I actually really liked this until the Steel trade. I think you have to give him more time and maybe more minutes (ideally you'd move Henrique but his contract SUCKS). I also don't get moving out Manson and then bringing in Strålman? I would just keep that spot open for a younger player.

I actually really like the Philly trade though. Gives them a gritty reliable vet on D they miss after Niskanen retired and they have way too many talented forwards. Plus Lindblom gets some nice minutes.

Steel has zero confidence and a change of scenery might be good for him. I’d love for him to figure it out as a duck but he’s just so caught in between right now with the puck.

As for Henrique I kept him to be a veteran C at least for a season. As good as Zegras looks like he can be still need some insurance for the young Cs.

Manson trade adds a young winger that’s shown some quality before the cancer. Stralman is a cap dump but could be fine on the 3rd pair for a season. It’s not really about adding him. It’s about the pick. The ducks don’t have a RHD for that spot anyways.

Are we really netting anything positive from the Manson and Steel moves? Stralman is downgrade from Manson, in my opinion, especially factoring Stralman's age and contract. Yeah a first is nice but it'll be a late first and we have a pretty crappy track record with those as of late. I'm totally open to moving Steel, I think it's time cut bait on this kid, but we're essentially replacing him with Lindbolm and that's a pretty lateral move production-wise.

Like the Silvy trade, not sure Dallas would though. But I'd pull that trigger for sure.

Curious to see what your protection list looks like with Seattle taking Mahura. Not sure they pass on Fleury if he's available. But then again, who knows. There were a ton of surprises with Vegas four years ago.

Oh and Backes?! We already have Grant. I mean, I'd rather bring back 45 year-old Jason Krog to be our fourth-line center than have Backes come back.

Nothing you said here makes much sense.

Lindblom, Stralman and a 1st is better than Steel and Manson.

You obviously didn’t read.

Grant is the worst player on the team. Backes has been a significant upgrade to him.

Stralman is older, produces about the same, and is more expensive than Manson. Same with Lindbolm (though he's young enough that his age doesn't matter). Florida has the fourth-best record so that pick may not be anymore valuable than a second rounder and we're giving up a third in this scenario. How in the world does any of that much us better? Again, I'm not at all opposed to moving Manson and Steel, but this collective return is a lateral move at best and counter-productive at worst.



....

I've been a Ducks fan for their entire existence and have spent WAAAAAY too much time discussing this team with strangers on the internet for the last 18 years, but this is hands-down the wildest take on two players on this team I've ever encountered. Backes had a couple of games where he looked okay but otherwise has very much earned the regular spot on the taxi squad. Grant is as solid a fourth-line center as you can ask for, despite the slow start to the season for him. I'm legitimately flabbergasted by this take. There's not a chance Backes is re-signed. Not. A. Chance.

They’re rebuilding. Stralman isn’t brought in as the final piece to a Stanley cup contender. I have no idea how you think turning Manson, Steel and a 3rd into Lindblom and a 1st plus whatever Stralman brings at the TDL half retained is bad.

Derek Grant this season has been one of the worst players in the league. Backes has actually been okay. I’m sorry that the Elite1C is no longer but he’s bad. Your so caught up on Backes like it actually matters who the 4C is as long as Grant is in the press box it’s probly an upgrade.

Okay? Backes has only played 13 games because he's not good enough to be a regular on THIS TEAM. My god, the Bruins couldn't give him away. They had to add a first round pick for us to take him off their hands they wanted him gone so badly. (unless you think they really valued Kase that much) He was a cap dump to get assets and I'm fine with that. But why would we bring him back in favor of Grant when we could do that right now? Backes is currently on the taxi squad and Grant is in the lineup. How does that make sense? And yeah, we're talking about fourth line centers here. Grant doesn't light the world on fire but he's good at what he does, and clearly the coaching staff thinks that way too. It's just that Backes is way past his expiration date. The funniest part is this all completely moot because Backes has probably played his last hockey game of his career or at least he will if they bring him up for one last hurrah. But no, he's been awful save for a couple of games where he was alright. Again, taxi squad. All season. For a reason. On one of the worst teams in the league.

But back to the argument at hand, those moves simply don't make us better. Manson is better than Stralman. Steel and Lindbolm are basically the same, maybe even a downgrade considering Steel plays a more important position, is cheaper and a little bit younger. A late first is marginally better than a third round pick. We don't save any money and we only net a slightly better pick. How does that help us rebuild?

Lol good talk