The Anaheim Ducks are expected to place forward Chris Kreider on waivers for contract termination, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
The move is happening with the approval of Kreider, who has indicated a desire to return east to be closer to his family, sources told Friedman.
Kreider has one year left at a $6.5-million cap hit but is owed $4 million in salary. If he goes unclaimed, he would become an unrestricted free agent.
The Ducks are facing an unanticipated cap crunch after matching Leo Carlsson's offer sheet at a cap hit of $18 million earlier this offseason. Anaheim has just over $9 million of projected cap space before terminating Kreider's contract and still needs to re-sign restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier.
Kreider tallied 22 goals and 50 points in 75 games last season and added two goals and seven points in 12 playoff contests. It was the 35-year-old's first campaign in Anaheim after he spent 13 seasons with the New York Rangers.
The Massachusetts native represented the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025. Kreider notched a career-high 52 goals in 2021-22 and has reached 20 goals in 11 seasons. He has 348 goals and 632 points in 958 career games.
