The Anaheim Ducks should take a shot at acquiring Max Pacioretty
Rumors continue to swirl from the land of bleu, blanc et rouge about the availability of their captain Max Pacioretty. The Anaheim Ducks in a “win now” mode, could use a five-time, 30 goal scorer. How can they bring in Patches to help win that second Cup for Anaheim?
It’s difficult for Anaheim Ducks fans to understand how the people of French-speaking Quebec Provence and the city of Montreal feel about the Canadiens. Their love for the bleu, blanc, et rouge is much larger than the game of hockey. Les Canadiens are a source of civic pride and a celebration of culture.
They don’t tolerate mediocrity, let alone the 2017-18 horror show which saw them finish with the third worst record in the league. Change is a coming in Montreal. because another 29-40-13 season is not going to fly with the fan base, the expect much more.
The Habs have won an NHL best 24 Stanley Cups. The most recent was 1993. They haven’t been close since that win more than 25 years ago. Thus comes the need to shake things up. Per media reports, that includes the Habs captain, Max Pacioretty.
“Habs general manager Marc Bergevin told his captain there will be no contract negotiation, and that his intention is to trade him as soon as possible.” an NHL revealed to Marc Antoine Godin of The Athletic.
Clearly, Pacioretty’s days are numbered in Montreal but what will it take for the Anaheim Ducks to bring him to SoCal without giving up the farm?
Good but Fair
Pacioretty has been a Canadian his entire 10 year NHL career and has been the team captain for the last three seasons. He has compiled 448 points in 626 career games which included four straight 60 or more points from 2013-2017. This past season was a down year for him with only 37 points in just 64 games.
His skill, leadership ability suggest a change of scenery could return him to a 60-70 point campaign. The Anaheim Ducks would certainly welcome that kind of production to the team. What would it take to bring him out west? For this, we reached out to our cousins at A Winning Habit to see what they thought was fair value.
“Well, the Habs have made centers and young left-handed D their premium so I’d definitely start there as far as prospects go who are either NHL ready or close to that. Picks should be part of it as well.”
The Ducks have the pieces in their organization to accommodate this. However, there are issues that make this trade trickier. It is well documented that Montreal wants to trade Pacioretty (which takes some of GM Marc Bergevin’s bargaining power away). The Habs want prospects but Pacioretty is 29 years old. While his cap hit is a team friendly 4.5 million, he is only signed for this upcoming season. So do the Ducks want to move significant pieces for someone that could be a one-year rental?
Patches for the right Ducklings
Pacioretty coming to Anaheim increases the team’s cap hit to about $75M, leaving them just over $3M in cap space. That’s with unsigned RFA Brandon Montour. Additionally, the Ducks need to extend John Gibson and Jakob Silfverberg. So while this deal could get done with prospects, only the cap situation causes one of two things to happen:
Option A
The Ducks send Pacioretty’s replacement in Silfverberg and a young NHL ready player along with a mid-draft selection to bring Pacioretty in. Anaheim is able to promote prospects if Ryan Kesler misses the season and his $6.8M cap hit goes on LTIR.
Anaheim can absorb Pacioretty’s cap hit and re-sign Montour. It also allows for Kesler to start the year if he is back to 100%. Then in the 2019 off-season, the health of Kesler would allow for the Ducks to see if re-signing Pacioretty makes sense and move contracts accordingly.
Option B
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If Kesler isn’t as hurt as some reports are speculating then that $6.8M is against the cap requiring the Ducks to move an actual contract. Silfverberg is young can play both left and right sides and has a similar cap hit to Pacioretty. The Ducks would be trading someone similar while allowing the Canadians to move on from Patches.
The main players are also both UFA’s at the end of the season so its fair in that both will have to make the re-sign decision. I personally don’t like giving up Silfverberg but he’s one of the roster players I can see the Habs would want as part of their return. The Habs also get a young power forward that is either NHL ready or right on the cusp and a high draft pick.
Pacioretty equals 2019 Cup?
Does Pacioretty put the Ducks over the top? Well, he slots into the top six easily, he can play on Ryan Getzlaf right side, or a second line centered by Kesler or Rickard Rakell. With Pacioretty, the Ducks forward lines would look like this.
Pacioretty-Getzlaf-Eaves
Cogliano-Rakell-Perry
Steel-Henrique-Kase
Roy-Terry-Jones
**If Kesler plays**
Rakell-Getzlaf-Pacioretty
Eaves-Kesler-Perry
Cogliano-Henrique-Kase
Roy-Terry-Steel
Next: Who will be the Ducks next GM?
Anytime a team can add a 60 point scorer, it takes them another step towards the Cup. If the Ducks can do it I am on board, management owes it to Getzlaf, Kesler and Corey Perry to give them all the tools to bring the Stanley Cup back to Anaheim. It’s not often a player of this quality is available. The Ducks are closer to a championship with Patches on the roster than without him.