The NHL Entry Draft has become the NHL’s second biggest Christmas next to trade deadline Day. If Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray makes a deal this week, these are players he should consider.
Much of the excitement garnered by the NHL draft has to do with the trades that precede it. Teams are looking to alter their composition or to add a piece they hope leads to hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup. Either way, fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming moves. The trading floor opened when Arizona exchanged winger Max Domi with Montreal’s Alexander Galchenyuk.
The Anaheim Ducks are in strange position entering into trade season. Despite remaining among the elite teams for the last half-decade, they are poised for serious changes. General Manager Bob Murray vowed to become a faster team. He may have to sacrifice a member of the Ducks core to accomplish the task. Here are five potential trade targets for the Ducks.
Murray’s trade history
I did a quick analysis of all the Ducks trades with Murray at the helm. A significant trade constitutes a top 4 Defenseman or top 6 forward, and I only counted trades including an NHL level player. The Ducks most common trade partners have been Toronto (8 trades, 3 significant), Edmonton* (5 trades, 2 significant) and Montreal (5 trades, 0 significant). In total, GMBM has completed 56 trades, with 18 being significant.
Outside of the Kings, we have made at least one trade with each member of the Pacific Division. We made two significant trades with the Oilers* (Maroon, Pronger) and one with Vancouver (Kesler).
*A majority of the trades were completed prior to Edmonton joining the Pacific Division in 2013.