NHL Notebook: All signs point to Rangers exodus to California continuing with Chris Kreider trade looming

The exodus of New York Rangers players to Southern California appears to be continuing.

Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported late Tuesday night that the Rangers were in the process of trading franchise legend Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks. The return on the deal is believed to be defensive prospect Carey Terrance, a native of upstate New York, and a 2023 second-round pick, he added.

The deal comes as the Rangers continue to reshape their roster. Last June, they placed winger Barclay Goodrow on waivers, watching as he was claimed by the San Jose Sharks. If he hadn’t been claimed, the Rangers were planning on buying out the remainder of his contract.

The exodus continued during the season after a public spat between the Blueshirts and defenceman Jacob Trouba saw him traded to the Ducks last December. That came after the Rangers asked him to waive his no-trade clause the prior summer.

Here’s more on the trade from Seravalli:

It was not immediately clear on Tuesday whether Anaheim was on Kreider’s 15-team “no-trade” list, but sources believed it would not be a stumbling block either way as Kreider was thought to have interest in playing for new Ducks coach Joel Quenneville, where he’d also be reunited with Ryan Strome and former Rangers captain Jacob Trouba.

Kreider and Trouba were both subjects of a memo that Drury sent league-wide in November soliciting interest in the veterans. Many believed that memo, which was sent when the Rangers had a 12-7-0 record, contributed to a season that went off the rails and saw the defending Presidents’ Trophy winners miss the playoffs. New York went 27-29-7 to close the season. Coach Peter Laviolette was fired after two seasons on Broadway. Trouba was traded to Anaheim in early December, now Kreider may be joining him in short order.

Other news and notes…

• Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson and Colorado Avalanche winger Martin Necas both joined Seravalli’s latest trade targets list as No.7 and No. 28 on the list, respectively. In Robertson’s case, Seravalli wrote with them being a team that has limited salary cap space and multiple holes — combined with Robertson being a year away from free agency — the club is contemplating their options. On Necas, much like with Robertson, the Avalanche don’t have much in terms of cap space, and the winger — one year away from free agency — the team is looking at their options.
• The Calgary Flames re-signed winger Adam Klapka on Tuesday. The big winger, standing at six-foot-eight, will stay in Calgary for two more years at a $1.25-million cap hit. He broke into the NHL this season playing 31 games, scoring six goals and 10 points.