2018 Anaheim Ducks / PofaF General Manager Challenge – Day 2
Our staff takes the next step in our quests to be Anaheim Ducks GM. In this series, each participant will put together the best Ducks roster they can for next season (and beyond). Day two belongs to Chris Bushell
A few weeks ago the staff answered some questions about what we would do if we were Anaheim Ducks General Manager Bob Murray. We all had fun with it. What I realized is that although our contributors agree on many things; we also, like everyone else, have some very different ideas on how to make this team a winner.
Ground Rules
So the Anaheim Ducks GM challenge was born. Just like fantasy hockey, we see which one of us does it the best. Those who take the challenge are required to put together a realistic full roster. They must stay within the parameters of both the salary cap and the Anaheim Ducks internal cap, which is in the neighborhood of about five million less.
Would be GMs are allowed to make trades, re-sign restricted free agents (RFA), sign unrestricted free agents (UFA), and buyout contracts (with cap consequences). We agreed in advance to a salary cap total.
The NHL expects the cap to be around $82M in 2018-19, so we went with $81.5M. Additionally, we agreed how much RFAs get paid on their next contract. The results were Ondrej Kase (bridge deal), Andy Welinski, Kevin Roy get $1M, Nick Ritchie, $1.2M, and Brandon Montour (bridge) $1.5M as salaries for next season. The only player with leverage is Nick Ritchie but he had a poor year.
To see other contributors GM Challenge teams, click on the link:
Ed Stein – June 10, 2018
Take Off
More from Pucks of a Feather
- Who could the Anaheim Ducks consider presenting offer sheets to?
- Is Pierre-Luc Dubois on the cards for the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks?
- Making the case for the Anaheim Ducks to trade with the Edmonton Oilers
- Anaheim Ducks might benefit tremendously by trading John Gibson
- How close are the Anaheim Ducks to becoming contenders again?
The man at our helm, Ed Stein kicked the challenge off the other day and he is without a doubt a tough act to follow. Someone has to, and it’s my turn today, so without any other hesitation, here are your 2018-2019 Anaheim Ducks (If I was GM)
The Ducks current cap hit sitting at roughly $66M. That $66M consists of nine forwards, six defensemen, and two goalies under contract. To get the preliminaries out of the way, I signed Ondrej Kase and Kevin Roy to $1M deals and Brandon Montour to a $1.5M deal.
Additionally, I signed Nick Ritchie to his $1.2M dollar deal but then turned around and sent him to the Boston Bruins for a second-round pick in 2019. After those transactions, I now have $12M dollars to work with in free agency.
The Front Line
Upon signing all my own free agents and shipping Nick Ritchie up to Boston, My forward lines look like this:
Rakell- Getzlaf-Perry
Cogliano-Kesler-Silfverberg
Kase-Henrique-Eaves
Roy-Terry
I’m choosing to look on the brighter side that all this noise around Ryan Kesler and his hip is nothing more than that. Hoping that a full summer off and lots of rehabbing will have RK17 patrolling the second line and back to his usual ways come October. In my scenario, I have a timeline on Kesler earlier than the start of training camp. If disaster strikes and the Anaheim Ducks hit DEFCON 1, I have a plan in place.
Former Ducks and current Vegas Golden Knight left wing, David Perron is on the market. SI reports he’s looking for a deal somewhere in the 4.5 million range and I’ll give it to him. The 60+ point getter will slot nicely on the left side with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.
Rickard Rakell can slide down to his natural center position on the second line, and a promotion for highly touted prospect Sam Steel to the NHL ranks will complete my line-up. He, Roy and Troy Terry will form a great “kid line” that will pay dividends all year long. Extra forward Joe Blandisi combined with Steel carry a combined cap hit of about $1.5M. I still have around $7M in open cap space.
Defending the Back-End
In a fantasy world, I’d be adding John Carlson to the Ducks D-core. That acquisition would require robbing Disney Land and raising the NHL salary cap. It’s just not in the cards. I will, however, take a flyer on a cheaper but less locked in option.
Current Detroit Red Wing Mike Green is set to hit the open market. At age 32, he is probably looking to play his last couple years with a contending team. Signing Green to a two or three-year deal at a 2.75 million cap hit (with incentives based on performance) is my course of action.
Trading Korbinian Holzer to Arizona for a 5th round selection in 2019 allows me to stay just over $5M below the cap ceiling while providing a veteran presence that still has plenty of game left in him with Green. He would be joining the likes of Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm, Josh Manson and Brandon Montour. It will be a great five-man unit with one spot left to fill.
To finish out the rear guard, Jacob Larsson and Marcus Petterson would compete for the coveted sixth spot. The runner-up goes to San Diego, but both players gain needed experience. Green can mentor them. His contract will expire/be easily moved when they are both ready, along with some other D prospects, to make the leap.
Protecting the House
There isn’t much to do with the masked men. John Gibson is my number one and we’ll try during the season to lock him up long-term. Grizzled vet Ryan Miller backs him up again this year. Hopefully, Gibson stays healthy all of 2018-19. He captures his first Vezina trophy and paces the Ducks all the way to the Cup.
Second Cup is a product of New Wave
Next: Do the Anaheim Ducks fill a need or select the best player available at the 2018 NHL Draft?
With my team, the Ducks are not only Cup contenders now but for years to come. The Ducks are reaching a crossroads. Its now time for the veterans to show the prospects and young guys what it takes to win for when they’re leading the flock in the future. All the moves I’ve made make this team faster, more skilled and younger all while keeping the Cup window open now as well as down the road.