Bouncing Back from Injuries

Team: 2019-20 Anaheim Ducks

Initial Creation Date: Jun. 5, 2019

Published: Jun. 7, 2019

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2011-2012 due to an injury riddled campaign, the Ducks look to a coaching change (Dallas Eakins?) , some revisions to their roster (upgrade RD), and a bounce back by some of the players plagued by injuries (Perry, Manson) to get them back into the post season. Anaheim looks to compete for a wildcard spot next season with this year's playoffs serving as an example that anything is possible with this decent roster if they make it into the second season.

RFA's
Dotchkin signs a 1 year 900k contract extension hoping to establish himself as a bottom pairing RD on a team thin at the position.
De Leo & Kloos sign 1 year 700k deals hoping to be injury call ups but likely spending the majority of the season leading the AHL team.
Murphy is brought back for 1 year at 750k for the AHL.
Thompson moves on.
Ducks sign Gates prior to losing his draft rights.

UFA's
As much as the Ducks like Grant, there is no room for him in the lineup on a regular basis with the young players Anaheim has coming up.
Miller may retire from hockey, or his contract is extended one more year. I assumed retirement and brought up Boyle who has been solid in the AHL and good in his 5 games last year in the big league to backup Gibson.
Welinski returns for 2 year at 1M as the 6/7 D.
Ducks should pursue Myers quite aggressively if they do not address RD via trade. I think they can pair him with Fowler for the next seven years and try to get his AAV down by giving him term. Something like: 6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 5.5, 5.5, 4.5, 3.5 (7 @ 5.5M AAV)

Trades
Overall, the Ducks should look to use some of their forward depth and/or Larsson/draft picks to make a move for RD and weaponize some of the cap space they gain this year by Kesler and Eaves likely going to LTIR.
I would approach Winnipeg with Larsson + SJS 2019 1st + ANA 2020 2nd or 3rd for Trouba. I think this is comparable to the offer sheet compensation that sending him a 6 x $7M contract to sign would be with the benefit of not losing all the picks in the same year and being able to offer him a better contract without jumping up into the next RFA compensation tier. Fall back plan is signing Myers away from them.
Perhaps moving Eaves to Toronto (who they could bury and save a 4M cap hit, or send to Robidas island if he in fact can't play to save 6M) for Marleau and sweeteners would work for both teams.
NYR have both deAngelo and Pionk to resign as RFA's and just acquired Fox. There are many Rangers AGM's where Pionk is moved out as they have too many NHL RD. I could see the Rangers using a young 3rd line forward like Shore if they intend to be relatively competitive next year. I have added a mid-late pick as a sweetener to this trade to get a young puck moving RD with upside for the bottom pairing.

Lineup
This is a deep group of forwards and after the trades a good set of defensemen. I have Jones as the first forward call up and Mahura as the first D call up. I also have Comtois making the team and getting fed top line minutes with two vets (I think Perry bounces back from his injury to at least 0.5 PPG). Steel and Henrique compete as 2/3 centres. Perry & Kase could switch RW spots depending on how Perry is playing after this off season rehabbing his knee & conditioning. Similarly Ritchie & Comtois can switch LW spots depending on who is playing better. Marleau could move up as high as 3rd line LW if he's really flying next year, but he is likely to be a staple on the fourth line taking left side faceoffs, with Rowny drawing in if Terry struggles with the center ice position and then Terry & Sprong would compete for the RW spot. The leftover money could be used to keep Boyle in the AHL and bring in a veteran backup if Anaheim doesn't think he's ready for the backup role (Miller/McElhinney/Elliot/Smith @ 1 x 2M).

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