By securing a 3-2 shootout victory over the Calgary Flames on Sunday night, the Anaheim Ducks have further increased their likelihood of making the playoffs, for the first time in seven seasons. The Ducks have won five games in a row, have also won eight straight home games, currently sit in second place in the Pacific Division with 69 points, and are just one point behind the Las Vegas Golden Knights for the division lead. With a 92.8% chance to make the playoffs, according to MoneyPuck, Ducks GM Pat Verbeek should be looking to bring in reinforcements before the trade deadline ends at 3 PM on Friday.
Before the Winter Olympics roster freeze, we looked at possible trade candidates from The Athletic's NHL trade board 5.0. In the month since, not only has the landscape for NHL teams shifted, but other names have cropped up as potential trade candidates. Using The Athletic's updated 8.0 list, let's take a look at few other names that could be potential trade acquisitions for the Ducks.
Alex Tuch
With 51 points (24 goals, 27 assists) in 59 games for the Buffalo Sabres this season, Tuch would provide that additional scoring threat the Ducks have coveted. With Troy Terry and Mikael Granlund still sidelined by injuries, Tuch would be insurance in case another top six forward goes down. Tuch will also be a UFA this summer and without an extension, he would be rental for a playoff run, making the acquisition cost probably being within the realm of a first-round pick plus another pick or a lower tier prospect. If Tuch wanted an extension though, he would probably get a raise from his expiring 4.75 million contract and increase the asking price from the Sabres. GM Verbeek is not keen on long term extensions and Tuch will turn 30 this summer, so a 3-to-4-year extension with the Ducks would be ideal.
Zach Whitecloud
On a recent episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Elliotte Friedman mentioned Whitecloud as a potential trade target for Verbeek, as the Ducks GM had interest in the defenseman when Verbeek was in the front office for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Whitecloud only has 11 points in 58 games this season, but he has seen an uptick in his ice time since being traded to Calgary: going from 18:46 in ice time with the Knights, to 23:20 with the Flames. While Whitecloud would move back down to a depth role with the Ducks, both Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba are on expiring contracts, and Whitecloud could be a suitable replacement, if either veteran defenseman is not extended.
Bobby McMann
With 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) in 59 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, McMann could be viewed as a cheaper alternative to an Alex Tuch trade. With all due respect to Jeffrey Viel, Jansen Harkins, and Ross Johnston, McMann would be an upgrade to the bottom six of the Ducks. Like Tuch, McMann will also be a UFA this summer and will be entering his age 30 season. A trade would likely depend on how aggressively the Maple Leafs want to rebuild their roster. Since McMann does not carry the same cache or production as Tuch though, the Ducks should be leery of trading away a young prospect in a trade.