Chris Kreider might be in the final homestretch of his tenure with the New York Rangers .
NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported late Tuesday night that the Rangers are in "advanced discussions" with the Anaheim Ducks about a trade which would send Kreider out west for a prospect and draft pick. Most importantly from the Rangers side is that the Ducks reportedly would take on all of Kreider's remaining contract, $13 million over the next two seasons .
The Rangers currently have approximately $8.4 million in salary-cap space next season and still have several key restricted free agents to sign, including Will Cuylle , K'Andre Miller, Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom , though there are rumors that Miller could be traded . Shedding the entirety of Kreider's $6.5 million salary-cap hit would be a big win for general manager Chris Drury.
It also wouldn't be anything new for the Rangers GM. He saved nearly $12 million annually by placing Barclay Goodrow on waivers, where he was claimed by the San Jose Sharks a year ago, and trading Jacob Trouba to the Ducks in December.
Drury has long sought to move Kreider to create room under the salary cap. Last November, he sent a memo to the other 31 GMs in the NHL detailing that he was open for business and looking to trade Trouba and/or Kreider.
Now those veterans could wind up together across the country next season if this reported deal is consummated.
Seravalli stated that "The talks, which sources stressed had not reached the finish line, were slated to continue on Wednesday. But there was mutual interest between the parties and the framework of a deal in place."
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Though a Kreider trade would not be shocking, it's still a big deal. He's the longest tenured current Rangers player and is third all-time in franchise history with 326 goals, tied for first with 116 power-play goals, and eighth with 883 games played.
Kreider is the Rangers all-time leader with 48 goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a memorable natural hat trick that helped them rally to eliminate the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Second Round last spring.
The 34-year-old was stung by Drury's trade memo this past season and slowed by a back injury, a bout of vertigo, and a broken hand. Though his production dropped considerably, Kreider finished third on the Rangers with 22 goals and six power-play goals in 68 games. He tied for fifth in the NHL with four short-handed goals.
However, Kreider totaled just 30 points, a steep decline from the 75 points (39 goals, 36 assists) he recorded in 2023-24. With Rangers looking to revamp their roster this summer after missing the playoffs for the first time in four years, the former 52-goal scorer (2021-22) appeared to be a goner despite his partial no-trade clause.
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