Chris Kreider’s stay in Anaheim may already be in jeopardy.
The former Rangers winger was dealt to the Ducks after New York moved on from one of the most productive players in franchise history, sending Kreider to Anaheim for prospect Carey Terrance and a 2025 third-round pick that became Russian defenseman Artyom Gonchar. The move gave Kreider a fresh start, and he delivered in a big way: 50 points in 75 games, including 22 goals and 28 assists, while helping the Ducks reach the playoffs and win a first-round series over the Edmonton Oilers.
Now, though, Anaheim’s cap picture is getting messy fast.
The Ducks are dealing with Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers, a five-year deal worth $18 million annually. If Anaheim matches it, a huge chunk of its cap space gets tied up immediately. Add in Pavel Mintyukov’s five-year, $36 million extension and the looming need to pay Cutter Gauthier this summer, and the Ducks suddenly have some tough decisions to make.
On a recent episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek may have to move one, two, or even all three of Frank Vatrano, Alex Killorn, and Kreider.
"He might have to move, he's got three guys with some degree of no trade protection. Kreider, Killorn, Vatrano.
He might have to move ore or two of them, maybe all three of them," said Friedman. "It's really going to hurt the depth of his club."
That’s the heart of the issue for Anaheim. Carlsson’s deal would make him the highest paid player in hockey, at least for now, and Gauthier is projected by AFP Analytics to land at $8.8 million per year on his next contract. With that kind of money coming due, the Ducks may have to trim from the middle of the roster just to stay flexible.
Kreider is entering the final year of his contract and carries a $6.5 million cap hit. Killorn is also in the last year of his deal at $6.25 million.
Vatrano is signed through 2027-28 at $4.57 million per season. Those are exactly the kinds of contracts Anaheim could look to move if it needs room.
But as Friedman pointed out, that kind of cleanup comes with a cost. The Ducks would be weakening their depth at a time when they’re trying to keep pace in a Pacific Division that includes the Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Los Angeles Kings, all playoff teams last season. The San Jose Sharks, too, are on the rise and have a stacked roster.
If Kreider does end up back on the market, either via trade or in free agency next summer, the Rangers would be a natural team to watch. They need help up front, but a reunion would come with its own awkward logic after New York already moved him once. A return through free agency would make more sense than another trade.
For now, Kreider’s future in Anaheim looks anything but settled.
In Other News...
Islanders Just Sent A Strong Message About Barzal And Horvat
The Rangers have made it clear they are not entertaining any noise around Adam Fox, even after other teams checked in on his availability. There had been some speculation that Fox might be carrying lingering frustration after being left off the U.S. Olympic roster, but that chatter does not appear to have much footing, and New Yorks stance only reinforces how central he remains to the blue line.
For the Islanders, the message is just as direct with Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat. Despite outside interest, they are not looking to move either center, a sign that the organization still sees both as core pieces rather than names to shop. In a division where rival teams are always probing for leverage, that kind of firm line matters, especially with the Devils also waiting on a separate roster decision elsewhere in the Metro. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Just Created A Tough Early Test For Alberts Smits
The Rangers spent the offseason reshaping their blue line in a way that gives them a much clearer top four, with Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson joining Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov. That kind of depth is a good problem to have, but it also changes the early path for Alberts Smits, the fifth overall pick in the NHL Draft, who arrived with the kind of pedigree that usually points straight toward major minutes.
Elliotte Friedman noted that Smits can still work his way into the picture and that even a third-pairing role could be part of his development rather than a setback. For the Rangers, the real question is not whether Smits has long-term value, but how quickly he can force his way into a crowded defense group and whether he becomes part of the plan as soon as the 2026-27 season. [Read more 🡒]