Did Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray make the right call with Shea Theodore
By Jacob Robles
They lost in the Stanley Cup Finals, but the Vegas Golden Knights had a historic first season. One of their important defensemen was former Anaheim Ducks 2013 first round pick, Shea Theodore.
Today we’re gonna talk about the curious case of Shea Theodore and how his departure from the Anaheim Ducks via trade at the expansion draft has panned out a season later.
Shea Theodore was a favorite to many in Ducks Nation. His departure was a tough one to deal with. As much as I loved Theodore on the Anaheim blueline, General Manager Bob Murray did what he had to do.
That’s the problem with prospects like him. Their age sometimes makes them an expendable asset. I wouldn’t say that the Langley, BC native got the short of the end of the stick in any way, but it’s obvious management didn’t see what many fans saw in him.
Team management had some doubts about his NHL viability. He made countless trips back and forth between Anaheim and San Diego. At times, Theodore rode the pine for the entire length of his stay with the big club. When Theodore was in the lineup, he didn’t get many minutes under Coach Randy Carlyle.
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Personally, I thought Theodore had some maturing to do, which after the series against Washington, seems to be the case in some areas. He can’t be entirely blamed for anything that happened in that series, but one too many costly mistakes really showed that he needs more time to really find his game.
Theodore or Montour
Theodore, without a doubt, had a pretty good season with Vegas. He set a career high in both points and games played. Would we have seen this out of him if he had stayed and Brandon Montour, was the one packaged and shipped off with Stoner?
I just don’t see it. Don’t get me wrong, he’s easily one of Vegas’ top defensemen, but look at the core he’s apart of. They’re not an established group like the Ducks D-core. It makes a ton of sense as to why he’s been so great.
There’s plenty of raw, untapped chemistry waiting to be established with Vegas. With the Anaheim Ducks, Theodore was an asset that had to be shuffled around to find his place on the team.
It’s obvious that he’s is a good fit in Vegas. Frankly, I’m happy he’s getting the opportunity Anaheim wasn’t able to provide. It’ll be interesting to see how the 22-year-old defensemen will make the most of it.
The Other Side
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It seemed like Carlyle didn’t like playing Theodore in 2016-17. That may have made it easier for the Ducks to part with him ahead of the expansion draft. Montour, for his part, proved to be an asset on offense and reliable in his own end this season. Long-term, he looks like he’ll be a solid player for the Anaheim organization for many years.