Anaheim Ducks Could Take Advantage of the Arizona Coyotes Draft Woes

What Should The Ducks Give Up To Acquire A Top-4 Defenceman?

The start of any trade between these two teams will have to start with a 1st-round draft selection. The Ducks have managed to buy their way into the Boston Bruins selection at the back end of the draft. While the selection will be one of the last selections in this season’s draft, it will also still be possible to pick up a quality young player. In essence, the only reason the Anaheim Ducks would give it up at this stage of their rebuild is to acquire another young asset, which they do here.

Adding to the 1st-round selection the Ducks should consider a 2nd-round selection in the 2021 draft. Doing so will add value to the trade, as it’s very difficult to acquire top-4 defencemen, and it could be presumed that the Coyotes will want to replace one of the draft picks they will have to give up to the Devils.

In essence, moving Chychrun for draft selections would help the Coyotes save money, and allow them to extend Hall who is still only 28-years-old. The Ducks 2nd-round pick would replace the outgoing 2nd-round pick required to extend Hall.

Further, the Anaheim Ducks can sweeten the pot by including either one of the young defencemen mentioned above or one of their many middle-6 wings. For instance, Sonny Milano is perceived to be a high upside player who is still only 24-years-old.

While a 1st round pick, a 2nd round pick, and a 24-year-old (perceived to be) high-upside forward, may seem to be a good haul for an oft-injured defenceman, there is some protection built-in for the Anaheim Ducks as well.

Firstly, the Ducks are unlikely to get such a clear top-4 defenceman with the Boston draft selection, and it is almost certainly the type of player they would be trying to target in this portion of the draft. Thus, the Ducks can say that they took on salary and moved a young player (the initial trade with Boston) in order to acquire a big piece of their rebuild.

Moving one of the middle-6 wings also cuts down on what Seattle may be able to select in next summer’s expansion draft. At present, the Ducks are likely to have nine forwards they would like to protect, with only seven protection slots to give. Limiting the forwards available to Seattle will railroad them into taking one of the Ducks defencemen.