Anaheim Ducks Make Surprising Move With Chris Kreider

It's getting down to the wire now for the Anaheim Ducks to find a way to sign restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier. But to meet his contract demands, they've been trying to offload a chunk of salary cap space with a trade. They haven't found a taker, so they're now set to pull the surprise move of placing veteran Chris Kreider on waivers for the purpose of contract termination. It's believed that it was Krieder's decision to make this happen. 

The Ducks and Chris Kreider are expected to agree to waivers for the purpose of contract termination per @FriedgeHNIC 🤯

Kreider has a $6.5M cap hit this season, the Ducks currently have ~$9M in cap space and Cutter Gauthier is still a RFA. pic.twitter.com/IRPDiWVlaj

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 9, 2026 

That will free up $6.5 million in cap space, to go along with the $9M or so that they currently have. That puts them over the $15M mark, hopefully (for them) just enough to squeeze in a new deal for Gauthier. 

Insider Elliotte Friedman explains what happens next for Kreider. 

"The move — which is happening with Kreider’s approval — make the player an unrestricted free agent once he passes through. According to several sources, Kreider has indicated he desires to return east, closer to family where he spent the first 13 years of his career, and will not report if claimed somewhere he prefers not to play."

He added that GM Pat Verbeek "did not like the trade options presented to him (in talks for Kreider with rival teams), specifically 'sweeteners' he might have to include to get it done." And with that, the waivers and contract termination was his best option.  

Kreider, from Massachusetts, is a 14-year veteran and a two-time All-Star. He spent the first 13 years of his career with the NY Rangers, and from the intel that Friedman provides, he's looking to get back to that northeast part of the country. 

The 35-year-old recorded 22 goals and 50 points for the Ducks in his one and only season there this past year. In 958 career games, he has 348 goals and 632 points.