Full Breakdown
Ducks Waive Veteran Chris Kreider to Free Cap Space for Cutter Gauthier Deal
9/10/2026, 12:10:27 AM
The Waiver Move
On September 9 2026 the Anaheim Ducks placed forward Chris Kreider on unconditional waivers to terminate the final year of his seven-year contract. With Kreider’s approval, clearing waivers will make him an unrestricted free agent. His contract carries a $6.5 million cap hit but only $4 million in cash remains after the July 1 signing bonus. The move follows a failed trade attempt, as GM Pat Verbeek said offers required “sweeteners” the club would not include.
Background & Context
The waiver action responds to a sudden salary-cap crunch. Earlier this offseason Anaheim matched an offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers for center Leo Carlsson, a five-year, $90 million deal ($18 million AAV), leaving the Ducks with roughly $9 million of projected cap space. Restricted-free-agent forward Cutter Gauthier, the team’s 41-goal scorer, is expected to command a $15-16 million AAV contract. Removing Kreider’s $6.5 million hit is therefore essential to creating room for Gauthier’s deal.
Kreider arrived in Anaheim on June 12 2025 from the New York Rangers in exchange for prospect Carey Terrance and a 2025 third-round pick (the Rangers also sent a 2025 fourth-round pick). He spent one season with the Ducks, helping the club reach the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
Data & Statistics
- Contract: $6.5 million cap hit; $4 million salary remaining after July 1 bonus.
- 2025-26 Production: 22 goals, 28 assists, 50 points in 75 games; 2 goals, 7 points in 12 playoff games.
- Career Totals: 348 goals, 284 assists, 632 points in 958 games.
- Cap Impact: Prior to the waiver the Ducks had about $9 million of space; removing Kreider’s hit frees that amount, with some outlets estimating total available space exceeding $15 million after the move.
Official Statements & Responses
Sources close to the Ducks reported that Kreider wants to return to the Eastern Conference to be nearer his family and would decline to report to a team that does not align with that preference.
Verbatim Quotes
- “In an effort to ease their sudden salary-cap crunch, the Anaheim Ducks are expected to place Chris Kreider on waivers for the purposes of contract termination,” — Elliotte Friedman
- “The move — which is happening with Kreider’s approval — make the player an unrestricted free agent once he passes through,” — Elliotte Friedman
- “Wherever Cutter comes in, I'm gonna have some work to do to make sure that we can fit everyone in,” — Pat Verbeek, Ducks GM
Why It Matters
By clearing $6.5 million of cap liability, the Ducks position themselves to meet Gauthier’s expected $15-16 million AAV request without additional roster moves. The decision also opens the market for Kreider, a 35-year-old winger with a proven net-front presence, who may attract interest from Eastern Conference teams seeking size and experience. For Anaheim, the move underscores the league-wide pressure on mid-market clubs to balance youthful contracts with veteran salaries after a wave of high-value offer sheets.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Cap-space calculations differ: some estimate the Ducks will have just over $9 million after the termination, while others project total available space exceeding $15 million once Kreider’s contract and goaltender Laurent Brossoit’s $1.1 million salary are excluded. No official figure has been released, leaving the exact flexibility for Gauthier’s deal uncertain.
