Team: 2023-24 Anaheim Ducks

Initial Creation Date: Mar. 20, 2023

Published: Mar. 20, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Trades:

Forbork from Boston: Boston needs to shed cap space for next season and are overflowing with 3 million dollar LD, we send Vaakainen back to them to continue his career in Boston. He was really starting to develop and show some flashes of his skill but I don't think he is the right fit for the team to play Verbeek style hockey. Boston can use him as a 7th D and his bare minimum cap hit helps out. Would consider adding an additional minor asset to see this deal though.

Boeser from Vancouver: Vancouver is currently over the cap ceiling for next season with Miller's extension kicking in. This deal gives them a pick, an interesting center prospect, and most importantly, 3.5 million in cap space with which to sign a backup goaltender and a defenseman to round out a 23 man roster or upgrade their bottom 6 or defense, while still potentially leaving some cap room available to add at the TDL. I know Vancouver fans won't be wild about Silf's age, but for a single year at $3 million, he is a positive asset for what he brings to the table and should help out the bottom 6 defensively. There is also the Swedish connection with the core players there, and as a pending UFA, he won't interfere with Pettersson's extension.

Signings:

Dumba: The more I think about it, the more I see Verbeek going after Dumba. He's a great locker room leader, he plays the brand of hockey Verbeek wants, he can eat a lot of minutes, and he will be able to be a leader for the youngins on the defensive core with Fowler for years to come. He's not the best RHD available this off season, but I think he is the right defenseman to pick up to allow this team to grow.

Drouin: This season's reclamation project. I want a pass first playmaker for the 2nd line to help reignite Strome and Boeser's scoring, and Drouin fits that bill. There is also some connection to Verbeek, as Verbeek was in the scouting department in Tampa when Drouin was drafted. I think that getting him away from the Quebecois media to a small market franchise where the spotlight is no longer on him, and being second string to the young stars we have here will take the pressure off of him and allow him to play his best hockey. If he doesn't work out, well, he was only a one year deal.

Shattenkirk: One year deal until Helleson is ready for consistent NHL work, he is a known quantity to the team, he is fine as a 3rd pairing guy with Benoit, and can be PPQB3 in case someone goes down.

Likely traded at the TDL: Henrique, Shattenkirk, Forbort (maybe), Drouin (maybe)

Post TDL Lines
McTavish-Zegras-Terry
Drouin-Strome-Boeser
Comtois-Lundestrom-Vatrano
Jones-BOG-McGinn

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