The Anaheim Ducks Trade Kyle Palmieri to New Jersey for Picks
The Ducks now own a pick in the second round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
Earlier today, following a few trades pulled off by the Boston Bruins, I posted a poll asking readers if they thought that the Anaheim Ducks would follow suit.
Many of you had already said that you thought the Ducks should draft their first pick in this year’s draft for a player who could help the Ducks win, now, and I had already discussed a few players (Ryan O’Reilly and T.J. Oshie) whose names had been mentioned in trade rumors.
As it turns out, Ryan O’Reilly DID get traded . . . to the Buffalo Sabres. And while I wouldn’t call it a major trade, the Anaheim Ducks did wind up making a deal that will have an immediate impact on the team this offseason:
By trading Palmieri, the Anaheim Ducks have picked up the 41st pick in this year’s draft, meaning that the Ducks will not have to wait until the third round to pick on Saturday. This is significant, especially if Anaheim is looking to pick up one of the five solid goaltending prospects that can be found in this year’s crop of players.
Anaheim also acquired a third-round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
While Anaheim probably won’t be using the 41st pick on a player who will see any ice time in 2015-2016, shipping Palmieri out of town does free up some cap space for the team. So, while Anaheim may not have made a big trade on the first day of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the Ducks certainly have a lot of flexibility when it comes to either making a trade or, more likely, bringing in a free agent this summer who can help propel this team into the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.
And the offseason is just getting started, folks!