The Ducks are expected to place Chris Kreider on waivers to terminate the final year of his contract, a move that would give him a chance to leave Anaheim and, if he clears, become an unrestricted free agent. The decision is expected to be approved by Kreider, turning a roster problem into a search for his next stop.
That is why his name is drawing attention now. Kreider carries a $6.5 million cap hit for the coming season, but only $4 million in cash remains after his July 1 signing bonus, a structure that makes the timing of the move important for both sides. Anaheim wants the room, and Kreider wants the freedom to choose where he plays next.
He has made that preference clear. After 13 NHL seasons with the New York Rangers, Kreider wants to return east and be closer to family, and he has indicated he would not report if claimed by a team he does not want to join. That leaves the waiver process as more than a procedural step: it is the gate between Anaheim's plan and Kreider's control over his next move.
Pat Verbeek needed cap flexibility after the Ducks matched Leo Carlsson's $18 million offer sheet, and the club was also staring at a future extension decision involving Cutter Gauthier. A trade was explored, but the available options were not attractive enough, and Anaheim did not want to add extra assets just to move the contract. The termination route clears the issue without forcing a deal the club did not like.
The cost is experienced scoring. Kreider produced 50 points last season and would leave Anaheim without a power forward who still has enough value to matter on the open market. If he clears waivers, the next step is straightforward: he becomes a free agent immediately after the process, and the question shifts from whether he can leave to which team he chooses when he does.
