Are the Anaheim Ducks Poised to Make a Big Splash in Free Agency?
News broke late last week that was quite unsettling for the Anaheim Ducks and their fans. There is the very realistic chance we have seen the last of Ryan Kesler and Patrick Eaves in the NHL. And while it is more important for them to have a normal full life after hockey do the Ducks now need to replace them with big free agent signings?
The Anaheim Ducks are at a crossroads but first and foremost we need to recognize this is about the health and well being of two great people. As much as I love seeing Ryan Kesler and Patrick Eaves playing the game they love, for the team I love, there are more important things that rise above the level of hockey. There is a life after hockey, both of these guys have families they must care for and be there for. Both of these guys have long lives still ahead of them. And as hard as I’m sure it will be for them to give up the game they love their health must come first.
I am happy the Ducks management is realizing that and taking the steps to put their well being above the game of hockey. And I think I speak for all of us here at Pucks of a Feather and Ducks fans in general in wishing them nothing but the best going forward. If they both truly have played their last game for the Ducks, the team now has two big spots to fill and increased cap space to do so. While the young kids should stick around next season, bringing in one or two top-6, top-9 players to help the transition should be what the Ducks look to do. So here are three players the Ducks could target this summer to be the bridge between Ryan Getzlaf–Corey Perry and the plethora of kids.
Matt Duchene (Columbus Blue Jackets/18-19′ Cap Hit: 6 million)
The Columbus Blue Jackets have put all their chips in on this upcoming post-season. They acquired both Matt Duchene and Adam McQuaid at the deadline, held on to fellow upcoming free agents Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin, and dealt both their first and second round picks in the upcoming draft. And while they very well could make a run to the Cup the off-season is not going to be easy in Columbus. As stated Panarin, Bobrovsky, and Duchene are all free agents. But so are 50+ point getter Ryan Dzingel, and young defensemen Zachary Werenski and Ryan Murray. Even with the increase in the cap ceiling, Columbus can not re-sign all of them. The money just doesn’t fit no matter how you slice it. And the Blue Jackets misfortune could be the Ducks opportunity.
There is no telling what Duchene will command and there will be no shortage of suitors for his services. Duchene started his career out west with Colorado and then had limited success in Ottawa. He could welcome the thought of coming to the West Coast where he would slot in right behind Ryan Getzlaf and give the Ducks a vaunted 1-2 punch and even 1-2-3 punch down the middle with the inclusion of Adam Henrique. And by no means is bringing Duchene in a knock on Henrique. He has been one of the few bright spots for the Ducks this season but slotting him as the 3C with the likes of Ondrej Kase and Max Jones would be a highly touted 3rd line.
He could command 7 million which may be too high for the Ducks but at the age of 28 the Ducks could go an extra year and knock down the cap hit. This would be unlike the Ducks to overpay but Getzlaf and Perry come off the books in 2 years making this contract okay to have. Could be wishful thinking but there is no denying Duchene would look good in the webbed D.
Ryan Dzingel (Columbus Blue Jackets/18-19′ Cap Hit: 1.8 million)
Yeah, I could’ve put Artemi Panarin here but if the Ducks won’t go high enough for Duchene they absolutely won’t go high enough for Panarin. So enter Ryan Dzingel. As stated above the Jackets can’t realistically sign all of their free agents. If they decide to try and keep Duchene/Panarin that almost certainly spells the end for Dzingel. Dzingel doesn’t have the eye-popping stats but he has proved to be at least a 40-50 point getter and that’s almost entirely with a terrible Ottawa squad. Give him the likes of Getzlaf or Henrique who are masters of facilitating and those point totals could go up even more. He would be the cheaper option no doubt probably commanding in the 3-3.5 million range which the Ducks should be more than comfortable with. But they may have to go a little over as once again there should be no shortage of teams trying to go for the players Columbus has to jettison.
Dzingel about fits the mold the Ducks want as a winger. He is 6 foot and plays a big game while also having speed and stick handling ability the Ducks and more than likely new head coach Dallas Eakins will want. Also wouldn’t hurt the Ducks to bring in a bigger winger as their current stable of wingers is extremely talented but not the biggest. If the Ducks do decide to keep the likes of Jakob Silfverberg, Daniel Sprong, Ondrej Kase, Troy Terry, and Max Comtois playing big minutes they are all extremely skilled but not the biggest. Adding Dzingel with Max Jones and Corey Perry will allow the Ducks to balance lines with a bigger winger and a smaller winger on the opposite side.
The game is moving to a more speed and skill game but physicality is still part of the equation and you don’t want to be consistently getting knocked off the puck. Dzingel will help in that regard.
Michael Ferland (Carolina Hurricane/18-19′ Cap Hit: 1.75 million)
Sticking with the more affordable options the Ducks could look to pluck Michael Ferland from Carolina. Ferland had a slow start to his NHL career with the Calgary Flames but was a 40 point getter in his last season north of the border and has followed that up by closing in on another in his first season in Raleigh. He is 4 points shy of breaking his career-high point total and his current 17-20-37 point line shows he is just as good scoring goals as he is at setting them up. He is also a +16 on the season and is a +21 over his last two seasons showing he is a 200ft player that can take care of both ends of the ice. Playing in Calgary he is also familiar with the Western Conference and Pacific Division game so he knows what it takes to have success in that division and conference.
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Ferland is in his mid-20s so just entering the prime of his career and based on his latest cap hit shouldn’t demand the world. Also, like Dzingel, he is on the bigger side; same height as Dzingel but significantly heavier. This could help in what is still a tough cycling division despite the move towards speed and skill. Ferland could be a seamless fit for the Ducks new system and would be a player that Dallas Eakins would love to have. He has been in the league long enough to help the young players but isn’t old enough that you would be signing someone on the back end of his career. Ferland could fit in anywhere line 1-4 giving the Ducks flexibility through the lines and allow Eakins to mix and match wherever he feels Ferland helps most.
The Ducks should have a chip on their shoulder next season. A fresh coach, a fresh system and a fresh start should propel this team back to where they have been the last few seasons before this one. And Kesler and Eaves get to focus on what matters most, their health and their lives post-hockey.
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