What had seemed inevitable since his name appeared in a league-wide trade memo seven months ago finally happened: the New York Rangers traded top star and a 2025 fourth-round draft pick to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for center prospect and a 2025 third-round pick.
The fourth-rounder heading to Anaheim is the same pick the Rangers acquired in December when they traded defenseman and captain Jacob Trouba to the Ducks. The third-round pick coming to New York originally belonged to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In essence, the Rangers move up 15 spots in the draft.
The crucial aspect of this trade was that the Rangers didn’t retain any of top stars salary. The Ducks will take on the full \$13 million he’s owed over the next two seasons, which clears \$6.5 million in salary-cap space for the Rangers. This gives New York about \$15 million in cap room heading into the offseason—funds they’ll need to re-sign several restricted free agents, including forward Will Cuylle.
veteran star, 20, was selected by Anaheim in the second round (59th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft. A native of upstate New York, he signed his entry-level contract on April 9 and is set to begin his pro career next season. Known for his strong character and two-way play, Terrance captained the Erie Otters in the OHL this season and projects as a bottom-six forward at the NHL level.
Chris Kreider, the Rangers’ longest-tenured player, debuted in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Ottawa Senators in 2012, shortly after winning an NCAA National Championship with Boston College.
Now 34, Kreider played 883 regular-season games over 13 seasons with the Rangers—seventh most in team history. He also holds franchise records for most playoff games (123) and most postseason goals (48).
When Kreider and the Rangers returned from Raleigh, his lawn was covered with signs and balloons from fans celebrating his playoff heroics. But the celebration was short-lived for Kreider. In November, his name appeared in a memo from Rangers general manager Chris Drury, sent to all 31 other teams, indicating a willingness to trade both Kreider and captain Jacob Trouba.
While only Trouba was ultimately moved — also to the Ducks, in December — the news deeply affected Kreider. He withdrew emotionally, struggled with back and hand injuries, and experienced a significant drop in performance, finishing the season with just 30 points in 68 games.
Although Kreider ranked third on the Rangers with 22 goals, his overall struggles were a key factor in the team missing the playoffs for the first time in four years—capping off one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history. So, while this day felt both inevitable and necessary for Kreider and the Rangers, it still comes as a bit of a shock given his significant place in the franchise’s history.
Chris Kreider goes down as one of greats in Rangers history
There’s a strong possibility that Chris Kreider’s No. 20 will one day hang in the rafters at Madison Square Garden. He ranks third all-time in franchise history with 326 goals and is tied with Camille Henry for the most power-play goals by a Ranger with 116. His 582 career points place him 10th on the team’s all-time list.
A dominant presence in front of the net, known for his explosive speed and physicality, Kreider scored a career-high 52 goals during the 2021-22 season. He’s one of just four players in Rangers history to reach the 50-goal mark in a single season, finishing just two goals shy of Jaromir Jagr’s franchise record of 54 set in 2005-06.
Kreider earned the prestigious Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award during the 2021-22 season, the same year he was honored with the Rod Gilbert “Mr. Ranger” Award. He also represented the Rangers in the NHL All-Star Games in 2020 and 2022, and played for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off this past February.
The respected alternate captain now heads to Orange County, where he’ll reunite with former Rangers teammates Jacob Trouba, Ryan Strome, and Frank Vatrano. Kreider is expected to bring veteran leadership to a talented, up-and-coming Ducks team. Earlier this offseason, Anaheim further signaled its ambitions by hiring three-time Stanley Cup champion Joel Quenneville as head coach.
The Ducks have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for seven straight seasons, but showed significant progress in 2024-25, improving by 21 points to finish with 80. With their young core developing and recent additions, they appear well-positioned to contend for a playoff spot next season.