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Anaheim Ducks: Is Jakob Silfverberg the Odd Man Out?

By Eddy Jones

SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 18: Jakob Silfverberg #33 of the Anaheim Ducks high fives teammates during the game against the San Jose Sharks. (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 18: Jakob Silfverberg #33 of the Anaheim Ducks high fives teammates during the game against the San Jose Sharks. (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images) /
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Anaheim Ducks
JUNE 26: General Manager Bob Murray of the Anaheim Ducks looks on from the Ducks draft table. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Less Money, More Problems

The Ducks signed contract extensions with Adam Henrique, Brandon Montour, and John Gibson. They are also working on deals with restricted free agents Nick Ritchie and Ondrej Kase. Gibson and Henrique’s extensions kick in for the 2019-20 season which accounts for close to a $6 million increase in cap hit.

Conversely, we see about the same come off the books next season with contracts expiring for Brian Gibbons, Andrej Sustr, Luke Schenn, Korbinian Holzer and Ryan Miller. The NHL will likely have a cap increase for the 2019-20 season, but it won’t be substantial.

That leaves one player left to be signed, Jakob Silfverberg. The question becomes; How much should he make? Let’s look at that.

Silfverberg currently has a cap hit of $3,750,000 and has averaged approx. 40 points over the last 4 seasons, with a career-high of 49 in 2016-17.  He’s consistently a high volume shot generator for the team, sitting either first or second in shots on goal and total shots attempted over the last three seasons.

However, we can’t just judge Silfverberg solely on his offense considering he is utilized in a more defensive role for the team. In fact, he had the second highest defensive zone start percentage at even strength behind only Ryan Kesler. It’s the second straight season he’s done so, while also having over 60% of his zone starts in the defensive end. If Ryan Kesler isn’t ready to start the season that makes Silfverberg the most effective defensive forward the Ducks have.

The fact of the matter is, Silfverberg has 20-goal potential and is consistently one of the Ducks most dependable players defensively. All signs point to him getting a raise, and something around $4.5-5M per season seems likely.

If the Ducks are willing to give a defensive forward top six money, then they may have to get creative to make everything fit. Whether that involves trading Nick Ritchie or Andrew Cogliano or the evergreen theory of buying out Corey Perry, something would have to be done.

If they aren’t, then Silfverberg will hit the trade block before February’s trade deadline. Bob Murray has repeatedly stated he doesn’t like to lose players for nothing, so don’t expect him to still be around if contract discussions aren’t heading in a positive direction.

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