Gonna be another tough year in Anaheim. I see progress but I dont like Eakins and I think he needs to go. Use this years cap space to acquire/sign guys who will be gone after the year, and use multitude of picks next offseason to get a gamebreaking player similar to Ottawa getting debrincat. they stacked picks and prospects, had a surplus and acquired a gamebreaker to their young building lineup. Thats what I want Verbeek to do after this season when Z, Terry and Drysdale are locked up long term.
Ducks have a lot of centers. Z obviously is 1C, I see strome at 2C, Lundestrom is a prototypical 3C and I think he will continue to progress as well, I liked his season ALOT last year. He has flashes of speed and skill, but he's excellent defensively and in the face-off circle. He's an excellent PK guy too. He needs 3C time (15 minutes TOI/Game) he's too good for 4C, thats for grant. a decent utility guy good for 10 minutes a night. Can hope for more progress from Z and Terry as well as a solid rookie campaign from mctavish.
I see mctavish moving to wing with all the centers the ducks have. Thats just my prediction. Maybe move strome to wing if not? I dont see lundestrom on line 4 if grant is the one to go to wing in favor of mctavish, and lundestrom would be wasted if not used at center so he won't go to wing. I like the idea of Z, mctavish future 1C/2C but right now they're jammed at C, I'm stumped. Mctavish played wing in his 9 game stint last season.
After the season, shattenkirk, grant, nyquist and de haan will all be gone. I wouldn't mind bringing shattenkirk back again for a year or two more, but thats all. They need to get rid of silfverberg somehow. he's just useless on this roster now other than his 5 mil helping Anaheim get to the cap floor this year.
Also Id love to see big seasons from Zellweger, Pastujov, Helleson, Mintyukov and see the dead weight contracts next season be replaced by the young guys as the ducks Ink Terry, Z and Drysdale long term.
As a ducks fan I really would like to see the ducks not struggle again this season, unfortunately I see it being that way. Maybe not the bottom of the league, but certainly not contending.
I dont see Verbeek going out and doing something outrageous, so I signed de haan to 1 year deal for capable depth this season.
I toyed with a Chychrun trade in which Id give up Zellweger, 1st in 2024 and 2nd in 2023. Didn't particularly feel like being crucified by people out there over the trade so I didn't execute it.
Do you think Verbeek should go for chychrun? if so, what would you think the ducks should give for him?
Beyond this season, the ducks have a lot of draft picks so I think they should weaponize them and acquire a young stud game breaker who can elevate the rebuild and contend in 2023-24. As for this season, This team is a good mix of guys to grow their game, and compete. They may sniff a playoff spot at very best
They need to dump nyquist contract for Laine. ducks can take the whole contract. jackets send bean also to relieve their cap situation. but their logjam on D. Its a sweetener for taking nyquist.
CBJ
2023 3rd round pick (MIN)
2024 5th round pick (ANA)
Additional Details:
couple picks go the other way mostly for bean to be added in. CBJ happy to offload almost 8M
Based on where they are at now I agree with a lot of what you’ve said. I don’t think they need De Haan tho especially if they add Bean. Benoit is a solid 3rd pair guy.
I also look at this forward group with Nyquist and think that group would be a late season playoff contender but the D core just isn’t good so they’ll have their struggles. Plus as you mentioned Eakins is just flat out awful. So even with this team is still expect to pick about 8-12.
Based on where they are at now I agree with a lot of what you’ve said. I don’t think they need De Haan tho especially if they add Bean. Benoit is a solid 3rd pair guy.
I also look at this forward group with Nyquist and think that group would be a late season playoff contender but the D core just isn’t good so they’ll have their struggles. Plus as you mentioned Eakins is just flat out awful. So even with this team is still expect to pick about 8-12.
Yeah I signed de haan cause the ducks always desperately need defense depth. the injury bug bites them every year and we need to spend some more anyway. So I figured a 1 year deal wouldn't hurt the depth.
If Columbus is gonna trade nyquist its gonna be now since they need room to sign Laine.
I like this forward group a little bit, they aren't terrible. but like you said the D isn't strong enough yet and Eakins just doesn't have it.
I see this roster finishing (with Eakins all season) 35-38-9
To be honest, I don’t know that Columbus would even ask for picks back in the trade. They’re nice, but Nyquist is no Pacioretty. Bean’s enough sweetener on his own.
To be honest, I don’t know that Columbus would even ask for picks back in the trade. They’re nice, but Nyquist is no Pacioretty. Bean’s enough sweetener on his own.
Only problem I have with the trade is Bean is a need for a year maybe two then he isn’t after that based off this last draft alone
The picks this year and bean are assets, and can be moved for more picks down the line if there a logjam. Or moved to help fill a hole elsewhere in the lineup. I just think with the need to get to the floor, as well as not having to give much if anything at all, this trade makes sense. Can help the team stay moderately competitive as the kids develop more. I see no downside, especially since bean isn't locked up long term, if he doesn't pan out at all, it didn't cost anything.
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