Chris Kreider asked for a trade and now the New York Rangers are left with more questions than answers
Chris Kreider asked for a trade and now the New York Rangers are left with more questions than answers
The New York Rangers made a jaw-dropping move that took their fans and the hockey world by surprise: they traded Chris Kreider, their longest-serving player and a franchise legend, to the Anaheim Ducks. After 13 seasons, 326 goals, and countless unforgettable moments in a Rangers jersey, Kreider asked for a trade, marking the end of an era. While Kreider heads west for a new start, the Rangers are left dealing with a lot of uncertainties about their future.
The trade was pretty simple but had a lot of significance. The Rangers traded Kreider along with a fourth-round pick in 2025 to Anaheim. In exchange, they received center prospect Carey Terrance and a third-round pick in 2025. It wasn’t a huge deal, but the real surprise was the reason behind it: Kreider wanted to leave.
Ryan Strome, who used to be Kreider’s teammate on the Rangers and is now with the Ducks, shared the scoop during an interview. “He’s a very proud Ranger and one of the most accomplished Rangers in history,” Strome said. “As much as I feel like he needed a bit of a fresh start and a new challenge, I also think it was probably not the easiest thing to go. … They wanted to let Chris handle it the way he wanted to handle it. I think he kind of steered the ship a little bit.”.
Kreider’s contract included a no-trade clause, which meant he had to agree to it for the trade to proceed. He opted for Anaheim in part due to familiar faces like Strome, Jacob Trouba, and Frank Vatrano, ex-Rangers who are now part of the Ducks and the appointment of respected coach Joel Quenneville.
