Headlines

  • Avalanche Sign Jared Bednar To Contract Extension
  • Philadelphia Flyers Fire Chuck Fletcher
  • Boston Bruins Extend David Pastrnak
  • Boston Bruins Acquire Tyler Bertuzzi
  • Ottawa Senators Acquire Jakob Chychrun
  • Detroit Red Wings Extend Dylan Larkin
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors

Pro Hockey Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • Atlantic
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Central
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Metropolitan
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Pacific
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Partners
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Anaheim Ducks Acquire Erik Gudbranson

October 25, 2019 at 2:52 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee 16 Comments

The Anaheim Ducks have acquired Erik Gudbranson from the Pittsburgh Penguins, sending back Andreas Martinsen and a 2021 seventh-round pick in exchange. That return shows just how little value Gudbranson represented at this point, after struggling early in the season but still carrying a cap hit of $4MM through the 2020-21 season. The Penguins, in cap trouble with players returning from injury, needed to move out at least one defenseman.

It is incredible just how far Gudbranson’s value has fallen in a few short years. In 2010 he was selected third overall by the Florida Panthers—just ahead of Ryan Johansen, Nino Niederreiter, Brett Connolly and Jeff Skinner—as a potential franchise-changing shutdown defenseman. The 6’5″ behemoth could basically do anything he wanted in his own end at the junior level, pushing smaller competition off the puck with ease.

Unfortunately in the NHL, that defensive ability was tested right away. With no offensive game to speak of to help him move the puck quickly out of his own end, Gudbranson put up poor possession numbers right from the start of his career with the Panthers, and never did become that minute-munching defensive stalwart. Through his first five seasons—309 games—he averaged fewer than 18 minutes a night and racked up just 43 points.

Then came trades to Vancouver and finally Pittsburgh, where he actually showed well in short spurts. Paired with Marcus Pettersson for a time last season, Gudbranson played perhaps the best hockey of his career for the Penguins.  Unfortunately, that wasn’t good enough to save him from this new fate.

Pittsburgh not only had too many bodies on defense, but they have also been pushed right up against the cap all season. Moving Gudbranson’s entire $4MM cap hit was obviously worth it, and the fact that they didn’t need to include any “kicker” is even better. Martinsen represents a minor league addition and will likely not play many games for Pittsburgh, though he will give the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins another experienced body.

In Anaheim, the team will hope they can bring out the good parts of Gudbranson’s game and make him into the player he was once projected to be. The team has been looking for right-handed defense help for some time, and will at least get plenty of experience in the 27-year old.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email

Anaheim Ducks| Andreas Martinsen| Erik Gudbranson| Newsstand| Pittsburgh Penguins| Transactions

Vitali Kravtsov Headed To KHL
Main
Injury Notes: Tarasenko, Kase, Archibald
View Comments (16)
newest oldest

Comments

  1. PeeWeeGaskins

    3 years ago

    Solid move for the Pens losing his cap hit.

    1
    Reply
    • Getzlaf's Bald Spot

      3 years ago

      I’m sure the Pens would have liked to get something more of value back for him, but they’ll gladly take the cap space.

      Ducks definitely have to hope Gudbranson fits their style and can keep up with the pace of play. IIRC, he isn’t a very mobile dman.

      1
      Reply
    • Jvall77

      3 years ago

      I mean sure they would have liked to get something better, but he is a bad defenseman making 4 Million by getting nothing the trade would be a win for the pens

      Reply
  2. TJECK109

    3 years ago

    Dumping 8 mil in salary while getting a draft pick in return while not having to send out any additional assets to dump the salary is a win for the Pens.

    1
    Reply
    • fightcitymayor

      3 years ago

      How is it a “win” when Pitt could have saved itself this particular self-inflicted wound 8 months ago? GMJR got laughed at back then, and the doubters were spot on.

      Reply
    • Robertowannabe

      3 years ago

      The Pens were desperate for a Dman back in February. He actually has played fairly well for the Pens since being acquired. Now that the guys that were hurt are all healthy he is expendable, plus they picked up Marino in the mean time.

      1
      Reply
    • TJECK109

      3 years ago

      He lost that deal, and won this one. At the end of the day their payroll is less than what it was yesterday.

      Reply
    • 66TheNumberOfTheBest

      3 years ago

      “His doubters were spot on” except for the part where Gudbranson was fine here, only got moved because Marino emerged from nowhere and Rutherford gave up nothing the Pens missed (Tanner Pearson) to get him, they were spot on, sure.

      The same geniuses who mocked the Tanev signing.

      Because they let Corsi watch the game for them.

      1
      Reply
    • Jvall77

      3 years ago

      that’s a bad deal, because he’s had a nice 10 games means basically nothing

      Reply
  3. riverrat55

    3 years ago

    Now Pens can take that $ 8 million in salary cap and go out and get a forward and possibly reasonable defenseman. Rutherford always acquiring depth players that fit the system.

    Reply
    • Robertowannabe

      3 years ago

      The still are carrying 8 defensemen and their injured players are starting to come back now. When they come back the salary cap will tighten again.

      Reply
  4. amk3510

    3 years ago

    Bob Murray is really getting off his rocker. “Oh yeah well take a 4 million cap hit and Gudbranson off your hands no problem”. This is the same guy that couldn’t plan ahead with Bieksa and actually protected him in the expansion draft. What next sign Phaneuf to a 7 year deal?

    Reply
  5. riverrat55

    3 years ago

    maybe Murray will call on Puljujarvi or Ho-Sang,

    Reply
  6. kingsfan1968

    3 years ago

    Great move Mighty Ducks. Hahahahaha.

    Reply
  7. jmartin87

    3 years ago

    Pens forced into this move. Liked 44 while he was here. He served role as police officer as demonstrated by his shot to Maroon’s ear on Wednesday. Not sure who handles that role now as it will be needed with Washington in division. None the less can’t pay 4M for that guy for 15 min of ice.

    Reply
    • jmartin87

      3 years ago

      Correction. 4M to sit in press box and eat nachos. Right side D all full. Marino is young fast and cheap. And future replacement for Schultz

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Avalanche Sign Jared Bednar To Contract Extension

    Philadelphia Flyers Fire Chuck Fletcher

    Boston Bruins Extend David Pastrnak

    Boston Bruins Acquire Tyler Bertuzzi

    Ottawa Senators Acquire Jakob Chychrun

    Detroit Red Wings Extend Dylan Larkin

    New York Rangers Acquire Patrick Kane

    Edmonton Oilers Acquire Mattias Ekholm

    Toronto Maple Leafs Acquire Jake McCabe, Sam Lafferty

    New Jersey Devils Acquire Timo Meier

    Recent

    Boston Bruins Recall Oskar Steen On Emergency Basis

    Blake Lizotte Suspended One Game

    Chicago Blackhawks Reassign Buddy Robinson

    Vancouver Canucks Expected To Sign Akito Hirose

    Buffalo Sabres Reassign Lukas Rousek

    New Jersey Devils Send Down Akira Schmid

    Vancouver Canucks Sign Max Sasson

    Montreal Canadiens Sign Sean Farrell

    College Notes: Farrell, Boston University, Minnesota, Gibson

    Pittsburgh Penguins Reassign Dustin Tokarski

    Rumors By Team

    Rumors By Team

    • Avalanche Rumors
    • Blackhawks Rumors
    • Blue Jackets Rumors
    • Blues Rumors
    • Bruins Rumors
    • Canadiens Rumors
    • Canucks Rumors
    • Capitals Rumors
    • Coyotes Rumors
    • Devils Rumors
    • Ducks Rumors
    • Flames Rumors
    • Flyers Rumors
    • Golden Knights Rumors
    • Hurricanes Rumors
    • Islanders Rumors
    • Jets Rumors
    • Kings Rumors
    • Kraken Rumors
    • Lightning Rumors
    • Maple Leafs Rumors
    • Oilers Rumors
    • Panthers Rumors
    • Penguins Rumors
    • Predators Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Red Wings Rumors
    • Sabres Rumors
    • Senators Rumors
    • Sharks Rumors
    • Stars Rumors
    • Wild Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives

    PHR Info

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

    scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version