Pucks of a Feather
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Are the Anaheim Ducks Poised to Make a Big Splash in Free Agency?

By Chris Bushell

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 5: Patrick Eaves #18 of the Anaheim Ducks chats with teammate Ryan Kesler #17 before a face-off during the game against the Vancouver Canucks on March 5, 2017 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 5: Patrick Eaves #18 of the Anaheim Ducks chats with teammate Ryan Kesler #17 before a face-off during the game against the Vancouver Canucks on March 5, 2017 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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Anaheim Ducks
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 16: Columbus Blue Jackets center Matt Duchene (95) waits for a drill before a game between the Boston Bruins and the Columbus Blue Jackets on. March 16, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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.

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