Could Move: Corey Perry, Kevin Roy, Ondrej Kase
Yes, this is the toughest category, but as I said, changes need to and will be made so that never again will fans have to deal with a year like the Ducks just had. Corey Perry always has been and always will be one of my favorites and I stand by that he can be a huge component of this team. But, he is coming off significant knee surgery and hasn’t been the same “Scorey Perry” he used to be in years. Perry is still on the books for another two years at a big $8.6 million per cap hit. That is a lot of money for what most teams may see as “damaged goods.”
However, it is only for two more seasons, and for a team that thinks they have a great roster and could use a proven veteran on the third line, a la Justin Williams in Carolina, the Ducks could find a taker. I think Perry could be that for the Ducks this season with the right linemates. I also think Murray and by extension, the Samulies, will not allow Perry to play anywhere other than Anaheim.
Kevin Roy has shown flashes of what he can be. He is undersized but his puck handling and shot are NHL ready and NHL level. He has suffered through injuries keeping him from helping the Ducks or the Gulls and you wonder how many chances he has left. Murray could move him for draft picks or other prospects for a team willing to give Roy a shot. He has shown since his college days he can rack up the points, he just needs to stay on the ice.
Ondrej Kase has been a great story and player for the Ducks. He was a 7th round pick who has proved he is a top 9 if not top 6 forward in the league. His season was poised to be a big one but started late due to a concussion and was ended early due to a shoulder injury.
Kase could be a huge part of the Ducks present and future. But aren’t Kase and Sprong the same player? Undersized speed driven players with great hands and great shots. Do you need both of them? The case could be made, yes, but does Kase have good trade value now to bring in another center with the health status of Ryan Kesler in question?
Kase is set to make $2.6 million per for the next two seasons while Sprong makes just $750,000 next year before he is an RFA. The Ducks could also choose to move Kase for a draft pick/prospect and gain cap room to sign a bigger free agent. Time will tell, but Kase could be on the block.