Expert Panel: Taking a Trade Do Over on an Active Ex-Ducks Player
Everybody could use a mulligan every now and then, even a hockey organization. This week Pucks of a Feather asked our experts: What active ex-Ducks player trade would you like to have back?
Honorable mention
February 29, 2016, the Ducks send Patrick Maroon to Edmonton for Martin Gernat and a 2016 4th round pick. Yes, Anaheim made this trade to clear some salary, but he started to come into his own when he became an Oiler.
Greg Johnson – Contributor, Pucks of a Feather
The answer to this question will definitely go through Vegas. I’m sure some see current Vegas Golden Knight puck-moving defenseman Shea Theodore as the trade they would like to reverse. And they’d like to make it snappy. Remember, that trade was made to alleviate the cap issue Clayton Stoner’s contract was causing. Also, recall both Sami Vatanen and Josh Manson were going to be exposed in the expansion draft. There was no way the Ducks were giving up on Manson. Additionally, Vatanen netted Anaheim Adam Henrique in a trade earlier this season. A move that saved the Ducks season. Although Theodore was a good-looking offensive defenseman, he hadn’t shown he knew his way around the defensive end of the ice.
No, the trade I would like to reverse is the 2015 deal that sent wing Rene Bourque and center William Karlsson to Columbus for defenseman James Wisniewski.
I never liked the way Wisniewski played for the Ducks the first time around, with the notable exception of the KO of his good friend Brent Seabrook in defense of Corey Perry. I understand the reason why GM Bob Murray had to shore up his blue line for a long playoff run. “We gave up assets again to get Wiz, there’s no doubt about that,” Murray said. “But we felt that was a move that had to be made.” It turned out it wasn’t a move that had to be made. The problem was that Murray also traded for Simon Despres, who ended up playing all 16 playoff games that season as the Ducks lost to Chicago in the Conference Final. Wisniewski didn’t play in a single postseason tilt. If the price was low for some insurance, that would be fine. But the price wasn’t low.
Rise of the Golden Knight
Vegas Golden Knight William Karlsson was just a young player at the trade deadline in 2015. Wild Bill had only played 18 games for the Ducks that rookie season. He looked small and frail compared to the Ducks other centers, but you could see his skill and tenacity even then. He is now sixth in the league with 35 goals so far this season. Karlsson has only scored 6 power play goals and 2 shorthanded goals. That’s a net of 27 even-strength goals folks and the season isn’t over. To top it all off, the Ducks gave up a second rounder in the deal while receiving a third-round pick in return.
The Ducks could use some additional scoring right now. Imagine if Anaheim still had Sami Vatanen because Wild Bill was the third-line center, and they didn’t need Adam Henrique. Then Vatanen would be paired with Pettersson or ancient veterans Kevin Bieksa or Francois Beauchemin, and the defense would be relatively solidified. Vatanen would provide another weapon from the blue line on the power play. And he’d ensure the third defensive pairing would be able to move the puck. That would be a team that could make a deep run in the playoffs.
Ed Stein – Expert, Pucks of a Feather
Greg really stole my thunder on this one. The William Karlsson trade was the one that came to my mind immediately. I had to do some serious research to find something else. This question is restricted to active players, so I didn’t think I’d have to go back that far. I was wrong.
The way-back machine is set to February 9, 2011, the Ducks are in a dogfight to make the playoffs after missing out the previous year. In order to solidify their position, GM Bob Murray felt the addition of another quality defenseman was a good place to start. He turned to Ducks frequent trade dance partner Toronto for help.
The Return of Beauchemin
In the first of eight deals he would make in the next 16 days, Murray re-acquired defenseman Francois Beauchemin, but the price was high. Anaheim sent their 2008 first-round pick Jake Gardiner, Joffrey Lupul and a fourth-round pick in the deal. After the deal, Murray told the CBC, “We are thrilled to be able to re-acquire Francois. He is a physical, puck-moving defenseman with tremendous character.”
No one disputes Beauchemin’s heart, character, or contributions to the organization. It was too much to pay to get him. I’m going to leave Lupul out of the discussion, even though he scored 67 points the next season. Murray gave up a potential star in Jake Gardiner.
Gardiner made his debut with Toronto in 2011-12. Since the lockout in 2012-13, he has missed a total of eight games while steadily improving his game. As a matter of fact. the 27-year-old is on pace to break his career high of 43 points. Currently, he has 40 points with 13 games left. What is most impressive about his career is that he is -13 overall, despite playing on some awful Leafs teams.
It would have been interesting to see what Gardiner could have done if he had been a Duck this whole time. A fab five with Lindholm. Vatanen, Fowler, Manson, and Gardiner would have been something to see.