5 Realistic Destinations For Free Agent Chris Kreider.

This week Chris Kreider surprised many when he agreed to a mutual contract termination with the Anaheim Ducks, leaving millions on the table to become an unrestricted free agent just weeks prior to the start of the regular season.

Reports suggest that Kreider's decision stems from a desire to play closer to home, a factor that likely eliminates any Western Conference team from potentially landing Kreider as a free agent. Today I'll be looking at 5 teams in the Eastern Conference that I believe make a ton of sense for Kreider to sign with.

#1 Boston Bruins.

Kreider's motivation is reportedly to be closer to home and there's no team that can do that better for the native of Boxford, Massachusetts than the Boston Bruins.

Kreider left $4 million on the table when he walked away from his contract with the Ducks and with $5.39 million in cap space the Bruins have enough available to make him whole. The Bruins do have some depth at left wing however with JJ Peterka, Casey Mittelstadt, James Hagens and Tanner Jeannot, so whether or not there's a fit here remains to be seen.

#2 The New York Islanders.

While this might sound like blasphemy to long time fans of the New York Rangers, Kreider to the Islanders makes a lot more sense than you probably realize. Not only would Kreider be close to home but he would be in familiar territory after his many years spent with the Rangers.

Strangely Kreider also has a personal connection to the Islanders after helping Islanders prospect Daniil Prokhoro learn English over the summer.

"He talks in good Russian, Kreider, and he trained me in English," said Prokhorov as per the New York Post.

The Islanders are also fresh off of losing captain Anders Lee in free agency after he signed with the Utah Mammoth earlier this summer, and with just over $4.1 million in available cap space they can also make Kreider whole.

And who knows? After the way things ended in New York with the Rangers, there could very well be a little revenge at play here as well.

#3 The Philadelphia Flyers.

After taking a giant swing at Leo Carlsson with the wildest offer sheet we've ever seen in the National Hockey League, the Flyers are still flush with cap space this late into the summer. The Flyers have over $13.7 million in available cap space so not only are they close to home but they are in position to make Kreider the best offer as well. While an expensive contract for a veteran like Kreider could be problematic on a longer term deal, a lucrative 1-year deal could be enough to lure Kreider to Philly.

The Flyers also have a host of talented young players they could pair with Kreider, including Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras and Porter Martone, which seemed to work wonders for him last season when he had 22 goals and 28 assists with the Anaheim Ducks. There it was both Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry, and Cutter Gauthier who served as his most frequent linemates.

#4 The Buffalo Sabres.

Another team that would land close to home for Kreider, the Sabres are a young and up and coming team that could certainly benefit from the presence of a veteran like Kreider in the locker room. The Sabres are also fresh off of losing a veteran forward in free agency, Alex Tuch, after Tuch signed a lucrative deal with the Washington Capitals.

Like the Bruins and Islanders, the Sabres have more than enough cap space to make Kreider whole again with $5.1 million available to them at this stage of the summer. Like the Flyers they also have a number of talented young forward like Tage Thompson and Josh Doan, the type of players Kreider seems to excel with.

#5 The Pittsburgh Penguins.

A little farther from home perhaps but the appeal of the Pittsburgh Penguins can't be denied. The chance to play alongside a player that will go down as a legend in the sport like Sidney Crosby is not to be underestimated and the Penguins are fresh off of defying all expectations by making the playoffs this past season.

Crosby will return for the final year of his new contract alongside the veteran core of Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Bryant Rust, and Erik Karlsson and with over $10 million in available cap space the Penguins can more than afford to add another veteran to that mix on a short term deal as they look to take what could be one final run at the Stanley Cup.