Anaheim Ducks: Grading Verbeeks First Trade-Deadline
New Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek had himself quite a first trade deadline. The Ducks have fallen out of the playoff race in the last few weeks, which may have made some decisions a little easier. However, Verbeek did something his predecessor didn’t have the stomach for. And he made sure to get value for players he would not be able to re-sign. With that we here at PoaF are here to hand out grades for the new GMs first go at the annual deadline.
Brad Senecal
Grade: B+
What a refreshing time to be a Ducks fan. After years of watching Bob Murray sit on his hands year after year at the trade deadline, we got to watch Pat Verbeek step into the chair and immediately show everybody the direction this team is heading in. The mentality of ‘I can’t lose these players for nothing’ was very much needed and delivered on the recoupment of assets. Josh Manson, Rickard Rakell, Hampus Lindholm, and to a lesser extent Nic Deslauriers have played significant parts during one of the brightest timeframes in Ducks history. However seeing as they have recently been part of the darkest time in the team’s history, clearly it was time to move on.
I am a fan of both Drew Helleson and Urho Vaakananinen joining the team as both seem to have strong defensive make ups and becoming Ducks may be the best moves for their young careers, Helleson for an opportunity, and Vaakananinen for a change of scenery. With bright youngsters such as Jamie Drysdale and Owen Zellwegger looking to carve out important roles moving forward, look for the two new d-men to be seen as complementary pieces for the Ducks in the future.
Calle Clang is also an intriguing goaltender prospect who has put up solid numbers in the SHL, Sweden’s top professional league, and will likely get the opportunity to display his work at the rescheduled World Junior Hockey Championships in August as the potential number two to Jesper Wallstedt. We have mentioned on this site before about a potential trade of John Gibson, if that were to happen it is a great move to add another blue chip goalie prospect to the farm.
As far as the veteran acquisitions I really wonder if things may have been different had these trades been made sooner than the deadline. Zac Aston-Reece and Dominik Simon have been solid depth contributors to the Pittsburgh Penguins over the past number of years and are potentially players that playoff teams would be happy to add as depth for a Cup run, especially with both being UFAs at the end of the year. With their free agent statuses neither moves the needle for the Ducks.
The main capture for the team was obviously the haul in draft picks. I have continued to state that the drafts over the next two years are looking to be very deep and very strong, so adding a first, 5 seconds, and a third to the draft stock brings in a lot of potential to find a blue chip prospect who could become an important piece to the teams puzzle. Also keep an eye out for potential trades in the future as well as Pat Verbeek has a cupboard full of assets and will be looking to prove he was the right hire for the job.
Ben Thomasian
Grade: B-
I’m probably a little harsher on the trade deadline than most, as I see the work that has been done as incomplete.
First, the Ducks moved their pending UFA’s and not much else. That’s far better than losing them for nothing, but it’s hardly revolutionary. Second, and most important to me, they also didn’t gain any particularly impressive “individual” pieces back in trade. The Ducks picked up a metric ton of draft capital, but most of it is in the tail end of the 2nd round. The likelihood of a player selected in these draft spots being a difference maker is relatively slim. The chances of them contributing at all in the next 3-4 seasons is even slimer – consider that the Ducks 2nd round selection in 2017, Antoine Morand, has yet to play an NHL game and their 2018 2nd round selection, Benoit-Oliver Groulx, has played only 18.
Why does this matter? The Ducks (presumably) have the player they’re going to build the franchise around, already on the roster. Trevor Zegras recently turned 21, and (again, presumably) has six-to-seven seasons before his play starts to decline based on aging curves, and assuming he remains healthy for the duration. I would have liked to see the Ducks collect some pieces that can contribute in a two-to-four season window, rather than a four-to-six season window that a second rounder might have.
Drew Helleson is a decent piece with this in mind, and he plays a role that the Ducks don’t have a lot of within the current prospect system. The Manson trade was a huge win to me and I would have liked to see more of these types of prospects acquired instead of the smorgasbord of draft selections and “warm bodies” picked up in the other trades. Unless the Ducks can trade these draft picks for prospects in the 19-to-21-year-old age bracket, I think what they’ve done thus far will only push back the timeframe that they will compete in and shorten the duration of the window that they will have to work with.
Taking all the trades together as a whole, I think they did a good job of acquiring assets and beginning a rebuild from scratch. However, I don’t believe they made large strides towards becoming a Stanley Cup contender with their current returns. They did good work, but ultimately left me wanting for more. If they turn these picks into a young goal scorer via trade, this deadline will be a rousing success. If they rock up to the draft and make the picks they now have in hand, I think it will be an opportunity lost.
Chris Bushell
Grade: B+
I originally had my grade at A- however that was before the Dadonov fiasco. Now truthfully this isn’t Verbeeks fault however cannot give him credit for a trade that didn’t happen. Dadonov would’ve been that best current roster player the Ducks received at the deadline and without him the grade needs to slide back some. With that said I think Verbeek did a great job finally steering into the rebuild. If we as Ducks fans want this to end and return to Cup contention you need to give in and make the hard decisions. For whatever the reason Murray refused to do that, and the Ducks are paying for it now. Verbeek made shrewd moves and not only brought in pieces that could help but also valuable trade chips.
Truthfully of the players Verbeek acquired I only see two being on the Ducks roster come October. Zach Aston Reese is a great defensive forward and has the ability to chip in offensively. I saw it posted on Twitter that Aston-Reese is truly the player that some sect of Ducks fans believes Derek Grant to be. ZAR is 10x the player Grant is, he is younger and is a great 4th line player. He will also be a pivotal penalty kill piece and allow more offensive players to not have to be overtaxed.
Also, I look for Drew Helleson to be a part of this team. Potentially not with the Ducks but at a minimum getting meaningful minutes in San Diego. Helleson had a great collegiate career at Boston College compiling 46 points in 82 games. He signed his ELC which will kick in next season but signed a ATO to be with the Gulls for the remainder of the season. Josh Manson who was traded for him is over 30 and would not be in position to meaningfully contribute when the Ducks are contenders in the near future. Getting a younger and arguably better version of him is a great add.
Though losing Rakell and Lindholm were tough pills to swallow they did bring back a whole swath of draft picks. At current count the Ducks have two 1st round picks and two 2nd round picks this year, a 1st round, three 2nd round, and two 3rd round picks in the 2023 draft. At Verbeeks press conference he stated he views some of those picks as “trade chips”. That may be what this trade deadline is remembered for, what picks does Verbeek package to bring in young, established talent to surround the new core of Trevor Zegras, Troy Terry, and Jamie Drysdale. If Verbeek does that this grade could jump to the A+ range come mid summer.
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