It felt that Chris Kreider was destined to be a member of the New York Rangers for life.
Yet, the now former Rangers forward, and current wing for the Anaheim Ducks, opened up about his decade-plus tenure in New York and welcoming a new era of playing in Southern California.
Kreider played his first 883 NHL games in a Rangers uniform, posting 326 goals and 582 points while helping them reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2014 and Eastern Conference Final five times. But he was traded to Anaheim for center Carey Terrance and a third-round pick June 12.
What Did Chris Kreider Say About His Tenure With The Rangers?
Kreider is an East Coast guy, who grew up in around Boston then went to Boston College and spent his entire NHL tenure with the Rangers. He is still training in New England with renowned NHL fitness coach Ben Prentiss in Stamford, Connecticut this off-season.
So moving to California, while also processing the trade, is growing on Kreider.
“For me itâs been kind of gradual, which I think is nice,” Kreider told The Athletic. “I donât know; I have nothing to compare it to.
“There are brush points where itâs kind of like âthis is happening, for sure.â (After Anaheim) shipped out my new equipment, jumping on the ice with Ducks stuff on, and people coming up to me and being like âyou look weird.â”
Kreider became something of a scapegoat for the Rangers’ woes during their extremely disappointing 2024-25 season. He was healthy scratched for their road game in New Jersey on Dec. 23, a 5-0 loss, and was publicly put on the trade block — along with former Rangers captain and current Ducks teammate — when GM Chris Drury’s league-wide trade memo leaked.
Still, even though things ended badly, Rangers fans have expressed their gratitude for Kreider’s tenure. He’s reciprocated it as well.
âThatâs how I feel, too,â he said.
He was asked if a change of scenery would serve him well.
“This is my first time experiencing it,” Kreider said. “Hopefully.”
What Ex-Rangers Are On The Ducks?
The Ducks are loaded with former Rangers. Aside from Kreider and Trouba, there is former Rangers No. 2 center Ryan Strome and fellow former center Frank Vatrano.
Strome told The Athletic he is excited to see Kreider show what he still has in the tank.
“I think heâs got a ton of game left,” Strome said. “I think Kreids is a very humble guy. Last year he wouldnât tell many people but he was probably playing through some tough injuries. You topple on that with some team disappointment and some personal disappointment and I think things kind of just snowball there in a bad direction.”
To Strome’s point, Kreider told The Athletic he was dealing with a hand injury that required postseason surgery. He was given an six-to-eight-week timeline to recover but was cleared after just four.
“Iâve been doing a ton of stuff [in the gym], just doing what I can to be in good shape,” Kreider said.
Though too humble to admit it publicly, Kreider is likely going to benefit from his fresh start, according to Strome.
“Heâs 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.”
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