The 34-year-old forward also used the third annual event to bid farewell to some of the fans who cheered him during his 13 seasons with the Blueshirts.

“A lot of kindness, a lot of appreciation, a lot of gratitude — and that goes both ways,” said Kreider, whose 326 goals with the Rangers are third in team history. “Super lucky to have experienced what I experienced, something that’s always going to be near and dear to me and a massive part of that is obviously the fan base. That’s what makes the Rangers so special, right?”

Chris Kreider on the ice for Shoulder Check last night in his new Ducks gear 🟠 (w/ @_msfilms) pic.twitter.com/wg1Vo4C73M

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) July 25, 2025

The trade to Anaheim came after a season that saw Kreider struggle with injuries and inconsistency.

The injury troubles started with early-season back spasms. Then came vertigo during the holidays, knocking him out of the lineup again. Just as things seemed to get settled in February, a hand injury that ended up requiring offseason surgery derailed his progress once again.

After three straight seasons with at least 36 goals, Kreider finished with just 22. His eight assists and 30 points were full-season career lows. With the Rangers looking to get younger after one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history, the trade wasn’t a surprise.

Chris Kreider says goodbye to Rangers fans at charity event

Kreider looked at ease at the charity event, which promotes mental health awareness and is held in memory of Hayden Thorsen, a 16-year-old hockey player. He’s been involved since the beginning and has gotten several current and former Rangers involved.

Fans lined up outside the players’ entrance as early as 2:30 p.m., 90 minutes before the event’s scheduled start time. Many of the fans were specifically looking to see Kreider.

Kreider will see a few familiar faces when he reports to training camp in September. He’ll join former Rangers teammates Frank Vatrano, Ryan Strome and Jacob Trouba as the Ducks try to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Vatrano, who played on Kreider’s line after joining the Rangers in the latter stages of the 2021-22 season before signing with the Ducks that summer, was delighted to have his former teammate on board in Anaheim.

Ducks’ Frank Vatrano excited he is teammates again with Chris Kreider https://t.co/nDIxOwbNSA pic.twitter.com/eoFATz1Yw7

— New York Post (@nypost) July 25, 2025

“I think just his work ethic, the way he goes about his business every single day,” he said when asked what Kreider will bring to the Ducks under new coach Joel Quenneville. “He’s an absolute animal in the gym and works hard every single shift. I think, for us, we have such a young team, we have such a balance. … Probably eight guys over the age of 23 and we have another seven or eight guys who are over the age of 30. There’s a good balance and we all get along.”

Kreider was also pleased at one benefit from being traded: He can plan to be home for the holidays.

“We have a nice homestand on Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year’s, which I’ve never had before,” he said. “It’s definitely different.”

The Ducks are home for six straight games over two weeks in late November, meaning that he’ll be able to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with his family. Anaheim also has seven straight games in Southern California from Dec. 19 through Jan. 2 – six at home and a Dec. 27 visit to the Los Angeles Kings.

That’s a big contrast to his time in New York, where the Rangers are usually on the road for most of the second half of November and have traditionally hit the road after Christmas. This season, they play away games on Thanksgiving Eve and Black Friday afternoon, then take to the road from Dec. 21 through Jan. 2 (though the entire NHL is off Dec. 24-26).

Vatrano feels Kreider will be happy on and off the ice in his new home.

“He’s going to come to a place where he’s good buddies with me, [Jacob Trouba] and [Ryan Strome],” he said. “I think it’s more laid back in California, where you can kind of fly under the radar. Great place to raise a family, in the sunshine every day, so he’s going to love it.”

He’s still training at Prentiss Hockey in Connecticut, and he’ll skate in Thursday’s Shoulder Check Showcase alongside a handful of current and former teammates. But even with the same routine and the same summer schedule, things feel different after the trade last month that sent him to the Ducks.

“There are brush points where it’s kind of like, ‘this is happening, for sure,” Kreider told The Athletic. “[After Anaheim] shipped out my new equipment, jumping on the ice with Ducks stuff on, and people coming up to me and being like, ‘you look weird.”

Kreider, a Massachusetts native who played for Boston College before joining the Rangers, has never played outside the Northeast. He still hasn’t officially left the East Coast, but the shift is already in motion.

Related: Vincent Trocheck viewed as most likely to slot in at 3C on Rangers roster: poll

Kreider’s exit after a challenging season with the Rangers

There was no farewell press conference or Instagram post. While Kreider did express “gratitude for how I was treated” by the Rangers, his departure was as understated as his persona, and according to former Blueshirt teammate Ryan Strome, that was on purpose.

“They wanted to let Chris handle it the way he wanted to handle it,” said Strome, who signed with the Ducks in July 2022 after four seasons playing with the Rangers, sometimes centering a line with Kreider on his left wing. “I think he kind of steered the ship a little bit.”

Kreider earned that right after 13 seasons and 326 goals, more than any Ranger except Hockey Hall of Famers Rod Gilbert (406) and Jean Ratelle (336). He and J.T Miller were the last remaining links to the Rangers’ 2014 Stanley Cup Final run. But even with that legacy, leaving wasn’t easy. Strome believes the quiet exit masked just how chaotic last season really was.

“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,” he said. “When you’re dealing with a player of that pedigree … that kind of change isn’t simple.”

Kreider has never been one to make excuses. But according to Strome, last season took a toll on him — physically and emotionally — far more than people realized.

“I think Kreids is a very humble guy,” Strome said. “Last year he wouldn’t tell many people, but he was probably playing through some tough injuries.”

The weight of a disappointing playoff exit only compounded things. For a player who used to blow away expectations, the combination of physical wear and personal frustration created momentum that built in the wrong direction.

“You topple on that with some disappointment and some personal disappointment,” Strome added, “and I think things kind of just snowball there in a bad direction.”

The smooth transition out of New York may actually have been the release Kreider needed.

Related: Daily Slice: Current, former Rangers ready for Shoulder Check Showcase; another junior star heads to NCAA

Kreider isn’t spending much time reflecting on the noise around his departure. Instead, he’s showing up and putting in the work.

“I’ve been doing a ton of stuff in [the gym], just doing what I can to be in good shape,” he said.

That work includes rehabbing after postseason hand surgery that required metal rods to be inserted to hold things together, a procedure that left him with a three-inch scar.

“Now I’ve got a Wolverine hand,” Kreider joked.

Doctors gave him a recovery timeline of 6-8 weeks; he was medically cleared in just four.

Kreider is not on the West Coast yet. But he’s preparing for a season that looks nothing like the 13 before it — and he’s doing it quietly, on his own terms.

In fact, the spotlight found the hard-hitting defenseman Sunday. Or, perhaps, it was the other way around and Trouba grabbed the spotlight.

Either way, the former Rangers captain faced scrutiny yet again after one of his signature massive checks laid out Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues.

Late in the first period of what turned out to be a 7-2 Ducks loss on the road, Trouba leaned forward and launched himself into Kyrou, right after the Blues forward moved the puck in his own end of the ice. The impact of the high hit lifted Kyrou off the ice and he spun in the air before crashing down.

Here's the Trouba hit on Kyrou, courtesy @FanDuelSN_MW: pic.twitter.com/fZ8tPgIvxX

— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) March 17, 2025

It was straight out of the Trouba playbook. Looking to wake up his team, which was trailing 2-0 already, Trouba smoked an opponent with a bone-rattling hit. Nothing the Rangers and their fans didn’t see numerous times a year over his six seasons on Broadway.

But as with many of those big hits with the Rangers, this one Sunday was controversial. Trouba made contact with Kyrou’s jaw and head. The on-ice officials and later the NHL Department of Player Safety believed Trouba didn’t target the head and instead went through Kyrou’s shoulder first.

Needless to say, there were a lot of hockey people pissed that Trouba didn’t receive a penalty on the play nor supplemental discipline. There were many others who believed no penalty was warranted.

Jacob Trouba will not receive any supplemental discipline for last night's hit on Jordan Kyrou, per @MDeFranks of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Primary main point of contact was determined not to be the head, but arm and shoulder as well.@SportingTrib | #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/kUGAH0HbMm

— Zach Cavanagh (@ZachCav) March 17, 2025

Such is the case with Trouba, a lightning rod for hot takes and debate for his robust physical style, that often has crossed the line, leading to prior suspensions. It’s never black and white with him.

Blues captain Brayden Schenn, honored in a pregame ceremony for playing his 1,000th NHL game, immediately stepped in to fight Trouba after the hit. Though his helmet was ripped off early in the fight, Trouba got the best of Schenn in a battle of two veterans.

As for Kyrou, he headed to the dressing room after the hit at 17:23 but returned for the start of the second period. The 26-year-old got the last laugh, finishing with three assists in the Blues rout.

Related: Rangers ‘change the scenery’ to get most out of Alexis Lafreniere, Will Cuylle

Former Rangers captain Jacob Trouba playing typical physical style with Ducks

Trouba was traded to the Ducks by the Rangers on Dec. 6 in exchange for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round draft pick. That was the first of seven trades made by the Rangers to shake up their mix amid a disappointing season. Also shipped out during the season were forwards Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil, Jimmy Vesey and Reilly Smith, and defensemen Ryan Lindgren and Victor Mancini.

Despite the turnover and brutal play earlier in the season, the Rangers (33-29-6) are the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. Trouba’s Ducks (29-31-7) are eight points below the postseason cut-off line in the Western Conference.

The 31-year-old is averaging 20:48 TOI in 42 games with Anaheim. He’s second on the Ducks with 114 blocked shots and averages 7.14 hits per 60 minutes, to go along with seven points (one goal, six assists) and 40 penalty minutes.

Trouba has one more season remaining on his contract, that pays him $8 million annually.

Twelve days later, they shipped forward Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken for defenseman Will Borgen and two more picks in the 2025 draft.

All four players are settled into their new locales now. So, here’s a look at how each has fared after a month with his new team.

Related: 3 Rangers takeaways from 5-3 comeback win in Utah

Rangers trade Jacob Trouba to Ducks for Urho Vaakanainen

What they’ve done

It’s hard to believe that just three seasons ago, Trouba was on his way to an 11-goal, 39-point season with the Rangers. His offense dropped off in each of the next two-plus seasons with the Rangers, and he’s not generating much in Anaheim.

Trouba had six points, all assists, in 24 games with the Rangers before the trade and was minus-3 with 22 penalty minutes while averaging 20.00 of ice time. In 19 games with Anaheim, he’s still looking for his first goal of the season, has three assists, eight penalty minutes and is minus-2. The Ducks are giving him an average of 21:01 time on ice. He played 21:03, had an assist and was plus-2 on Thursday night in Anaheim’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“I’m getting more comfortable around the group,” Trouba told the Winnipeg Free Press earlier this month. “Obviously it takes more than a couple of days to kind of get fully settled in.”

But Trouba’s biggest stock in trade is his physical game, and those numbers have gone up since he joined the Ducks. In his 24 games with the Rangers, Trouba was credited with 39 hits (4.87 per 60 minutes) and 68 blocked shots (8.09/60, first on the team). In 20 games with the Ducks, he has 52 hits (7.42/60) and 62 blocked shots (8.85/60, first on the team). His combined total of 130 blocks is the most in the NHL.

However, Trouba’s arrival hasn’t done much for the Ducks’ success on the ice, one way or another. They were 10-12-3 (.460 points percentage) before the trade and 8-9-3 (.475) with him in the lineup. He’s the same player in Anaheim that he was with New York; so far, the Ducks have been the same team with him that they were before he arrived.

Vaakanainen, the No. 18 overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Boston Bruins, has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. He missed most of the first two months of this season with injuries and had one assist in five games with the Ducks before the trade.

The 25-year-old made his debut with the Rangers on Dec. 17 against the Nashville Predators and has been a regular on the blue line since, usually in a bottom-pair role. He has two assists in 14 games and averaged 15:00 TOI (1:08 on the penalty kill), up from 13:36 per game with Anaheim. The Rangers were 15-14-1 (.517) before he arrived and are 6-6-2 (.500) with him in the lineup.

The verdict

The biggest difference for the Rangers since the trade is salary cap-wise. The Ducks took all of Trouba’s $8 million cap hit for the rest of this season and 2025-26, giving the Rangers some much-needed cap space – most of which they quickly used to sign goaltender Igor Shesterkin to an eight-year, $92 million contract. Trouba has brought a physical presence to Anaheim, but his offensive game – already in decline — has all but disappeared.

Vaakanainen has never become the player he was expected to be when drafted eight years ago. He gives the Rangers a useful third-pair body on the blue line. But anyone who has scored one goal in 154 NHL games isn’t being counted on for his offense. Trouba gets more ice time and is more physical; Vaakanainen is cheaper and a competent bottom-pair guy.

Rangers trade Kaapo Kakko to Kraken for Will Borgen

Kakko never became what the Rangers were expecting him to be when they selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 draft. He’s the kind of player who a team would likely have been happy with if he’d been selected No. 22, but more is expected for the second player chosen in any draft.

Skating has never been Kakko’s strong suit, and he never appeared to find a niche with the Rangers. The closest he came was as a third-liner in 2022-23 (career highs of 18 goals and 40 points) and the first few weeks of this season, when he, Filip Chytil and Will Cuylle formed perhaps the best third line in the NHL.

But things went downhill for Kakko and the Rangers after mid-November. He had one goal and two assists in 13 games after Nov. 18, was a healthy scratch on Dec. 15 and finally sent to Seattle three days later. Kakko had 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 30 games before the trade, averaged just 13:17 of ice time per game and saw limited power-play time (58 seconds a game).

Kaapo Kakko shoots for the empty net and that will do it#SEAKraken: 4#LetsGoPens: 2 pic.twitter.com/1jm4wR70Yb

— Joseph (@HockeyJoseph10) January 15, 2025

Things have perked up for the 23-year-old in the Pacific Northwest.

Kakko matched his goal total with the Rangers his first 12 games with Seattle. He scored twice in the third period of the Kraken’s 6-2 road win against the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 11 and was named the game’s First Star.

“He’s got some different attributes than a lot of us don’t have,” coach Dan Bylsma said after the win. “… Adding that presence, adding that ability, the big body (6-foot-1, 215 pounds) and the ability to hold on to pucks has made that line (with Matty Beniers and Jaden Schwartz) and made our team all that much better.”

Kakko had an empty-netter in Seattle’s 4-2 road win against the Pittsburgh Penguins and a primary assist in a 2-1 loss to the Jets in Winnipeg on Thursday, giving him 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 13 games since the trade. He has a four-game point streak. His average time on ice has jumped more than 3:00 per game, to 16:34, and he’s regularly used in a top-six role — often on the first line.

But his arrival hasn’t helped the Kraken in the standings: Seattle was 15-16-2 (.485) before the trade but is just 4-8-1 (.346) since his arrival, including the loss at Winnipeg. To be fair, the Kraken struggled while an injury sidelined starting goaltender Joey Daccord; backup Philipp Grubauer has lost all five of his starts this month and was hooked in each of the past two.

Will Borgen gets his first as a #NYR .. 2-1 Rangers pic.twitter.com/dM8Fa2Ihq3

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 5, 2025

Borgen has given the Rangers a useful but not spectacular right-handed shot on the blue line. He has one goal and one assist in 13 games with the Rangers – the same offensive numbers he had in 30 games with the Kraken, though he was minus-13 with them and is even with New York. Like Kakko, he’s seeing a lot more ice time since the trade (18:40, up from 15:12 with Seattle). He’s also become a regular on the second penalty-killing unit (1:12 per game).

However, Borgen has had little impact on the Blueshirts’ won-lost record; the Rangers were 15-15-1 before the trade and are 6-5-2 since his arrival.

The verdict

The Rangers have every reason to be content with Borgen; he’s fit in well (usually on the second pairing and penalty kill). Like Vaakanainen, who he’s sometimes partnered with, the 28-year-old focuses on keeping opponents away from the net and leaves the offense to players such as Adam Fox. He’s playing for a contract, which gives him some added incentive.

Kakko was dealt after it became obvious that he needed a change of scenery. Early indications are that the Kraken, now in their fourth season since entering the NHL in the fall of 2021, might be a good fit — he’s not on a team that entered the season with Stanley Cup expectations, and he’ll get more and better ice time in his new home. It may take a while longer, but don’t be surprised if Kakko emerges as a 20-goal, 50-point player on a regular basis.

Vatrano could’ve been an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, which is why he was included in so many trade rumors. Now, he’s locked up with the Ducks and appears quite happy about that.

Also Read: DirecTV Stream Review: Is Worth It for NY Rangers Fans?

“Ever since my family and I got here three years ago, fans, teammates and staff welcomed us with open arms,” Vatrano said in a video posted on the Ducks’ social media. “It’s something that we’ll be forever grateful for. I see how bright our future is here. We’re making turns in the right direction to build a winning culture and ultimately bring a Stanley Cup here to Anaheim.

“With that being said, I couldn’t be happier to say that I signed a three-year extension to stay on here in Anaheim. I’m excited to help this team grow and be part of the future here.”

A message from Frank Vatrano. #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/FISmD6fqPF

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) January 5, 2025

There was plenty of speculation last season that the Ducks would move Vatrano ahead of the 2024 trade deadline. The Rangers were believed to be very interested in a reunion at the time, but instead acquired Jack Roslovic from the Columbus Blue Jackets to try and fill a hole on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.

Though the Rangers went on to win the Presidents’ Trophy and get within two wins of the Stanley Cup Final, Roslovic was no Vatrano. Roslovic had three goals and eight points in 19 games with the Rangers and another two goals and eight points in 16 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He ended the postseason on the fourth line.

Vatrano scored an NHL career-high 37 goals and had 60 points for the first time last season. He played in the NHL All-Star Game and averaged a career-high 18:21 TOI for a Ducks team that finished well out of the playoff hunt again.

The rebuilding Ducks (16-18-4) are again seventh in the Pacific Division, though they entered Sunday with a better record than the Rangers before New York defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 6-2 to improve to 18-20-1. The Ducks host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday night.

Related: Top Rangers prospect Gabe Perreault leads United States into gold medal game at 2025 World Juniors

Frank Vatrano won’t have reunion with Rangers any time soon

While a reunion with Vatrano made sense for the Rangers last season, it didn’t this season since the Blueshirts have dropped like a stone in the standings. They’re next-to-last in the Metropolitan Division and had lost 16 of their previous 21 games before Sunday’s win in Chicago.

Vatrano had excellent chemistry with Zibanejad and Kreider after he was acquired ahead of the 2022 trade deadline. He scored eight goals and had 13 points in 22 games after the trade with the Florida Panthers. Vatrano then helped the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final with 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 20 postseason games.

A UFA at the end of that 2021-22 season, Vatrano signed a three-year contract with the Ducks. And despite fairly consistent trade rumors, Vatrano has scored 68 goals in 200 games with the Ducks.

“Frank is an important member of our team and is committed to the organization moving forward,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said. “He is a hard-nosed, competitive player with a gift for scoring goals. We couldn’t be happier for Frank to sign for three more years.”

Vatrano hasn’t scored at the same pace this season. He has nine goals and 20 points in 37 games, though he still figured to be highly sought after by contenders ahead of the trade deadline.

Now, that won’t be the case.

The Ducks (10-14-4) have each of the three games since Trouba joined them – a 3-2 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday in the opener of a four-game road trip, a 5-1 drubbing to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday and a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. They complete the trip by visiting the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Trouba did not have a point in any of the three games. His ice time has gone down – after playing 22:35 against Montreal, he played 17:49 against Ottawa and 17:43 against Toronto. His three-game average TOI of 19:22 is down slightly from 20:00 in 24 games with the Rangers, and he’s on target for a career low in average ice time – the least he’s ever averaged is 21:12 with the Rangers in 2022-23.

It’s not surprising that Trouba hasn’t had a point in his three games with the Ducks; he had none in his final six games with the Rangers and produced just six assists in 24 games with New York. The offensive slide continues a trend – after finishing 2021-22 with 11 goals and 39 points, he dropped to eight goals and 30 points in 2022-23 and a full-season NHL career-low three goals and 22 points last season.

More disappointing for the Ducks has to be that Trouba has been on the ice for six of the nine non-shootout goals scored against the Ducks in the three games – four at even strength and two on the power play. He was on ice for the game-tying goal in Montreal, the first four tallies in Ottawa — two at even strength and two on the power play – and a second-period goal by Toronto’s Max Pacioretty that proved to be the game-decider Thursday.

Related: K’Andre Miller lands on IR in latest hit to Rangers defense corps

Jacob Trouba’s early struggles with Ducks mirror his Rangers issues

Trouba has been on the ice for just one goal for the Ducks, a meaningless late goal by Cutter Gauthier in the loss at Ottawa. He’s minus-3 in three games, matching his total in 24 games with New York.

The one area where his stats have gone up is hits. Trouba had 39 hits in 24 games (1.63 per game; 4.87 per 60 minutes) with the Rangers before the trade. In three games with the Ducks, he has 11 (3.67 per game; 11:35 per 60 minutes). The Ducks are desperate to become a team that’s harder for opponents to play against on a nightly basis, and Trouba can make life much more unpleasant for opposing forwards.

But all in all, it’s safe to say an $8 million defenseman who’s off to a start like Trouba’s wasn’t what Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek envisioned when he pulled the trigger on the deal.

“Jacob is a highly respected player in this league whose character and leadership qualities on and off the ice are second to none,” Verbeek said after making the trade. “We believe Jacob has many more years in this league and hope he is a big part of our future success. It’s rare you are able to acquire a player with Jacob’s experience, stature and ability. On the ice he competes every shift, leads by example and is a presence on the blue line every night.”

It’s only three games, and little was expected from the Ducks this season as they continue their rebuild. But the early results make the Anaheim version of Trouba look much like the one the Rangers were desperate to unload – a slow, physical 30-year-old defenseman whose best NHL seasons are behind him.

“After 14 amazing years in the National Hockey League, I have decided to retire,” Shattenkirk said in a statement posted on social media. “I never knew hockey would take me this far. This game has had a dramatic impact in developing me into the man I am today.”

The 35-year-old native of New Rochelle, New York, about 15 miles from Madison Square Garden, signed a four-year, $26.6 million contract with the Rangers on July 1, 2017, and played two seasons with the team he grew up rooting for. However, he was hampered by a knee injury in 2017-18 and saw his ice time drop from 20:16 in his first season to 18:56 in his second.

With the Rangers looking to rebuild with youth after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs in back-to-back seasons, Shattenkirk was bought out and signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Aug. 5, 2019.

His game perked up in Tampa Bay, where he thrived in a less-demanding role, and his performance helped the Lightning win the Stanley Cup in 2020 —  he had three goals and 13 points in 25 postseason games, averaging 19:30 of ice time.

Shattenkirk then signed as a free agent with Anaheim prior to the 2020-21 season and played three seasons with the Ducks before joining the Boston Bruins on July 1, 2023. He had 24 points (six goals, 18 assists) in 61 regular-season games and one assist in six playoff games for the Bruins, who were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in the second round.

He finished his career with 484 points (103 goals, 381 assists) in 952 regular-season games and 48 points (8 goals, 40 assists) in 91 playoff games. Shattenkirk also represented the United States at the 2014 Winter Olympics, finishing with three assists as the U.S. came in fourth.

“I can proudly say that I have accomplished most of my career goals,” Shattenkirk said after announcing his retirement. “I scored big goals, including a Stanley Cup Final overtime goal, played in All-Star games, represented my country in the Olympics, and won a Stanley Cup! What makes me even prouder when I reflect back on my career are the countless friendships that I have made along the way. … Thank you to all my teammates, it was an honor to play with all of you.”

The Colorado Avalanche selected Shattenkirk with the 14th pick in the 2007 NHL Draft; two years later, he helped Boston University win an NCAA title. He turned pro with the Avs in October 2010 and played for Colorado, the St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals before coming to the Rangers.

He told the media when he signed with New York that he knew all about the pressure of playing for his hometown team, and that he had turned down a bigger offer to call Madison Square Garden his home arena.

“When you have the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream, it’s an opportunity that may only come once in my career and I felt like this was my chance,” Shattenkirk said. “It’s a team I’m extremely excited about. A lot of factors outside of money and terms came into play and ultimately won the decision for me.”

The Rangers had high hopes that Shattenkirk, regarded as the best defenseman available in the 2017 free-agent class, would be a top-pair D-man, but that never materialized. He missed most of his first season with injuries and struggled in the second, finishing with 28 points (2 goals, 26 assists) in 73 games.

With the rebuilding Rangers looking to clear cap space in the summer of 2019 after signing free agent forward Artemi Panarin and recently acquired defenseman Jacob Trouba — Shattenkirk was bought out. He finished his tenure in New York with 51 points (7 goals, 44 assists) in 119 games.

To say he wasn’t happy about leaving would have been an understatement.

“I was pretty pissed off about it,” Shattenkirk said of the Rangers’ decision to buy out his contract, according to The Associated Press. “It didn’t work out with injuries and performance and with the way the direction of the team, the way that kind of deteriorated from when I signed on July 1 to now.

“I think I’m pissed off at myself for not taking advantage of the opportunity to play at home better and give them a reason to make it a no-brainer that this wouldn’t be their decision.”

Much of his responsibility on the blue line was taken over by Trouba, who had been acquired earlier that summer from the Winnipeg Jets; ironically, the Rangers traded Trouba, who had been named captain before the 2022-23 season, to the Ducks on Dec. 6 – largely for cap reasons.

Too snarky? I think not. Did you watch the Rangers get outplayed — worse, outworked — by the last-place Chicago Blackhawks on Monday at MSG? That 2-1 loss makes it eight defeats in their past 10 games and a 9-12-0 record in 21 games (a quarter of the season) since the 5-0-1 run to begin the 2024-25 season that feels as long ago as the Presidents’ Trophy-winning campaign in 2023-24.

We’ll be diving into different aspects of the latest loss and the bigger picture Tuesday and Wednesday here at Forever Blueshirts and on the Rink Rap podcast before the puck next drops at KeyBank Center against the Sabres, who, by the way, hammered the Rangers a month ago at MSG, 6-1.

That should be a reminder that this isn’t just a blip for the Rangers. It’s who they are. And it’s put them into crisis mode less than 30 games into the season, before reaching the New Year or even the holiday season.

Related:

New York Rangers news

Warning! Our three Rangers takeaways from the loss Monday does not contain any positives. Not saying there weren’t any — hello Will Cuylle — but the focus is all negative, as well it should be after such a lackluster effort.

After the morning skate, Igor Shesterkin was all smiles and said he was “so happy” following the birth of his daughter the day before, not to mention that contract extension he signed over the weekend making him the highest-paid goalie in NHL history. It was also interesting to hear Shesterkin discuss the outside “noise” that followed him during negotiations.

It feels pretty ironic that our Rangers week ahead story took the angle that their upcoming schedule affords them a chance to break out of a prolonged funk.

We wrote up an interesting nugget that the Rangers reportedly turned down the chance to acquire defenseman Cam Fowler in the Jacob Trouba trade with the Anaheim Ducks. Makes sense, though. Rangers were looking to shed salary to gain maneuverability under the cap. And Fowler makes $6.5 million annually through 2025-26.

NHL news

As for Trouba, the former Rangers captain made his Ducks debut in a 3-2 shootout loss up in Montreal to the Canadiens. He logged 22:35 TOI, led the Ducks with five hits, had one blocked shot and was minus-1, on ice for Kirby Dach’s tying goal in the second period.

Before the game, we posted a story about the value the Ducks see in adding Trouba to their roster.

Orange looks good on ya, Jacob Trouba! 🦆

📺: @SportsOnPrimeCA ➡️ https://t.co/93veFI9jrZ pic.twitter.com/XieQYzKAor

— NHL (@NHL) December 10, 2024

In case you missed it, Patrik Laine remained on fire for the Canadiens. He had a goal, assist and scored in the shootout. He has three goals in four games since returning from a knee injury.

Former Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev was traded by the Colorado Avalanche to the San Jose Sharks for former New Jersey Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood. We wrote up all the details here.

The Rangers next face the Sabres, who lost their seventh straight game (0-4-3) Monday. This time they blew a two-goal lead in the the third period and lost 6-5 to the Detroit Red Wings in a shootout.

And who would know better about everything Trouba adds to the struggling Ducks than Ryan Strome? Trouba’s former teammate in New York told reporters that the ex-Rangers captain will bring a number of benefits to Anaheim, which is 10-12-3 and last in the Pacific Division.

“I know from talking to him; we are going to have a really highly motivated individual with a little bit of a weight off his shoulders that is excited to play and wanted to play in Anaheim,” Strome said. “So, I think those are all positives and things that can jumpstart our group going forward, and I think we are all excited to have him.”

Scenes from the morning skate in MTL 📸📸#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/lty8FzX9h8

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) December 9, 2024

Trouba joins a young team in Anaheim, one that’s failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in six consecutive seasons. It’s not all that dissimilar to when he joined the Rangers during their rebuild. His leadership and experience will be invaluable to the Ducks.

“I think anytime you bring a guy in that’s played in the Canadian market (with the Winnipeg Jets), an Original Six market (with the Rangers) and a captain (who’s) been in a lot of playoff series and really good teams, I think it helps,” Strome said. “Not only that too, I think a big body, just to lean on some guys and be hard to play against.”

Trouba certainly brings a physical edge to his game. That will fit nicely with Ducks defenseman and captain Radko Gudas, who plays a similar style.

“Jacob Trouba represents that, the physicality, the identity that you have to play with,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said, according to Reuters. “He’s a guy that can step up on the forecheck and stop plays and kill plays in the defensive zone. He’s got a heck of a shot and having another right shot back there will help us keep pucks alive in the cycle.”

Related: Rangers trade rumors: Ducks reportedly wanted Cam Fowler included in Jacob Trouba trade

Jacob Trouba excited with change of scenery

Trouba was traded to the Ducks for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a forth-round draft pick. The Rangers were able to rid themselves of the veteran’s $8 million salary cap hit, only taking back $1.1 million annually with Vaakanainen.

In 364 games with the Rangers, Trouba scored 31 goals and had 105 assists as an important piece n New York’s defense corps. He was in his third season as captain.

Now arriving

Arrive maintenant#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/KDi0ziWpjq

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) December 9, 2024

Getting set for his debut with the Ducks on Monday night against the Montreal Canadiens, Trouba discussed his new team with reporters.

“It was good, nice to get out there with everyone. Got to meet everyone, get to know everyone, get familiar. So excited to be here,” Trouba said Sunday after his first practice with the Ducks. “Everybody’s been really welcoming, obviously some familiar faces. So, it’s been good to kind of jump right in to dinner last night and talk a little bit and get to know everyone.”

Trouba helped the Rangers make the playoffs four times throughout his five-year stint, reaching the Eastern Conference Final twice before losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022 and eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in 2024.

He won the Mark Messier Leadership Award for his leadership qualities and charitable activities throughout the 2023-24 season. Trouba helped the Rangers win the Presidents’ Trophy as the regular-season champion last season despite a dip in his overall play.

Fowler was passed over by the Rangers in the 2010 NHL Draft. Sitting with the 10th overall pick in the first round, the Rangers selected hulking defenseman Dylan McIlrath instead of the highly-rated Fowler, who’s also a defenseman.

That move, of course, famously backfired. McIlrath played 38 games over four seasons with the Rangers and has totaled 85 NHL games with four teams in his career. Fowler, selected two picks after McIlrath at No. 12 overall, has 988 NHL games on his resume, each with the Ducks.

Given a second chance, though, at the 33-year-old, the Rangers reportedly passed when his name was brought up by the Ducks in trade talks. Instead the Rangers traded captain Jacob Trouba to the Ducks for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round draft pick.

“I heard that Anaheim wanted Fowler in this deal. I have no doubt Fowler wanted to be in this deal,” NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said on his 32 Thoughts podcast. “It’s been out there: he wants to be traded, he wants to play for a contender. I never heard [Frank] Vatrano’s name in it, but I did hear Fowler’s. At the end of the day, they couldn’t get it done. I think one of the reasons is New York wanted the flexibility for both this year and next.”

Like Trouba, Fowler is owed a significant salary through the 2025-26 season. One of the main reasons the Rangers wanted to part with the Trouba was to open up salary cap space by moving the entirety of his $8 million annual cap charge. Fowler is on the books for $6.5 million annually.

So, the Rangers would have added an older defenseman and saved just $1.5 million against the cap. Vaakanainen, who’s 25 and currently on IR with an upper-body injury, makes $1.1 million per season and is an RFA at season’s end.

Related: Igor Shesterkin ‘so happy now’ after birth of daughter, massive contract extension

NHL Insider believes Rangers didn’t seek reunion with Frank Vatrano in talks with Ducks

Friedman mentioned Vatrano’s name because recent rumors suggested that the trade with the Ducks could have been expanded to include the forward. The Rangers sought a reunion with Vatrano ahead of last season’s trade deadline, but settled on winger Jack Roslovic instead.

Vatrano scored an NHL career-high 37 goals last season with Anaheim. Two seasons before, after New York picked him up ahead of the 2022 trade deadline, Vatrano was an excellent fit on Mika Zibanejad’s line with Chris Kreider. Vatrano had 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in 22 games and then added five goals and 13 points in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games, when he helped the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final.

Since he’s owed just $3.65 million this season, the final one before he becomes an unrestricted free agent, Vatrano’s name will be all over NHL trade rumors the rest of this season. The Rangers could have interest again, if they seek an upgrade over Reilly Smith in the top six, though the 33-year-old does have goals in consecutive games after a slump.

Vatrano has six goals and 12 points in 24 games for the Ducks, who are 10-12-3 and last in the Pacific Division.

Fowler has three assists in 14 games this season. He missed a month of action with an upper-body injury.