Key Highlights
- Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba are playing their first game back at Madison Square Garden since being traded to the Anaheim Ducks.
- Kreider had a 13-year tenure with the New York Rangers, while Trouba spent five seasons as captain.
- The trades were unceremonious, and both players expressed mixed emotions about leaving their old teams.
- Both Kreider and Trouba are finding comfort in playing alongside former teammates from the Rangers.
- Coach Joel Quenneville acknowledges the impact of Kreider and Trouba on Anaheim’s performance this season.
New York Rangers’ Kreider, Trouba Face Homecoming at Madison Square Garden
NEW YORK (AP) — For Chris Kreider, playing in the visiting locker room at Madison Square Garden was a new experience. He needed someone to show him how to get on the ice for the Anaheim Ducks’ morning skate. It was an unfamiliar feeling, as he spent 13 seasons with the New York Rangers, but it’s not just Kreider experiencing this transition.
Jacob Trouba, who served as captain of the Original Six club for five-plus seasons, is by his side.
Kreider and Trouba are playing their first game back at their old home arena on Monday night since being traded to the Ducks in separate deals. The trades followed similar pressure from the front office to waive their no-trade clauses, leading them to leave New York for Anaheim.
Reflections of a Long Tenure
Kreider, who made his NHL debut with the Rangers in 2012 and played 883 regular-season games over those 13 years, is still processing the change. He said it didn’t feel real until he got on the plane to California and then started getting settled into his new surroundings.
“I don’t think it completely settled in over the offseason,” Kreider stated. “It didn’t feel real until I got on the plane to go to California and then I was kind of all about getting my bearings there, kind of endear myself to a new group and get to know everyone, get to know the whole setup.”
Trouba echoed similar sentiments. His wife’s pursuit of a medical career led her to request a trade from Winnipeg in 2019, which eventually brought him to New York as captain for two and a half seasons.
Emotional Goodbyes
“There’s so much I learned through my time here about myself, about hockey, about starting a family,” Trouba said. “Just the growth of, I guess, the group and the team while I was here, and growth of myself is something that I look back on most.”
Transition to Anaheim
Kreider and Trouba are not alone in their transition to Anaheim. They have former teammates Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano to lean on, making the adjustment easier. Kreider highlighted the familiarity provided by his former team.
“It’s made the transition super easy — I mean easier — having Jacob there, having Frank,” Kreider said. “Having that familiarity certainly helps. The entire group’s been great.”
A Coach’s Perspective
Coach Joel Quenneville, who had his own emotional return to Chicago in October, acknowledged the impact of Kreider and Trouba on Anaheim’s performance this season.
“(Kreider) instantly got our power play rolling and our team rolling right off the bat,” Quenneville said. “And Troubs has gotten off to a great start to the season playing bigger minutes than we envisioned, and all of sudden offensively he’s been productive in a lot of ways that we didn’t see that coming, either.”
The Ducks are currently in playoff contention nearing the midway point of the season. Kreider’s No. 20 might have hung from the rafters at Madison Square Garden one day had he stayed with the Rangers his whole career.
“You try not to live in the past,” Kreider added. “It’s arrogant to think that you know what something is in that given moment. You don’t necessarily know if it’s going to be a good thing or a bad thing, so just take everything in stride.”
In conclusion, both Kreider and Trouba are navigating their first game back at the Garden after being traded. While they express mixed emotions about leaving their old teams behind, the familiarity with former teammates and the positive impact on Anaheim’s performance make this transition smoother.