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Anaheim Ducks Waive Chris Kreider to Free Up $6.5 Million in Salary-Cap Space
In a decisive move to unlock $6.5 million of salary‑cap room, the Anaheim Ducks announced on September 9, 2026 that veteran forward Chris Kreider will be placed on waivers, making him an unrestricted free agent if he clears the waiver wire.
According to a source with knowledge of the decision, the Ducks are tightening their budget after matching a five‑year, $90 million offer sheet for center Leo Carlsson and re‑signing defenseman Pavel Mintyukov. The organization also faces the task of re‑upping forward Cutter Gauthier, leaving the roster with limited flexibility. By terminating Kreider’s contract, Anaheim will have more than $15.5 million available for the 2026‑27 season.
Kreider’s deal is the final year of a seven‑year, $45.5 million contract that carries a $6.5 million cap hit. He is set to earn $4 million for the upcoming season. The 14‑year NHL veteran has expressed a desire to play closer to the East Coast, a preference the Ducks’ front office has reportedly heard.
The waiver announcement comes on the heels of a season that saw the Ducks return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017‑18. Anaheim advanced past the Edmonton Oilers in six games before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round. Head coach Joel Quenneville’s squad is now tasked with rebuilding its roster under the constraints of the league’s hard salary cap.
If Kreider clears waivers, he will become a free agent on September 10, 2026. Several teams have indicated potential interest. The Buffalo Sabres, who lost top‑six winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram in the off‑season, could benefit from Kreider’s experience and scoring depth. The New York Rangers, who re‑signed Pavel Dorofeyev, Sean Durzi, Marcus Pettersson, and Eeli Tolvanen, might view Kreider as a familiar presence that could help the team reach the playoffs.
Montreal’s Canadiens, a club with a young core but in need of additional top‑line talent, have also been mentioned in trade rumors. The Philadelphia Flyers, still in a rebuilding phase, could use a veteran forward to mentor younger players.
The Ducks’ cap situation is described as “handcuffed” after the Carlsson offer sheet. The team’s salary‑cap space is limited to $81.5 million for the 2026‑27 season, the same ceiling that has applied since the 2019‑20 campaign. Removing Kreider’s contract frees the organization to address other roster needs.
Kreider’s departure also opens the door for the Ducks to explore free‑agent options or negotiate a trade that could bring in a younger player or draft pick. The organization has not yet announced any trade partners.
The move fits a broader trend of teams managing cap space in the NHL’s hard‑cap environment. Since the salary‑cap rules were introduced in the 2005‑06 season, teams that exceed the cap face penalties and are barred from playoff participation.
In the coming days, Anaheim will monitor the waiver wire for any claims on Kreider. If no team claims him, he will become a free agent and could sign with a team on the East Coast or elsewhere. The player’s status will be finalized on September 10, 2026.
The Ducks will also continue to evaluate their roster ahead of the 2026‑27 season, which begins on September 29, 2026. The front office must decide how to allocate the newly available cap space, whether to re‑sign existing players or pursue fresh talent.
In summary, Anaheim has waived Chris Kreider to free $6.5 million in cap space, a move that reflects the team’s need to manage its salary‑cap constraints after recent signings. Kreider will become a free agent if he clears waivers, and the Ducks will look to use the additional cap room to address other roster needs for the upcoming season.
According to a source with knowledge of the decision, the Ducks are tightening their budget after matching a five‑year, $90 million offer sheet for center Leo Carlsson and re‑signing defenseman Pavel Mintyukov. The organization also faces the task of re‑upping forward Cutter Gauthier, leaving the roster with limited flexibility. By terminating Kreider’s contract, Anaheim will have more than $15.5 million available for the 2026‑27 season.
Kreider’s deal is the final year of a seven‑year, $45.5 million contract that carries a $6.5 million cap hit. He is set to earn $4 million for the upcoming season. The 14‑year NHL veteran has expressed a desire to play closer to the East Coast, a preference the Ducks’ front office has reportedly heard.
The waiver announcement comes on the heels of a season that saw the Ducks return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017‑18. Anaheim advanced past the Edmonton Oilers in six games before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round. Head coach Joel Quenneville’s squad is now tasked with rebuilding its roster under the constraints of the league’s hard salary cap.
If Kreider clears waivers, he will become a free agent on September 10, 2026. Several teams have indicated potential interest. The Buffalo Sabres, who lost top‑six winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram in the off‑season, could benefit from Kreider’s experience and scoring depth. The New York Rangers, who re‑signed Pavel Dorofeyev, Sean Durzi, Marcus Pettersson, and Eeli Tolvanen, might view Kreider as a familiar presence that could help the team reach the playoffs.
Montreal’s Canadiens, a club with a young core but in need of additional top‑line talent, have also been mentioned in trade rumors. The Philadelphia Flyers, still in a rebuilding phase, could use a veteran forward to mentor younger players.
The Ducks’ cap situation is described as “handcuffed” after the Carlsson offer sheet. The team’s salary‑cap space is limited to $81.5 million for the 2026‑27 season, the same ceiling that has applied since the 2019‑20 campaign. Removing Kreider’s contract frees the organization to address other roster needs.
Kreider’s departure also opens the door for the Ducks to explore free‑agent options or negotiate a trade that could bring in a younger player or draft pick. The organization has not yet announced any trade partners.
The move fits a broader trend of teams managing cap space in the NHL’s hard‑cap environment. Since the salary‑cap rules were introduced in the 2005‑06 season, teams that exceed the cap face penalties and are barred from playoff participation.
In the coming days, Anaheim will monitor the waiver wire for any claims on Kreider. If no team claims him, he will become a free agent and could sign with a team on the East Coast or elsewhere. The player’s status will be finalized on September 10, 2026.
The Ducks will also continue to evaluate their roster ahead of the 2026‑27 season, which begins on September 29, 2026. The front office must decide how to allocate the newly available cap space, whether to re‑sign existing players or pursue fresh talent.
In summary, Anaheim has waived Chris Kreider to free $6.5 million in cap space, a move that reflects the team’s need to manage its salary‑cap constraints after recent signings. Kreider will become a free agent if he clears waivers, and the Ducks will look to use the additional cap room to address other roster needs for the upcoming season.
