The offseason is on the horizon and as the Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights winds down, the last remnants of competitive hockey will soon fade into memory. The 2026 NHL entry draft is nearly two weeks away and free agency opens shortly thereafter on July 1st. Despite their inspiring postseason run, the Ducks have a treasure trove of assets and should be in the market to make some upgrades to the roster, once free agency opens.
The Athletic recently published their NHL offseason trade board and there are a few players that would help round out the Ducks' shopping list. Ideally, Anaheim should be making offers for players under the age of 30, which would be more in line with the young core. While Dylan Larkin is the most obvious trade target, we'll take a look at some other options.
Slam dunk
Robert Thomas
In 64 games this season, Thomas had 64 points (25 goals, 39 assists) for the St. Louis Blues, after having consecutive seasons of 80 plus points. Thomas was the de facto number one center for the Blues and averaged 19 minutes of ice time. When it seemed, the Blues were on the outside of the playoff race, the trade rumors picked up again, but the asking price of an equivalent to three first round picks was demonstrably too high.
However, Mason McTavish would fit that requirement. Even though the former first round pick struggled mightily this past season with Ducks, he is only 23 and and has plenty of runway left to find his game again. The only other first round pick the Ducks could reasonably part with, would be Pavel Mintyukov, as the team is flush with young leftdefenseman. While the Ducks do not own a first round pick in the 2026 draft, due to the John Carlson trade, they still have their 2027 first. Roger McQueen or Stian Solberg would fit the first-round pick requirement, but the Ducks should hold fast on moving those prospects in a Thomas trade and save them for a more lucrative trade, if one ever materialized.
Three-point shot
Jason Robertson
Robertson would provide an immediate upgrade to the offense for the Ducks, as the Dallas winger had 96 points (45 goals, 51 assists) in 82 games. As an RFA with arbitration rights this summer, Robertson has yet to find a long-term solution with the Stars though. The asking price for Robertson would be comparable to a Thomas trade, as premier scoring wingers with size are tough to come by.
And much like the previous trade scenario, McTavish plus a young Ducks defenseman, would probably be the starting point. While losing McTavish would sting, Mikael Granlund has already proven himself as capable stop gap for the number two center role and the aforementioned McQueen should take over the reins in the near future. Robertson may have been kept off the Team USA Winter Olympic roster for his lack of defensive skill, but the combination of Robertson with Leo Carlsson and either Cutter Gauthier or Beckett Sennecke would be quite formidable.
Alley-oop
Simon Nemec
The New Jersey Devils defenseman had 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 68 games and averaged 19:40 in ice time. While Nemec has yet to live up to his draft pedigree, as a former number two overall pick, he is still only 22. The right side of the Ducks defense has a crop of veterans who have yet to be signed and Nemec could be a suitable replacement.
Ducks GM Pat Verbeek already pulled off a successful one for one trade, when he dealt Jamie Drysdale to the Philadelphia Flyers for Cutter Gauthier. Could Verbeek make the opposite trade, sending out a young forward to bring in Nemec? The Ducks would not be dealing from a position of strength though, and unless you count Ian Moore like the coaching staff, the Ducks either have forwards they cannot trade, like Gauthier and Sennecke, or that are too old, like Chris Kreider. If anything, Verbeek would probably have to trade away Olen Zellweger or Mintyukov, plus a little draft pick sweetener, to pry away the right-handed Nemec from the Devils.
Final thoughts
The Ducks have plenty of cap space and assets to make at least one sizeable upgrade to the roster this offseason. After exceeding expectations, Verbeek will be under pressure to make a big trade, but he has yet to successfully make that kind of deal, after missing out on Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault last offseason. But with the Ducks on the rise, maybe 2026 will finally be the year.
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