I'm guessing Kesler doesn't waive to go to MTL.

Probably not

No chance you get a 2nd for a 7th D.

Have you seen him play this year? He is not a 7D. Also, some teams get desperate at the TDL.

I understand taking money back to pay less for Fowler but you have to wonder if MTL is taking Kesler if Fowler is still worth a top 6 forward and a 1st round pick. Your basically taking 10.5 million off thier salary cap and still giving them what's basically two late first round picks.

I have no interest in taking on the Kesler contract UNLESS it get's us Fowler or Lindholm at a complete bargain (and by that I mean not losing a 1st or any of our top 5 prospects - which wouldn't happen). It doesn't make sense for ANA to retain on him and it doesn't make sense for us to eat 3 years of $7M. Even if we buy him out, we're on the hook for 2/3 of his salary for the next 6 years ($4.6M). We wouldn't even be able to flip him cause of his crazy NMC. At the same time, we still have the Alzner contract to eat (unless we find a buyer) and then Fowler has is at $6.5x7. I know we have cap room to play with but that's A LOT of salary coming in.

Benn for a 2nd is an over payment so I'd easily take that but anything higher than a 4th we should keep him. He plays very well as a 3rd pairing D (where he should be) and will be important in the playoffs. If we do get a top 4D at the deadline, him and Reilly will be good compliments for each other.

You would assume correctly sir.

First off that trash doesn't net you both Kesler and Fowler, Kesler wont waive his NMC. And Fowler 4 team trade list. Yeah pretty much guarantee you Montreal isn't on that list.

We can all agree that the Ducks are pretty bad right now. The Perry and Kesler contracts aren't aging well, and the team is in the dumps. I think we can also all agree that Randy Carlyle's coaching glory days are behind him. Here's the thing though-The Ducks have had the most man games lost to injury this season, by a very large margin, and it's finally caught up with them.

The great news for the Ducks though: They don't need to give away assets to try and dump these contracts!

While the common narrative around here is that the Ducks have cap trouble, they've actually got around $13 mil free next year (If the cap jumps to $85), with only Silfverberg and a backup goalie to sign. No RFA's. Because Bob Murray has locked up the young core around them (Rakell, Manson, Lindholm, Fowler, Gibby, etc.), the ****ty Perry/Kesler deals don't sting nearly as much. Get healthy, get a new coach, and bounce back.

End of the day, Ducks have no reason to give up Fowler, especially if they're eating $2 mil/year on Kesler. Plus, neither of them waive to leave SoCal for Montreal.