Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
On the eve of the trade deadline, the Anaheim Ducks’ General Manager, Bob Murray, made multiple moves in minutes. The Ducks are loaded at the goalie position with Jonas Hiller, Viktor Fasth, and Federik Andersen. John Gibson is on the horizon and should be playing for the Anaheim Ducks organization in the near future at the NHL level. So it was not a surprise to see Fasth get moved. He was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers for two draft picks.
In a surprise move, Dustin Penner was traded to the Washington Capitals for a fourth round draft pick. Murray then took that draft pick and traded the pick to the Dallas Stars for defenseman Stephane Robidas. Robidas has been out since his leg injury sustained November 29th against the Chicago Blackhawks.
WARNING: THIS VIDEO MAY BE TOO GRAPHIC FOR SOME TO SEE!
Robidas said in regard to his injury “I’m hoping to be ready in a couple of weeks. March 14th is the date I set with my rehab, and everything is going very well.” Ducks fans have seen
Corey Perryand Robidas go at it on several occasions. Robidas said of Perry, “There have been a lot of battles between me and Perry for a long time, and I’m just glad he’s on my team now.” Robidas has appeared in 24 games for Dallas this year, scoring four goals for a total of five points.
Evaluation:
I could see a trade with a goalie coming, but I would have preferred a trade to a non-Pacific division team. However, Murray’s thinking was if he had to deal a goalie to a Pacific division team, then the Edmonton Oilers would be the least threat to the Ducks playoff stretch run this year. I agree with this trade.
The Penner trade is frustrating for many Ducks fans to handle and I agree. In the last game against the Carolina Hurricanes Penner had two assists. He had 13 goals for 32 points in 46 games this year. Penner is having a decent season for not playing in all the games so far this year. Today is also “Pancake Day” and trading Penner on the same day just seems so strange. There are plenty of jokes out there about this and I will leave it at that. I will miss you Penner. Have fun in Washington DC. I have lived there and visited many times. It is a very fun and busy city.
As for the third trade to get Robidas, I am not really sure. Robidas is a solid defenseman on the blue line and has plenty of toughness to help the Ducks for the playoff stretch. The question is will he be ready in two weeks to play and if so, then what kind of condition will he be in? Only time will tell and I hope he is up to full speed soon.
With nearly a full day left for trading, what will happen next? The Vancouver Canucks just traded Roberto Luongo back to the Florida Panthers for goalie Jacob Markstrom and forward Shawn Matthias. There has been plenty of goalie movement today and I wouldn’t be surprised to see another goalie get moved. The next goalie could be from the Ducks.
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