Quoting: JackBurton
I think Exo makes the most important point here, which is that Lindholm's value is greater to Anaheim than any other team currently. Without him, what are they left with? Cam Fowler, and the grossly overpaid ghost of Kevin Shattenkirk? Everyone loves Josh Manson because he lays the body, but he isn't all that great a defenseman...
On the flip side, they have a ton of RFAs to sign, Max Comtois, Jones, Steel, Lundestrom, and that's minimum requirements. There's four others they may or may not sign. And then Baldy, his big contract just ended, so he'll likely be taking another one with them, for less yeah, but probably in the 4-5 range. And they're still carrying Kesler's dead weight, as well as 2 mil of Perry's contract.
So it would seem more likely that if they can get a good return for Lindholm, they'll send him off to make room for signings. But that return has to be better than what he's worth, optically, for even someone as dumb as Bob Murray. So I agree that you've got to put a better offer forward, but it isn't like you are wildly off.
Most importantly, Ducks are at the bottom of the rebuild process and about to start their climb. Lindholm and or Manson both are 1 year UFAs and can't see why either player at their age wants to wait around another 5 years to become a contender. In the same breathe, why wouldn't the Ducks move at least 1 or both to help accelerate their rebuild? They have to be thinking 4 to 6 years out which means going after players 25 years and younger.
They have a pretty good prospect pool/young guys and the 3rd pick OA this year will only add to that with a player like Hughes, Evidsson, Clarke being options if they don't get Beniers. Notably, outside of Zegras, they don't necessarily have another top 6 center save for Lundestrom being a surprise. Strome fills a hole for sure.
On D, they have notable young prospect/players such as...
Drysdale, Mahura, Thrun, LaCombe
Manson and Lindholm are just not the right timetable for their rebuild IMO. That doesn't mean they will sell cheap, but I think Lindholm is very good, but overrated here. He's worth a late 1st and a good (not great) prospect IMO. So Strome + Kurashev or Beaudin or Vlasic or Nylander should get a deal done IMO and a good move for both teams.