Team: 2023-24 Anaheim Ducks

Initial Creation Date: May 22, 2023

Published: May 22, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

A slightly fanciful construction based upon a trade, a free-agent signing and the idea that Adam Fantilli would leave college and come straight into the NHL. (The other two trades are so well-known that they are almost expected by now.)

The amounts of the Zegras and Terry extensions are unimportant because there's money in the bank and lots of adjustments to this roster can be made to reduce cap, so I don't want to hear any pointless carping on that subject.

As mentioned above, this assumes that Adam Fantilli will leave the University of Michigan and go right onto the main roster. I've put veterans on either side of him, both of whom will take face-offs in the d-zone until he proves his expertise in that area.

This team has some softness at RW whether Fantilli is on the roster or not, so I've signed a middle-value free agent to address that. Both Jesper Fast and Oscar Sundqvist seem at the right age and price point for the productivity I would like from that slot. I think that either would be a good addition, both short-term and long-term, for the Ducks. (Their availability, and their assumed desire to sign with Anaheim, might be the most fanciful idea in this ACGM.)

I think that management is willing to give Max Comtois one more chance to prove himself an NHL power forward, so I've given him his Qualifying Offer and signed him to a one-year deal. But Anaheim may well let him walk this summer.

Guys shown on the Taxi Squad are those players who would fill the #3RW slot without the free-agent signing.

The major move is, of course, the Colorado trade. I've heard and seen rumors that the Avalanche might be willing to move Sam Girard, for a variety of reasons. I think that he would be a good acquisition both short-term (as Cam Fowler's partner) and long-term (on the left side as Jackson LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov and/or Olen Zellweger work themselves into positions of responsibility. (Projected future additions to the defense are shown on the LTIR list.) I might be off -- maybe way off -- on his trade value; the respected Avs authorities I recognize won't be shy to tell us.

Signings off the Reserve List are those three youngsters whose rights expire next summer, and are projected to make the main roster at some point.

Sam Carrick, Brett Leason, Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Simon Benoit, Colton White and Olle Eriksson Ek are not waivers-exempt this coming season, so that might have an effect on the makeup of the eventual roster (including San Diego's, in the last instance).

With $20 million coming off the books in 2024 and four roster slots opening up, there will be plenty of options available to support the developing prospects with quality veteran additions and/or make promotions from San Diego.

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