"Division rival helps Oilers get better while they're fighting for the same playoff spot" probably isn't the first headline that Pat Verbeek will want to see...

Also, not really sure why the Ducks would need to be taking back Kassian here...not really a need.

lets be realistic now, the ducks arnt a playoff team, currently 3 points ahead of CAL while CAL has 6 games in hand, 6 point ahead of the oilers who also have 6 games in hand, the flames and oilers are both true contenders and the retooling/rebuilding young ducks owuld obtain a valuable asset to carry on with the rebuild, departing with a player who can leave after this year when you know this isnt your all in year, take the first and run. ducks have plenty of years to be a playoff team but verbeek knows better than to rush it lol. kassian is for cap purposes, can flip him in the summer to a east coast team for a 3rd

Oh, I'm not saying that Manson shouldn't be traded, I'm saying that Manson should be traded to someone where you don't have a to take back Zack Kassian. Plenty of young players that'll be fighting for ice time next year.

I do get a kick out of the whole "Just flip 'em!" thing though...happends on here all the time. Better idea-You flip him, and it'll cut out the middle man.

As for the playoffs, you're not wrong. There isn't a Ducks fan here that'll say "Oh yeah, we're a bonified playoff team!". There is such a thing as optics though, and helping the team behind you leapfrog you ain't it. The market for Manson will likely be strong enough that they won't have to worry about moving him to Edmonton.

We'll get better offers for the kicker in a Manson trade than Zack Kassian, because we're looking for youth, not veterans.