September 10, 2026 • 3:21 PM EDT
Updated 4 seconds ago
Anaheim Ducks Lose Troy Terry and Chris Kreider Just Days Before 2026-27 NHL Season
The Anaheim Ducks will start the 2026-27 NHL campaign without top-six winger Troy Terry, who’s officially on LTIR with hip surgery, and after cutting veteran Chris Kreider, as reported on September 10 by Yahoo Sports. This is happening right as training camp opens in Anaheim, and the ripple effect on the lineup is direct and immediate: two of the team’s most experienced forwards are simply gone.
The BDL feed has Terry listed as out until at least mid-November, confirming the surgery and timeline. Kreider’s absence comes after a cap-driven move forced the Ducks to waive him for contract termination, meaning the wings will be manned by prospects and rookies. Anaheim is now skating into the season with Roger McQueen and Nikita Klepov, who have zero NHL games between them, expected to hold down scoring lines from night one.
The betting implication sits right at the surface. With Terry out, Anaheim’s projected even-strength goal share falls sharply. Kreider was the “break glass in case of emergency” veteran: now, there’s nowhere to turn. Sharps are circling the moneyline and puck line to fade Anaheim in their first 10 to 15 games, expecting longer odds, higher returns, and, bluntly, poor results. Season win total and playoff futures also take a hit. Unless the books go full doom-and-gloom, which rarely happens on opening prices, there’s real edge fading the Ducks’ early results.
The data confirms how thin Anaheim is at forward. The only non-prospect depth is nominal at best. Even if McQueen or Klepov flashes for a game or two, the grind of NHL defensive matchups will expose youth mistakes. And there’s no reliable scoring fallback. The roster list screams “underdog” for every game until Terry’s November return, especially if one more injury happens.
Why Opening Weeks Will Be a Stress Test, And a Bettor’s Window
Related: Chris Kreider Placed on Waivers: Why Anaheim Ducks Unders Are Live Today
Rookies rarely dominate out of the gate, especially with little veteran support or NHL-caliber line insulation. McQueen and Klepov will see big minutes, but with high risk for inconsistency or being simply outmatched, especially if forced to match up against top-six opposition every night. Anaheim’s issue isn’t that they lack star power for a game, it’s that they won’t generate consistent offense for weeks.
That’s the crux for bettors: Anaheim looks far weaker in practice than casuals or early-season books will admit. Their opening night opponent will have a clear forward depth advantage, and the Ducks’ power play threat drops with Terry gone. Shot props and team goal overs? You avoid them.
Looking at moneyline, puck line, and even team point props: Anaheim’s regular season win total just lost 1-2 wins off the top. If a book hasn’t moved the line following Terry, the under is a sharp play. For McQueen/Klepov props, only take overs at plus-money or where low alternate lines price the struggle, the risk of them being overmatched is high. Goalie Lukas Dostal may post big save numbers, but wins will be rare without offensive support.
- Troy Terry to LTIR after hip surgery: guarantees no top-six help until mid-November, making Ducks an automatic fade in October.
- Chris Kreider exit means Anaheim loses the only true veteran forward depth: no safety net for scoring droughts.
- Rookies Roger McQueen and Nikita Klepov will debut in top-six roles: books may overprice their immediate value, but risk is steep.
- Season win totals should drop by 1-2 wins with these absences: if not, under has strong appeal.
- Early moneyline and puck line prices will be longer on Anaheim, they’ll often be near or at underdog status at home and away.
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Key Takeaways Bettors Can Bank
- Fade Anaheim Ducks moneyline and puck line for their first 10-15 games while Terry is out and Kreider is gone.
- Hammer the under on Anaheim’s season win total if books haven’t adjusted for Terry’s extended absence.
- Pass on Ducks rookie scoring props unless priced at strong plus-money, since upside is low and risk is high.
- Look for opponent team total overs against Anaheim’s untested forward corps and possible rookie turnover issues.
- Monitor Ducks injury reports, if another regular misses time, fade becomes even more urgent.
- Track the Anaheim Ducks picks and updated season record for real-time edges as lines react to in-season news.
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“You can’t replace what Terry and Kreider brought to this lineup, not with raw prospects, not overnight.”Anonymous NHL scout, Yahoo Sports reporting
This article was produced with AI assistance by Richard Gale (senior gambling industry executive and ThePicks founder), with editorial standards and betting methodology overseen by Ben Gale, and reviewed by the ThePicks editorial team. All statistics sourced from live BDL API data and verified source material. All betting opinions are those of ThePicks analysts.
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/three-biggest-storylines-heading-anaheim-144854629.html
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