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Anaheim Ducks: Weaponizing Cap Space in 30 Potential Trades

By Ben Thomasian

CALGARY, AB - FEBRUARY 22: Interim head coach of the Anaheim Ducks, Bob Murray watches his team during an NHL game against the Calgary Flames on February 22, 2019 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - FEBRUARY 22: Interim head coach of the Anaheim Ducks, Bob Murray watches his team during an NHL game against the Calgary Flames on February 22, 2019 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Anaheim Ducks
ANAHEIM, CA – FEBRUARY 27: Nick Ritchie #37 of the Anaheim Ducks and Alex DeBrincat #12 of the Chicago Blackhawks battle for the puck during the third period of the game at Honda Center on February 27, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Carolina Hurricanes (4th Metropolitain, 27-17-2, 56 points)

Carolina doesn’t really have too many bad contracts, but they do need steady netminding. With this in mind, James Reimer heads back to Anaheim for a steadier netminder and a little bit of cap space to find a rental with.

Possible Trade

Carolina possibly shore up their netminding and add some cap space and the Anaheim Ducks pick up a minor pick for a guy who won’t stay around.

Chicago Blackhawks (7th Western, 20-20-6, 46 points)

The Blackhawks are terrible and have a bunch of free agents to sign next season with very little coming off the books. They won’t want to give up much, but they may not have a choice. The Anaheim Ducks could possibly (probably not) leverage their financial muscle here.

Massive ask for Chicago to give up the cat but moving Seabrook is probably worth it. They get a forward back who can contribute immediately. The Ducks get a young forward who is immediately their best player.

Colorado Avalanche (3rd Central, 25-15-5, 55 points)

The Avalanche have more cap space than they know what to do with. It’s unfair they’re this good. Since I’m committing to a trade per team, I guess they can let Ian Cole go. It would be boring if it was just a swap of 4th and 5th round picks, so…

The Ducks trade Fowler to kick off a rebuild. Cole is the worst contract the Av’s have that they are willing to give up.

Columbus Blue Jackets (6th Metropolitan, 22-16-8, 52 points)

Another team swimming in cap space.

Rules of the article, Columbus had to trade something.

Dallas Stars (2nd Central, 26-15-4, 56 points)

Despite being in the playoff hunt, the Stars have a number of underperforming players. Joe Pavelski may still be making things happen, but his production is simply not worth $7 million dollars. He could easily be replaced by the Stars going forward.

The Stars move 14 million dollars and add a minor role player. The Ducks add some potential.

Detroit Red Wings (8th Atlantic, 12-31-3, 27 points)

There is no world in which there is a deal to be made here, but let’s say there was, what would it look like?

Something had to be traded, and Murray does like old guys. The “young” part, is the pick.

Edmonton Oilers (5th Pacific, 24-18-5, 53 points)

The Oilers have a number of bad contracts on the books. While it would be easy to harp
on about James Neal’s $7.5 million, Mikko Koskinen’s $5.8 million might even be worse. The Oilers really need some playoff hockey, so what do they pay to get cap space and options?

The Oilers improve their netminding situation and the Anaheim Ducks get some young talent to make up for having a really expensive backup.

Florida Panthers (4th Atlantic, 24-16-5, 53 points)

The Panthers, for the most part, have reasonable contracts on the books, yet with Mike Hoffman and Evgenii Dadonov coming up for renewal next season, perhaps they’ll be looking to offload other contracts to keep these two in town. Assuming they want to keep them of course. What if they won’t cost surety? In this instance perhaps they do

Why not? The Anaheim Ducks flip Hoffman at the deadline for literally anything and have more cap space to weaponize. Afterall, Jakob Silfverberg wasn’t going to still be here when they were cup contenders again anyways.

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