreider on waivers to terminate his contract as general manager Pat Verbeek clears crucial salary cap space ahead of training camp and upcoming roster extensions.
The Cap Crunch Behind the Anaheim Decision
The timing of the Anaheim Ducks move highlights a franchise pressing hard against financial limits right before training camp opens. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek found himself forced to jettison cash, driven by a much different cap situation due to Leo Carlsson’s matched $18 million offer sheet and a looming extension for 41-goal scorer Cutter Gauthier, according to the outlet’s reporting on the team’s financial maneuvering. A trade never came through for Anaheim, but now anyone else is going to be free to claim Kreider. Those same sources indicate he did not like the trade options presented to him, specifically “sweeteners” he might have to include to get it done.
Before re-signing forward Cutter Gauthier to a new contract, Puck Pedia figures show that the Anaheim Ducks have roughly $9 million in cap space. Waiving Kreider seemingly opens the gate for the Ducks to get a deal done with Gauthier sooner rather than later. Rather than forcing an unwanted trade involving difficult sweeteners, the front office chose contract termination.
How the Waiver and Termination Process Works
Placing a player on waivers for the purpose of contract termination is a coordinated effort between the franchise and the player’s representatives. Puck Pedia posted to X after Friedman’s report that if a player is willing to have his contract terminated, the team & player coordinate for him to breach his contract. Then, the team terminates, and the player does not file a grievance for the termination.
This path requires complete alignment between the club and the player’s camp. Right before the Anaheim Ducks training camp opens, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that forward Chris Kreider will be placed on waivers for the purpose of contract termination. This is happening with the approval of Kreider and his camp. He will become a free agent once this move passes through.
Where the 15-Year Veteran Heads Next
As Kreider prepares to enter the open market, his preferred destinations are already shaping the narrative of his next career chapter. Having spent the first 13 seasons of his career in New York, the 35-year-old has distinct geographic priorities.
According to Elliotte Friedman via Sportsnet / Heavy Sports reporting, several sources have indicated that Kreider wants to return to the East Coast, closer to the family and the area where he spent the first 13 years of his career, and that he will refuse to report if he is claimed by a team where he does not wish to play.
That rigid stance gives the veteran forward immense control over his destination. As this unfolds, it’s important to keep in mind that Kreider is driving the bus with where he will play this season. If a team picks him up and it’s not where he wants to go, he just won’t report. Kreider called New York home for 13 seasons with the Rangers. The 35-year-old may want to go back. However, at the moment the Rangers have just $995,476 of cap space. New York also just brought in forward Eeli Tolvanen last week on a 1-year deal. Should the Ducks have done this around the same time, then perhaps Kreider would have an easier path to go back to his old team.
Potential Eastern Conference landing spots include the New York Islanders or New Jersey Devils, as both teams are on the rise in the Eastern Conference after missing the postseason last year. Either of those teams offers familiarity to the Kreiders and would allow him to be a veteran presence on a team that wants to chase a playoff spot. Another team that got a taste of the playoffs again last year was the Buffalo Sabres, who might want the veteran to come in at an affordable number on a multi-year deal. Adding Kreider would allow the Sabres to plug him into a utility role right out of the gate, complementing young stars as Tage Thompson, Josh Norris, Josh Doan, and Zach Benson take the spotlight.
