Sunday Editorial: Anaheim Ducks Have Decisions to Make this Week (so do you)
Five days away from the 2018 NHL Draft and the number of decisions, for Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray to make, are piling up. This is when he earns his money.
Decision Time
We are at the time of year when hockey plans are written in pencil. From draft picks to trades, to free agents, Anaheim Ducks General Manager Bob Murray faces a constantly changing landscape. The only thing that is certain is that not much is certain.
All these different parts are inter-related with one theme in common, money. They must come together to form a “symphony of success,” even though these different parts are acting within dynamic atmospheres of there own. If anyone can blend the chaos into music and make it work at the conductor’s stand it’s Murray.
The Draft
The Ducks own the 23rd overall selection in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. When Murray steps to the podium Friday night, his selection will be as much a function of who he wants as it is who’s still available. For all the prep work his staff has done the draft has a life of its own where the Anaheim Ducks pick.
Just like lungs, prospects rise up and fall down. What I’ve always found intriguing is that during draft week, teams look for reasons not to select a player. Suddenly, someone is too small or too slow or doesn’t have enough puck IQ. If recent history means anything, Murray will find a quality NHL talent.
Extensions
There are three important players on the current roster whose contracts expire at the end of 2018-19. The most important of the three is goalie John Gibson. For all intents and purposes, he is the future of the franchise. Even though Gibson will be a restricted free agent next summer, I have three words for Murray, “pay the man!” Give him an extension (starting in 2019) that makes him feel like an important piece of the future because he is. Then lay the foundation for a long-term deal.
As for the other two players entering their contract year, Jakob Silfverberg and Adam Henrique, who knows. It’s unlikely that either player will receive a huge payday from Anaheim in free agency. Murray’s decision here is, does he trade them and recoup some value in lieu of letting one or both walk for free? Or does he try for a team friendly extension, which neither would likely sign, but there is always a chance? Either way, the draft is when deals for contract year players are made or at least discussed among GMs.
Free Agency
Other than possibly J.T. Brown and Derek Grant there aren’t any internal unrestricted free agents worth bringing back. On the restricted side, the question isn’t whether or not to resign anyone, the question is for how much money (and subsequently how many years at that amount). As we have written in Pucks of a Feather many times, the young guys will get raises, but none of them have much leverage to hold the team up for a big deal.
Externally, the Ducks don’t have a track record of chasing big fish under Murray’s leadership. There is always hope. One reason for that hope is the possibility of close to $10M of cap space opening up if neither Ryan Kesler (hip) and Patrick Eaves (Guillian-Barre) can play this season due to their respective injuries.
A more likely scenario involves Anaheim bringing in some complementary players. Adding a veteran defenseman seems like the most plausible idea. Also, if Kesler is out for the year, a checking line center is a definite area of need.
Trades
Murray didn’t earn the nickname “Big Deal Bob” for nothing. He can wheel and deal with the best of them. His method of operation suggests that he trades for the players he needs rather than chasing free agents. Very rarely does Murray make a WTH deal (cough Chris Wagner for Jason Chimera cough).
More from Pucks of a Feather
- Who could the Anaheim Ducks consider presenting offer sheets to?
- Is Pierre-Luc Dubois on the cards for the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks?
- Making the case for the Anaheim Ducks to trade with the Edmonton Oilers
- Anaheim Ducks might benefit tremendously by trading John Gibson
- How close are the Anaheim Ducks to becoming contenders again?
There are teams such as Ottawa and Carolina who are in selling mode. What Anaheim Ducks fans should expect is something unexpected. Because the GM is so tight-lipped, unless you have an office close to Murray’s on Katella Avenue, his trades often appear to come out of nowhere.
Your Decision
We have talked about the decisions Murray has to make, but we’d like our readers to make one as well. All week the Pucks of a Feather staff has been participating in our first annual Anaheim Ducks/ PofaF General Manager Challenge. The goal was to put together a team to compete with the NHL’s best next year (and beyond) while operating within both the NHL salary cap and the Anaheim Ducks internal budget restraints.
If you haven’t been following the contest, you should. On one hand, it’s amazing that five different people have five completely different ideas about how to assemble the 2018-19 Ducks. On the other hand, it shows that there is more than one way to get the job done. Who built the best roster? Your choices this year are (in alphabetical order):
Click on the link to read each contributors ideas. Then let us know who did the best on either Facebook or Twitter.
Next: Anaheim Ducks: The Good, The Bad and Things Fans Want to Forget – Part 3 Amnesia, Please
We’ll be covering the Ducks happenings during draft week, so please stick with us.