Buy or Sell: Could the Anaheim Ducks Sign Michael Frolik?
Sources say that both Winnipeg and the Czech forward want to work out a deal that keeps him a Jet, but is there any chance that Anaheim could cause a divorce?
I love this time of the year!
Beginning on July 1, a healthy number of players in the NHL – some pretty good, some . . . meh – will become free agents, restricted or unrestricted. Fans everywhere will expect their teams to go out and get somebody, ANYBODY, who can help a franchise get over the hump.
Optimism abounds!
We here at Pucks of a Feather are no different; we fully expect the Anaheim Ducks to attempt to bring a significant player or two into SoCal via free agency, and by the way the Ducks have been wheeling and dealing the past few days, it appears that the front office plans to do just that.
But is a 40+ point-per-year player named Michael Frolik a realistic target, or just a fan site’s pipe dream?
The Pros
Aside from his time spent in Chicago, Frolik has been pretty much good for around 40 points per season. Back-to-back 42-point efforts in Winnipeg helped put that team back in the playoffs for the first time in 19 seasons, so it is understandable why the Jets would love to sign the 27 year-old.
As much as acquiring Carl Hagelin helps the Ducks, let’s face it: Hags has not been a top-six forward in his career. Frolik, on the other hand, spent last season alongside Bryan Little and Andrew Ladd on the Jets’ first line. Even if Anaheim doesn’t view him as a starter, Frolik sure as hell is good enough to jump into a line combination that include Ryan Kesler and Jakob Silfverberg, something I highly doubt Hagelin will be asked to do.
The best part about Frolik’s game is that he is really known more as a defensive specialist; his offense is just an added bonus! Frolik would be an invaluable member on Anaheim’s penalty kill – pair him with Kesler and Hags, and you would almost feel bad for the other team.
When it is all said and done, if Anaheim could somehow convince Frolik to come play for them, this would be the 2015 version of going out and getting Ryan Kesler.
The Cons
For starters, Frolik’s disastrous time spent in Chicago makes you wonder what will happen if he leaves a situation in which he feels comfortable. Some players need certain personnel, or a specific system, in order to thrive. Is Frolik one of those guys? Not that we can hold that fraction of his career against him, but it is a possibility you have to consider.
The real negative? The fact that Frolik is going to be highly sought-after. One blog labelled him “the most coveted 40-point forward around,” and there’s already talk of both Pittsburgh and Montreal being interested in his service, in addition to the Jets, who may be out of the running. We already know that the Anaheim Ducks were not willing to pay Belsekey what he thought he was worth – and he only put up 32 points in the regular season. With a third of the NHL making offers to Frolik, running his price tag up up up, will the Ducks be willing to shell out around $4 million per season for him?
The Bottom Line
While at least one site predicts that Anaheim is, indeed, a viable destination for Frolik, I don’t see this happening. That’s not to say I wouldn’t want him – I’m cautious, not stupid. There are teams out there who need his services more than the Anaheim Ducks currently do, and since Anaheim does not appear to be interested in over-paying for talent right now, as they still have some valuable RFAs to lock in, I say SELL the idea of Frolik coming to Ducks.
Disagree? Better yet, agree strongly? Let me hear ya!
Next: The Best Offseason Move So Far for the Ducks Has Been . . . .