2019 Anaheim Ducks Free Agent Targets: Jean-Sébastien Dea
While there are plenty of household names in the pending free-agent pool this off-season, The Anaheim Ducks likely won’t be diving in, it is possible they’ll wade into the shallow end, which is nothing new for Bob Murray
The Anaheim Ducks find themselves in a position they’re not overly familiar with in recent times. they’re in the midst of a re-tool but their roster isn’t gutted of talent, their prospects are seemingly ready to take the next step and they don’t have a ton of holes to fill. This is the 2nd of 3 articles in which I’m going to discuss 3 players set to hit the free-agent market that the Ducks should consider bringing in this off-season.
JEAN-SÉBASTIEN DEA- Center- Current Team: Florida Panthers
Jean-Sébastien Dea is a player who isn’t exactly a lock to be an NHL caliber player, he’s 25 years old and has shown some promise in his brief chances in the NHL, but has found the majority of his success in the AHL. That shouldn’t disqualify him as a player the Ducks should look at acquiring as he will likely come cheap, and he might thrive given a chance to play.
To this point, Dea has only played in 29 NHL games but has put up 7 points in them despite limited play time. An Undrafted Free Agent, Dea signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins and spent the first 5 years of his career in their organization before signing a 1-year contract in 2018 with the New Jersey Devils. The Devils tried to sneak him through waivers but he was ultimately re-claimed by the Penguins before being traded near the deadline to the Florida Panthers.
The Anaheim Ducks have had fairly good luck recently in signing players who were journeymen in the NHL and had little-to-no success before coming to Anaheim. Derek Grant and Ben Street, for instance, both came to the Ducks with a handful of games to their name and zero goals scored and while neither of them has exactly been an elite presence (although I’m sure some will have my head for not bowing down to “Elite #1 Center Derek Grant”) they have been serviceable players who have contributed.
Carter Rowney is another who had limited success in the NHL but was quite impressive for the Ducks putting up a fairly shocking 20 points despite being on the 4th line and only suiting up for 62 games. Dea is younger than all of those players, has had more success than either of Grant or Street in the NHL and plays a style more accustomed to the direction the league is shifting. Dea has a solid shot and despite being a smaller player doesn’t mind hounding the front of the net for rebounds or tips. I think a team fairly gutted at the center position would appreciate what Dea brings especially on a cheap contract and that’s what gets Bob Murray salivating.
Expected Contract Value: 1-year contract $750k-$1 million
Do you think that Jean-Sébastien Dea could join the list of bargain bin steals, or do you think he’s one the Anaheim Ducks should let pass by?
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