Chris Kreider Reportedly Placed on Waivers by Ducks, Latest NHL Rumors on Potential Landing Spots

Chris Kreider is reportedly parting ways with the Anaheim Ducks as the team clears cap space amid ongoing contract talks with Cutter Gauthier.

Kreider is approving a move that will place him on waivers for purposes of contract termination, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Wednesday.

Friedman noted there is a chance Kreider could refuse to report if claimed off waivers by a team not in the New York area.

"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," Friedman reported.

Kreider was signed through next season at a cap hit of $6.5 million. He will become an unrestricted free agent if he clears waivers, per Friedman.

That includes a total salary of $5 million, of which Kreider is only owed $4 million after a signing bonus paid earlier this summer, per Friedman.

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek had "trade options presented to him" prior to the decision to waive Kreider but didn't want to include any other assets in the deal, Friedman reported.

Kreider, who turned 35 in April, recorded his eighth straight 20-goal season in his first campaign with the Ducks.

He finished the 2025-26 campaign having recorded 50 points (22 goals, 28 assists) in 75 games, then helped the Ducks make it past the first round for the first time since 2017.

Kreider could now be appealing to multiple Eastern Conference teams as a winger who could add size and scoring to a contender's top nine.

Leo Carlsson will be left to start the season without either of the wingers he spent the most time alongside last season with Kreider gone and Troy Terry still recovering from hip surgery.

The Ducks found themselves in a cap crunch this offseason after matching the Philadelphia Flyers' $18 million AAV offer sheet for Carlsson.

Anaheim went into the week with around $9 million in projected cap space, per PuckPedia.

That likely wasn't enough room to accommodate a new deal for restricted free agent Gauthier. NHL Network Radio's Paul Shaheen reported last month Gauthier's representation had rejected a four-year, $13 million offer from the Ducks.

The Ducks have until Oct. 2 regarding the start of the regular season, but just one week remaining before the new collective bargaining agreement goes into effect Sept. 16.

The new CBA no longer allows for eight-year contracts while also limiting bonus money and front-loading of money, so both the Ducks and Gauthier's camp could have motivation to get a deal done before that date, per The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.