Anaheim Ducks Should Trade For Ryan Kesler

3. Kesler has a friendlier contract

Jan 1, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler (17) during the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Rogers Arena. The Tampa Bay Lightning won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

This one is just financial semantics, but dollars are big in a salary cap sport.

Kesler’s cap hit is $5 million, while Spezza’s cap hit is $7 million. Not only that, the Ducks would only get to control Spezza for only one year before he would hit unrestricted free agency. Kesler, on the other hand, would be under team control for two seasons.

By trading for Kesler, the Ducks can have him on the roster for more time and allot more money into free agency, such as Jakob Silfverberg, Sami Vatanen, Daniel Winnik, and Stephane Robidas, who are all either restricted (Silfverberg and Vatanen) or unrestricted free agents (Winnik and Robidas).