Chris Kreider Walks Away From $4 Million as Ducks Clear Massive Cap Space

Most people would fight a bear for a fraction of $4 million, but Chris Kreider just walked away from it voluntarily. According to PuckPedia, the veteran winger has officially cleared termination waivers, ending his contract with the Anaheim Ducks.

By tearing up the deal, Kreider leaves that $4 million in actual salary on the table. More importantly for the front office, Anaheim instantly wipes his $6.5 million cap hit off their books.

"PuckPedia reported the contract termination and resulting cap space."

That is a massive financial swing for a franchise trying to figure out its identity. The Ducks now find themselves sitting on a projected $15.6 million in cap space with 21 active players on the roster.

Having nearly $16 million in cap room is the NHL equivalent of finding a blank check in your winter coat. It gives Anaheim total flexibility, whether they want to absorb a bad contract for draft capital or make a splash in the trade market.

They are going to need that flexibility to sort out the rest of the roster. Troy Terry is currently stashed on injured reserve, and the team still has to navigate Cutter Gauthier's restricted free agency, though he is thankfully ineligible for an offer sheet.

For bettors and cap nerds, Anaheim just became the most interesting financial team in the league. With that much dead weight gone and a war chest of cap space, the Ducks are officially positioned to be major brokers whenever the next big trade block domino falls.