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Anaheim Ducks Rumor Rundown: The one that won’t die, Jeff Skinner

By Ed Stein

ANAHEIM, CA - DECEMBER 11: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Carolina Hurricanes battles Carl Hagelin #26 of the Anaheim Ducks for a loose puck during a game at Honda Center on December 11, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - DECEMBER 11: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Carolina Hurricanes battles Carl Hagelin #26 of the Anaheim Ducks for a loose puck during a game at Honda Center on December 11, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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For 29 NHL teams, the off-season has already started. It’s a time of year ripe with speculation. This week we take a look at some of the juicier rumors floating around the Anaheim Ducks.

One of the things you have to love about Anaheim Ducks General Manager Bob Murray is his ability to keep quiet. 99% of the time, fans don’t know a deal is happening until it goes through. That’s why it’s always best to take Ducks trade and free agent chatter with a grain of salt. That said, I thought it might be fun to break down some of the rumors about the Ducks floating around cyberspace.

Tuesday, we started with Joe Thornton. Wednesday, it was another familiar face, Jack Johnson. Yesterday’s installment concerns two rumored trades with the Edmonton Oilers. Today we conclude with the rumor that won’t go away, Jeff Skinner.

A Little History

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Turn back the clock to the 2010 NHL entry draft. Leading up to draft day, the Edmonton Oilers were in the middle of the Taylor (Hall) – Tyler (Seguin) debate with the first pick. They chose Taylor Hall, but Edmonton wasn’t the only team with an internal debate.

The Carolina Hurricanes owned the seventh pick, and they were trying to decide between Jeff Skinner and Cam Fowler. Ducks fans know very well how it turned out. Carolina chose Skinner, and Fowler fell to the Anaheim Ducks at pick 12.

Fast Forward

Since that draft day, June 25, 2010, there have been persistent rumors that Carolina wanted a do-over. A Fowler for Skinner swap has been kicked around for years. While the Ducks need a scorer like Skinner, they aren’t going to part with Fowler. Conversely, the Canes have drafted several defensemen with high picks in recent years.

New Carolina GM Don Waddell has let it be known that any player on his roster not named Sebastian Aho is available for trade. That kicked off Skinner to the Anaheim Ducks rumors again. Just not for Fowler this time around.

Skinner is worth a big return for now rebuilding Carolina. He’s a former rookie of the year and three-time 30 goal scorer. Skinner has been the primary offensive weapon on some bad Hurricanes teams in recent years. Now comes the hard part.

Wrap Up

Next: 5 reasons for Ducks fans to be positive about the team

Skinner has one year remaining on his contract at $5.725M before he becomes an unrestricted free-agent. The Canes will want a top prospect/and or draft picks for him. It’s a price Anaheim may not be willing to pay unless Murray sees him as the final piece of the championship puzzle or he can be extended for under $7M a year. Both conditions are unlikely, but not impossible.

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