Jakob Silfverbeg need to be moved at the Trade Deadline

The NHL Trade Deadline is just weeks away and teams will fall into the buyers or sellers category. And with the way the Anaheim Ducks season has gone, you will have to think they will fall into the ladder category. But for the sake of the team, it should only be one major person who moves.

It would be an understatement to say the 2018-19 Anaheim Ducks season has gone off the rails. As of writing this the Ducks have lost 18 of their last 20 games and currently sit with a record of 21-25-9. That’s good for 51 points and somehow only 4 points out of the final wildcard spot. In fact, if the Ducks were just .500 in their last 20 games they would have a 4 point cushion sitting in the first wildcard spot and within striking difference of 3rd in the Pacific Division. That is merely an inditement on the rest of the Western Conference and not a compliment on the Ducks play but that’s a topic for another day. With where the Ducks currently sit even if they find a way into the post-season it will most likely be a quick exit. So with that in mind should they be sellers at the deadline?

The easy answer is yes. But not sellers in the traditional sense of the word. The idea began forming thinking while hearing Patrick Mahoney and our very own Eddy Jones on the first episode of our PoaF podcast, which you can listen to here. Throughout the podcast, they brought up several Ducks mentioned as potential trade chips and why the time is now to move them. And while I see the value in moving any one of the players they mentioned there is really only one I want to happen.

Move Silf, Keep the D Intact

That one player is Jakob Silfverberg. This is no indictment on Silfverbergs play or his value to this team but more of what it will allow the Ducks to do going forward. Silfverberg is set to hit the free agent market this summer after coming off his most recent deal that saw him paid 3.75 million annually. He will likely be looking for a deal in the 5 million per year range for 4-5 years. In most other circumstances this would be fair market value for Silfverberg but these are far than normal times in Anaheim.

The Ducks need something to shake up the status quo. Besides a change in bench boss which needs to come this off-season, they need a shake-up to the roster. They need to let the next wave of talent have the chance to play meaningful games at the NHL level. The likes of Troy Terry, Max Jones, Sam Steel, Maxime Comtois, and Kevin Roy need to be given the room to make the roster. And as Pat and Eddy pointed out in their podcast retaining Silfverberg blocks these kids from coming up. Letting him go means cap space and allows for young blood to get injected into the roster. But that is the only move of substance the Ducks need to make.

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The likes of Cam Fowler, Brandon Montour, and Josh Manson have been linked to some rumors in the last few weeks. And while they all have had so-so years to say the least, and there is some value in “trading high” it may not be the best option at this time. Trading from a position of weakness is never ideal and if the Ducks trade one of these D men now that exactly where they would be. Yes, trading any one of them would most likely fetch you a higher end prospect and 1st-2nd round pick. But that prospect/pick is an unknown. Always take the known player over the potential that a prospect could work out.

Some of these three’s issues this season could be a product of the current system they play in. They will all be just as attractive trade chips next season if things don’t work out under the new coach and trade partners will always be there for a young talented defenseman. Don’t make trades just for the sake of trading pieces away. They have all showed they can play and succeed at this level. So allow for a mulligan and if they continue on a downward trajectory trading them next season is when it should happen.

2019-2020 Anaheim Ducks

If the Ducks move Silfverberg at the deadline for a prospect and 1st round pick it will free up significant cap space for next season. Now obviously it is impossible to predict if the Ducks will go after a big unrestricted free agent or make any other trades but with just the Silfverberg move (and a couple other tweaks factoring in injuries/smaller scale moves) the Ducks forward line-up could look something like this:

Perry-Getzlaf-Rakell

Kase-Henrique-Sprong

Jones-Steel-Terry

Shore-Kesler-Comtois

Those lines blend proven players with young up and comers. It gives the Ducks added speed and skill and gets them away from the grinding mucking roster they are largely comprised of now. Ryan Kesler on the fourth line can get him better match-ups and in a decreased role to preserve himself a bit longer. The top line can be altered if Corey Perry doesn’t produce and all “kid” line of Jones-Steel-Terry could be game-changing.

Jakob Silfverberg has been nothing short of incredible here. Giving his all game in and game out and has had a knack for scoring big goals especially in the post-season. But the Ducks have arrived at a crossroads and not everyone will make it through. This move would allow the Ducks to set up for years to come and at the end of the day, that’s what they need to do.