When selling Chris Kreider on the benefits of being traded by the New York Rangers to the Anaheim Ducks , agent Matt Keator came up with a very timely comparison how Brad Marchand is flourishing now with the Florida Panthers after 16 seasons with the Boston Bruins .
After more than a decade playing for one team in the same city with the same routines and comfort level, change can definitely be a positive thing.
"I actually used Brad Marchand as an example of a guy who, hey, change is good. Change can be refreshing for a player. I think in Chris' case, it's going to be very refreshing," Keator told hosts Pierre McGuire and Jimmy Murphy on The Sick Podcast . "He's going to have five and a half months between his last hockey game to his next hockey game, and he's utilized the time, all the time, to prepare his body and mentally get ready for the season. I think he's going to have a great year."
The Rangers traded Kreider to the Ducks last week for 20-year-old center prospect Carey Terrance and a swap of mid-round draft picks. Most importantly, Anaheim picked up the remaining $13 million owed Kreider over the next two seasons, giving New York a much-needed $6.5 million more in salary-cap space.
"The math didn't add up in New York, and it was time [to move on]," Keator said simply.
Of course, moving on after 13 seasons with the same organization is not exactly easy. But, hey, as Keator pointed out, look at Marchand, who spent 16 seasons with the Bruins, won the Stanley Cup with them in 2011 and was their captain the past two seasons. Marchand gave everything he had to the Bruins, but was dealt to the Panthers ahead of the trade deadline in March amid a terrible season for them and with the 37-year-old set to become an unrestricted free agent.
And how's that working out for Marchand? Well, in case you missed it, after recovering from an injury late in the season, he's living his best life in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Marchand is tied for third among all skaters with 10 goals in the postseason, and is the first player since Esa Tikkanen with the Edmonton Oilers in 1988 to score six goals in the Stanley Cup Final.
Marchand and the Panthers are one victory away from winning the Stanley Cup , with Game 6 against the Oilers set for Tuesday at Amerant Bank Arena.
So, change doesn't have to suck, does it?
Related: Rangers rumors: Mika Zibanejad trade speculation picks up after Chris Kreider deal
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Of course, there's no guarantee that Kreider will be in the Cup Final next spring with the Ducks. In fact, you'd expect he won't be. The Ducks haven't made the playoffs in seven straight years . But with an extremely talented young core, paired with key veterans like Kreider, and three-time Stanley Cup winner Joel Quenneville now behind the bench, the Ducks are coming fast and should challenge for a postseason berth next season after they improved 21 points year-over-year in 2024-25.
It'll also be a fresh start for the 34-year-old forward, who dipped to 30 points this past season with the Rangers, despite finishing third on the team with 22 goals.
"Obviously, things in Anaheim have really changed for the better with Joel Quenneville going there and what (general manager) Pat Verbeek's done there. And they're poised to win, and Chris wants to win," Keator explained.
Kreider took his time examining the situation in Anaheim, which was included on his no-trade list, before signing off on this deal. He spoke to former Rangers teammates Jacob Trouba , Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano , who all play for the Ducks. And Keator had Kreider speak with two of his clients that are with the Ducks, veteran forward Alex Killorn and emerging star Leo Carlsson .
He also spoke with Quenneville.
Clearly, Kreider liked what he heard.
"He had great chemistry with Strome in New York, and off ice with Trouba and Frankie Vatrano. I think for him it was learning more, educating himself," Keator stated. "We did a zoom call … and [the Ducks] did a good job outlining where they are at, and they're in a win-now mode. Joel made a real good point on the call that that where they're at now reminds him of the [ Chicago ] Blackhawks in '08. If you remember, they won in 2010. It was quick. It was two years later and they were off to the races, and that's what this team has."
It might sear the eyeballs seeing Kreider in that bright orange Ducks jersey. And there will be other things for the popular former Rangers star to get accustomed to.
But change most definitely can be a good thing. Just ask Brad Marchand.
Related Headlines
