The Anaheim Ducks should offer these seven free agents, tryout offers
There are still a few decent unrestricted free agents (UFA) around the league. Here are seven unsigned players the Anaheim Ducks should invite to training camp.
The NHL’s version of musical chairs, free agency, is winding down. Players have changed teams and/or signed new contracts this summer. Unfortunately, some players are still on the outside looking in. They may have to sign Professional Try-Out (PTO) agreements in order to get a training camp invitation. It’s the first step to competing for a roster spot.
When a player gets to the PTO point in his career, it’s a signal that the end is near. Rarely does anyone cash in on the opportunity (maybe a handful every year), let alone finish the season. True success stories are highly unusual. In an interview with Sports Illustrated back in 2015, former Anaheim Ducks head coach Mike Babcock had some insightful comments about players on PTOs.
“It’s not that they can’t play,” he said. “They’ve still got something in the tank and maybe in the right situation, they could be productive. But most of them are victims of the [salary cap] system. These guys are mostly being looked to fill [bottom-six] roles. Most teams have young guys they’ve invested [draft picks on] and they want to give them a chance to step up and earn those jobs. They’re cheaper … they have something to prove. And management wants to prove they weren’t dummies for taking the guys in the first place. “The [veterans] have something to prove too, but you know what you’re getting with them. And if the kids fail, those guys are still out there as a Plan B.”
One exception is recent Anaheim Ducks signee, Brian Gibbons. He is one of the very few players to build an NHL career after he was relegated to signing a PTO. An NHL player for parts of two season, Gibbons found himself without a contract in the summer of 2016.
He signed a PTO with New Jersey before training camp and earned a spot on their AHL team. His hard work brought him back to the NHL last year, playing in 56 regular season, and two playoff games with the Devils. Last season’s success earned Gibbons one year, $1M contract with the Ducks for 2018-19.
For every Brian Gibbons or Lee Stempniak (the poster child for PTOs), there are plenty of players like Devin Setoguchi, Jonathan Cheechoo, and Thomas McCollum who can’t make the cut.
Holes and Questions
Going into this year’s training camp, the Anaheim Ducks roster is mostly set. That doesn’t mean some holes can’t be filled. For example, last season Anaheim was tied for 18th in goals scored with 231. The total was good for last among all teams that made the playoffs. More goals this season is a must.
Additionally, there are a few question marks on the roster. Signs point to Ryan Kesler and Patrick Eaves returning to the Ducks lineup this year after overcoming some debilitating circumstances. That isn’t set in stone. If they do come back, what condition will they be in? There is nothing wrong with a backup plan
Here are seven players the Ducks should consider giving a PTO contract to:
Defensemen
This is the one area the Ducks should leave be for now. As it stands now Anaheim is 10 to 11 players deep on the back end. At three rookies, Marcus Pettersson, Jacob Larsson, and Andy Welinski are competing for one roster as it is.
The offseason signings of Luke Schenn and Andrej Sustr virtually closed the door on anyone making the team on a PTO. Even an established veteran, Korbinian Holzer, who has spent parts of the last three seasons with the Ducks, is a long shot to make the team out of training camp.
Goalies
Anaheim’s goaltending situation is at the same time both very good, and very fragile. Number one goalie John Gibson has a long injury history over his short career. Even though he played in 60 regular season games last year, he still had a few extended stretches where he had to sit out.
Backup Ryan Miller, a potential Hall-of-Famer, is 38 years old. As I wrote in an article earlier this week, the Ducks need to limit the number of games he plays to get the most out of him this year.
Plain and simple, Jared Coreau as the team’s third goalie (and starter in San Diego) is concerning. His NHL career consists of 21 games over the last two seasons with Detroit, Coreau has a record of 5-9-4 with a 3.74 goals against average (GAA), and .880 save percentage.
In other words, against top competition, he allowed just under four goals a game and 22 of every 100 shots got past him. That isn’t the guy who the Ducks should press into service should something happen to the top two goalies. Here are some other options.
Ondrej Pavelic (NYR), 30 years old – An 11 year NHL Veteran, Pavelec is a former number one goalie. It’s uncertain if he would accept a PTO. If the Ducks did sign him, he’d likely be headed to the minor leagues, someplace he hasn’t been since 2009.
Judging by recent history, Pavelec would get a handful of NHL games with the Ducks, unless a significant injury occurred. Odds are he heads back to Europe, but he’s certainly worth a no-commitment offer.
Anders Lindback (NSH), 30 years old – At 6’6” Lindback is an imposing figure on the ice. A veteran of 130 NHL games, with five different teams, his career has not reached the same heights as his height. Lindback spent all of last season with Nashville’s AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. He still has more experience and better numbers than Coreau. Lindback owns a 45-58-8 record in the NHL with a 2.87 GAA, and .904 SV%. He’s a much better option if he can impress the coaching staff on a PTO.
Forwards
Alex Chiasson (WSH), 27 years old, wing – He surprised everyone by making the Capitals out of training camp last year. Chiasson would go on to play 61 regular season, and 16 playoff games for the Stanley Cup Champions. A former second-round pick in 2009, he had his best NHL season as a rookie in 2013-14 scoring 35 points (13g, 22a). He has decent speed, and good size at 6’4”.
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Tom Sestito (Pit), 30 years old, LW – Somebody has to replace Mike Liambas.
Matt Stajan (CGY) – 34 years old, center – Okay, he’s 34 and the Ducks don’t need more old men, but there are reasons he should be offered a PTO. Aside from the uncertainty about Kesler, recently signed Carter Rowney doesn’t have a long resume to fall back on as an NHL center. If the Ducks do need a veteran pivot, they could do much worse than this 1,003 game NHL veteran.
Stajan is just about an even bet in the faceoff circle and despite playing on some awful teams in Toronto and Calgary is a career -3. Last season his advanced metrics were outstanding despite starting over 60% of his shifts in the defensive zone for a less than stellar Flames squad.
Troy Brouwer and Kris Versteeg (both CGY), both 32 and RW – While neither is fast, both possess some much-needed pedigree. They are both former 20 goal scorers (Brouwer three times, Versteeg four times). More importantly, both are former Stanley Cup winners. They were on Chicago’s 2010 Championship team and Versteeg came back to the Windy City for a second Cup in 2015. If nothing else one or both could give some of the younger players good competition for a final roster spot.
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The Anaheim Ducks have absolutely nothing to lose by offering up a few PTOs. Maybe there is another Derek Grant out there. If not, they aren’t committed to signing any of the players invited to training camp.