Report: Ducks to place Chris Kreider on waivers to terminate contract

A veteran player could be on his way to a new home.

The Anaheim Ducks are expected to place forward Chris Kreider on waivers for the purpose of contract termination.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to report the news on Wednesday.

If Kreider were to clear waivers, he would become an unrestricted free agent. He has one more year on his seven-year contract extension, which he signed with the New York Rangers in February 2020. The deal has a cap hit of $6.5 million, with a modified no-trade clause and no-move clause.

Kreider came to the Ducks in June 2025, as he was traded by the Rangers, along with a fourth-round pick, for Carey Terrance and a third-round selection. He proved to be an excellent veteran presence on the young team, showing that he can still be a productive player, even as he’s one the Back 9 of his career. In 75 regular-season games, the Boxford, Mass. native scored 22 goals and 50 points, finishing fifth on the team in scoring and helping the team reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2018.

He added another two goals and seven points in the postseason, as the Ducks managed to upset the Edmonton Oilers, clinching their first playoff series win in nine years. Anaheim was ultimately eliminated by the eventual Western Conference champions, the Vegas Golden Knights.

If Kreider becomes a UFA, he will certainly be a sought-after commodity. He might not be as fleet of foot as he was in his younger days, but the 35-year-old has shown he can be an important asset on a playoff contender.

Across 14 NHL seasons, Kreider has appeared in 958 regular-season contests, posting 348 goals and 284 assists for 632 points. He’s also notched 83 points in 135 postseason games.