Chris Kreider’s trade to Ducks comes with hint of Rangers blue, reuniting with 3 ex-teammates
Chris Kreider won’t have to search far for a new carpool buddy in Anaheim — his favorite one is already there. Years after sharing rides to and from New York Rangers games and practices, Kreider and Ryan Strome are teammates once again, this time with the Ducks.
On a recent episode of Light The Lamp with Ducks reporter Alexis Downie, Kreider was asked who his favorite carpool companion was with the Rangers. It was a bit of a set-up because Strome sent the question in.
“I think first person I drove with was Mats Zuccarello, and then there was a time period with Cam Talbot and Adam McQuaid, and then it was Fil Chytil and Ryan Strome. So, I mean, recency bias, obviously ‘Stromer’.”
Kreider was traded to the Ducks last week for 20-year-old center prospect Carey Terrance and a swap of mid-round draft picks. He arrives after spending all 13 seasons of his NHL career on Broadway.
The 34-year-old is changing teams, uniforms and coasts, but he’s not walking into a completely unfamiliar locker room. Anaheim’s roster features familiarity from his time in New York — players he shared the ice with, road trips, and yes, carpools.
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Chris Kreider joins former Rangers teammates in Anaheim
Jacob Trouba
Among the familiar faces Kreider will see in Anaheim is Jacob Trouba, his longtime teammate and former Rangers captain. The two shared six seasons together with the Rangers — Kreider as an alternate and Trouba wearing the “C” — before the latter was traded to the Ducks in December for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round draft pick.
“Jacob’s [got to be] one of the best teammates I’ve ever played with,” Kreider said. “Everything that he brings, you know, as a player and as a leader … that’s a guy that you want on your team, that’s a guy that you want to play with.”
And there’s more to their relationship than hockey.
“He’s a terrific friend, too. Super easy guy to talk to,” Kreider added. “He’s been such a good friend, such a good teammate to me for such a long time. So being able to play with him again — it’s amazing.”
Both Kreider and Trouba bring years of experience and veteran leadership to a young Ducks roster still in the midst of a rebuild. Their long-standing chemistry could help stabilize a young core while also setting the tone for a more competitive environment in Anaheim.
“When I reflect on being a leader, my style would be being genuine,” Kreider said. “It’s more one-on-one … I really like working with people individually, coming at it from a place of humility.”
Ryan Strome
Kreider’s reunion with Strome might be the most personal of all. The duo didn’t just share shifts — they shared playlists, routines, and a passenger seat.
Their bond took shape over four seasons with the Rangers from 2018-22, when Strome and Kreider were two of their top producers offensively. But it was the drives to and from Madison Square Garden that helped deepen their connection.
“Stromer was terrific,” Kreider said. “We had some really good times, driving in and out to practice, talking hockey, talking about life, talking music … giving Fil Chytil a hard time. Those are great memories. And hopefully, maybe we can revisit that and keep it going.”
With Strome and Trouba waiting to welcome him to a new city, new life and new team, Kreider’s in good hands with people he trusts.
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Frank Vatrano
Although Kreider didn’t mention him directly on the podcast, Frank Vatrano is another former teammate in the Ducks locker room. They spent the back half of the 2021-22 season together with the Rangers, when Vatrano made an immediate impact after the forward was acquired ahead the trade deadline. The line of Mika Zibanejad, Kreider, and Vatrano helped lead the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final that spring, with Vatrano notching 13 points in 20 playoff games. Though their time as teammates was brief, the connection was clearly there — and with Vatrano one of Anaheim’s best offensive weapons, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the two reconnect on a line once again.
Don’t forget Trevor Zegras
While Kreider’s most well-known connections in Anaheim are with former Rangers teammates, his bond with Trevor Zegras is something a little different.
The two have spent recent offseasons training at Prentiss Hockey Performance in Stamford, Connecticut, a well-known gym that brings in NHL players from across the League. It was there, just hours after the trade, that Kreider got an early welcome from Zegras.
“I walked in this morning and there was a quack, quack, quack up on my jersey, courtesy of Trevor Zegras,” Kreider shared. “I think he was keenly aware that there was interest — that it was a possibility I would come to the Ducks — and I just kind of confirmed it for him this morning. He was pretty excited for me. It was really cool. He’s such an energetic, happy, friendly kid … it was a great little welcome to the organization.”
The two haven’t played together at the NHL level, but were teammates on Team USA at the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship. While the tournament was short-lived in itself, it gave them their first taste of sharing a bench. Now they’ll have the opportunity to build that chemistry over the offseason and into next season.
Zegras is known for his elite puck skills, creativity on the ice, and outgoing personality. The 24-year-old has also dealt with several injuries, sharp criticism and consistent trade rumors.
Kreider comes with more than a decade of experience playing in one of hockey’s toughest market, and is a respected leader. His mentorship of Zegras could be as valuable as anything Kreider brings to the Ducks on the ice, and if their chemistry carries over on to the ice, that’s a real win-win for the Ducks.
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