don't think Anaheim view Fowler as a bad contract

don't think Anaheim view Fowler as a bad contract

then he can be taken out of the trade, just thought it would be easier for anaheim to let go of cap space while taking on some, to save $ for there young guys.

Ylonen value = 0

Farrell value = extremely low. Don't get me wrong, I believe in the kid, but his floor is an AHL player. There is an argument to be made that he might never establish himself in the NHL.

Barron value = 2nd round pick. He's at least a project-able bottom pair defender, with a shot at middle 6 upside. I think he's worth more, but the value does not hold up in a trade because he's never played a full season.

It's one thing if Anaheim were starting a rebuild. But they are a few years in and just like the Habs they are itching to make the playoffs. Do a couple of 17-32 picks get Zegras? Maybe, but personally if he were on my team, I would hold out for better.

I think a serious offer has to start with Newhook + a prospect like Beck. Newhook is a speedy young winger with 50-70 point potential but has never hit that level yet, so the Ducks would get back some of the scoring at a cheaper cap hit and get a good prospect back. That is the only way that they are giving up Zegras, and it's really just a lateral move for both sides anyway.

I don't think they want Newhook. Like a lot of players on the Habs, I value Newhook a lot more than other fans do and see him as a top 7 forward on any team in the league.

First, let's dispel the "bad contract" misconception.

Fowler leads the team in time on ice and all Anaheim defensemen in scoring. He's a lifelong Duck and provides leadership and mentoring for the young defensemen (Mintyukov, Zellweger, LaCombe, etc.). As ggha777 says, he has a big cap hit but by no means is he considered to be a bad contract or have negative value. Josh Anderson, on the other hand, is a pure cap dump. You can take them both out of this deal.

Next, let's looks at some statistics, to define our terms:

Trevor Zegras, first 180 games: 49 goals, 90 assists = 139 points, -39
Cole Caufield, first 196 games: 73 goals, 66 assists = 139 points, -43

Without making excuses for this injury-riddled season:

Trevor Zegras, 210 games: 55 goals, 98 assists = 153 points, -41
Cole Caufield, 204 games: 80 goals, 68 assists = 148 points, -39

My point is nothing more than that Trevor Zegras is a good player.

Now let's look at what you've offered here: Farrell, an undersized forward with at best middle-6 potential; Ylonen, 18 months older than Zegras, drafted the year before, with half as many games played and 1/5 the number of points, and waiver-wire fodder; and Barron, who has second-pairing potential at best; plus a late first that duplicates the Edmonton pick and a 2025 first that may become a 2026 pick. What amongst that stew can you confidently argue will even be on the Anaheim roster next season? Or ever? And for all of those possibilities, we should give up a 23-year-old who has two 60-point-plus seasons under his belt already and seems to have made a better recovery from his recent surgery than Cole Caufield, whose historical shooting rate of 14.1% has declined to 8.8% this season?

Absolutely, the Ducks should want to get back at least what they give up, I would if I was the Ducks GM or had Zegras on my team. I don't really think the Ducks will move Zegras since they are trying to compete but if they did they should absolutely ask for the other teams best players/picks/prospects cause otherwise why trade him? You don't make trades just for the sake of trading, you make trades to 1. Improve your team 2. Because the player asked for it or 3. Because of the teams cap situation. The last 2 don't apply to the Ducks so the only way they are trading Zegras is to improve the team, I think that's what a lot of fans that make these types of trades do not understand