Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba play at the Rangers for the 1st time since their trades to the Ducks

NEW YORK (AP) — Chris Kreider had never been in the visiting locker room at Madison Square Garden before, and he needed someone to show him how to get on the ice for the Anaheim Ducks’ morning skate.

It was an unfamiliar feeling for the NHL forward who spent 13 seasons with the New York Rangers, though he’s not experiencing this alone. Kreider gets to do this alongside former Rangers captain Jacob Trouba, as they played their first game back at their old home arena Monday night since getting sent across the country in separate trades.

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Anaheim Ducks left wing Chris Kreider acknowledges fans during a tribute to him at an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Monday, Dec 15, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Anaheim Ducks left wing Chris Kreider (20) skates during warmups before an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Monday, Dec 15, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba (65) skates during warmups before an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Monday, Dec 15, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Anaheim Ducks left wing Chris Kreider (20) skates during warmups before an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Monday, Dec 15, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba skates during warmups before an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Monday, Dec 15, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New York Rangers fans react to Anaheim Ducks’ Chris Kreider skating during warmups before an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Monday, Dec 15, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Kreider waved to the crowd and received a rousing standing ovation following a lengthy video tribute to one of the organization’s longest-tenured players. Trouba did the same a few minutes later as fans cheered at the end of a slightly shorter video.

Trouba went to Anaheim just over a year ago, following pressure from the front office to waive his no-trade clause, and spent the summer processing the change. Kreider was dealt in June after similar pressure, so his runway has been much shorter with the whirlwind move and getting ready to play hockey for a new team.

“I don’t think it completely settled in over the offseason,” Kreider said. “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. I haven’t really had time.”

Kreider spent a lot of time in New York since making his debut in the 2012 playoffs. His 883 regular-season games played over those 13 years rank sixth in franchise history, he is tied for the most power-play goals with 116 and is among the leaders in other statistical categories.

Trouba spent five-plus seasons with the Original Six club, two and change with the “C” on his chest as its leader. His wife pursuing a medical career led him to request a trade there from Winnipeg in 2019, the couple had a son while living in New York and returning to his old neighborhood Sunday night made the 31-year-old emotional.

“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.”

Their exits, which followed respected forward Barclay Goodrow getting put on waivers in the summer of 2024 and landing in San Jose, were unceremonious. General manager Chris Drury sent a memo to the rest of the league’s teams spelling out that Trouba and Kreider were available, and each player ended up with the Ducks as the Rangers sought to change a mix that had come up short of winning the Stanley Cup.

Trouba conceded the process of being unwanted and then shipped away from a place he wanted to remain was difficult.

“There’s people that make decisions above you, and at the end of the day you’re a hockey player and this is the job I signed up for,” the big-hitting defenseman said. “I think it’s unfortunate, I guess I’ll say. I didn’t enjoy it in the moment, but it’s just a small piece of what was a very, very memorable and impactful 5 1/2 years for me.”

Kreider was cheered the moment he stepped on the ice for warmups. And while his No. 20 might have hung from the rafters at the Garden one day had he played his whole career there, prefers not to look back in anger.

“You try not to live in the past,” Kreider said. “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.”

Kreider and Trouba are not the only ex-Rangers players now with Anaheim. They have former teammates Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano to lean on, as well, and coach Joel Quenneville put all four in the starting lineup.

“It’s made the transition super easy — I mean easier — having Jacob there, having Frank, Stromer,” Kreider said. “Having that familiarity certainly helps. The entire group’s been great.”

Quenneville, who had his own emotional return to Chicago in October, when he went back for the first time since being banned from the NHL for his role in a 2010 sexual assault scandal involving his Blackhawks, does not want to pretend to know how Kreider and Trouba should feel about theirs.

He does, however, know the experienced players have had a big impact on the Ducks quickly growing into a contender. They are in a playoff spot nearing the midway point of the season and are on track to end a seven-year drought.

“(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 a sudden offensively he’s been productive in a lot of ways that we didn’t see that coming, either.”

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Joe Burrow will be taking part in late-season games with nothing at stake for the first time since he started playing organized football.

It will be up to Cincinnati Bengals ownership, director of player personnel Duke Tobin and coach Zac Taylor to ensure this is the final lost season with Burrow as their quarterback.

Cincinnati (4-10) was eliminated from the playoffs with its 24-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. The Bengals reached the Super Bowl after the 2021 season and the AFC championship game a year later, but haven’t been to the postseason since.

For his part, Burrow is trying to put on a brave face, saying he has “a lot of confidence” in the front office and coaching staff to turn things around.

Burrow’s body language and comments at his news conferences will face scrutiny over the next three games, especially after the six-year veteran acknowledged on his 29th birthday, Dec. 10, that this season and recent years have taken a toll.

“It was probably as disinterested I’ve ever seen Joe Burrow look,” ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said on “Get Up” Monday morning. “Just did not look engaged in football. He just came across as ‘I don’t want to be here.’ And obviously, the play yesterday was just bad.”

Taylor said Monday that he expects Burrow to play the final three games. Cincinnati is at Miami on Sunday before hosting Arizona and Cleveland.

If Cincinnati hopes to end the year on an upswing, Burrow will need to play better. He missed nine games due to a turf toe injury but delivered hope when he returned and led the Bengals to a 32-14 win over the Ravens on Thanksgiving night.

However, his performance has dipped over the past five quarters, with four interceptions — including two that were returned for touchdowns.

Cincinnati led 21-18 going into the fourth quarter Dec. 7 at Buffalo, but Burrow threw two picks, one of which was returned 63 yards for a go-ahead TD by Christian Benford.

On Sunday, the Bengals entered Baltimore territory four times but didn’t score — in part because Burrow threw a pick-6 in the red zone.

Burrow’s tone and the team’s record have invited comparisons to 2010, when the Bengals were projected to be a playoff team but finished 4-12. That ended up being the last straw for Carson Palmer, who demanded a trade after the season.

The Bengals haven’t been built for sustained success. Even when they made the playoffs six times between 2009 and ’15, they lost in the first round. The 2021 and ’22 postseason runs marked the first time the franchise won playoff games in consecutive seasons.

Given their history, the organization now faces a critical assessment. Owner Mike Brown needs to look beyond the upcoming offseason to decide whether Tobin and Taylor can orchestrate another turnaround. With a franchise quarterback, two star receivers under contract and ample salary cap room for upgrades, Cincinnati is positioned for changes.

During the final three games, the coaching staff and much of the roster will be auditioning for next year.

The Bengals have 10 sacks in their last three games, including a season-high four on Sunday. Lamar Jackson was pressured on half his dropbacks and was 1 of 4 passing for 26 yards when he was able to get passes off. Myles Murphy led the way with four pressures and a sack, and rookie Demetrius Knight Jr. had a career-high three pressures.

Protecting Burrow, who took 10 hits in the loss. That included Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson having a free run on Burrow before a rushed throw that Kyle Van Noy picked off. Van Noy handed the ball to Alohi Gilman, who took it to the end zone.

S Jordan Battle led the defense with eight tackles, including a tackle for loss, and got his fourth interception of the season.

WRs Mitchell Tinsley and Andre Iosivas. With Tee Higgins sidelined, neither player was able to pick up the slack. The pair was targeted a combined three times and had only one catch for 16 yards.

Higgins remains in the concussion protocol. WR Charlie Jones (right ankle), TE Noah Fant (right ankle), DT Kris Jenkins Jr. (left ankle) and RT Amarius Mims (right knee) were injured Sunday and will be limited to begin the week. DE Shemar Stewart could return this week.

4: Times the Bengals have been shut out by the Ravens.

7: Burrow’s career total of interceptions returned for touchdowns. On Sunday, he threw a pick-6 for the second straight game, the first time in his career he’s done that.

Cincinnati visits Miami for its final road game. Originally scheduled for Sunday night, it was bumped up to the afternoon. It’s Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa’s second meeting; Cincinnati won 27-15 in 2022.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL