The Boston Bruins are set to make a move addressing their hole on right wing, acquiring Ondrej Kase from the Anaheim Ducks. In return, the Ducks will receive David Backes, Axel Andersson and a 2020 first-round pick. The Bruins will retain 25% of Backes’ contract.
Though he may not have a huge level of name recognition, Kase is a substantial acquisition for the Bruins as they drive towards the playoffs and a Stanley Cup chase. The 24-year old has proven in the past that he can drive play at even-strength, but has had trouble staying healthy throughout his short NHL career.
In 198 career games, Kase has 43 goals and 96 points and is an absolute darling of the analytics community. His possession statistics are off the chart, and he’ll likely be tried in a spot the team has been desperate to fill for some time. The Bruins’ second line right wing spot beside David Krejci has had a revolving door of auditions, but no one has been a perfect fit. If Kase can become that full-time solution, it allows the team to move Charlie Coyle back to the middle lower in the lineup.
Getting out from under the Backes contract is also huge for the Bruins, given he was no longer even playing for the team. The veteran forward has another year left on his deal at $6MM, meaning the Ducks will be taking on a $4.5MM cap hit next year to make this deal work.
The fact that the Bruins actually gain cap space in this contract, given Kase’s $2.6MM hit this season and next, means they’re not necessarily prevented from making another trade in the coming days. Kase will still only be a restricted free agent at the end of the 2020-21 campaign, making this exactly the kind of move that GM Don Sweeney has started to turn to after acquiring rentals in the past. Last year the team used a young piece to bring back Coyle, who had term on his deal (and has since been extended) to help them longer than just one spring. That’s exactly what Kase will do, though he’ll have to stay healthy for it to work.
For Anaheim, this is exactly what it meant when they made it clear to reporters they would take on bad contracts for young assets. Kase’s name had been in trade rumors for some time, and they cashed in to add two interesting pieces to a rebuild.
Andersson isn’t one of the Bruins very top prospects, but he does come with plenty of upside. The 20-year old defenseman was selected in the second round of the 2018 draft and currently plays in the QMJHL. He has 22 points in 41 games, but still needs quite a bit of time to be ready for the NHL. That’s time the Ducks have but the Bruins don’t, as they are in very different competitive windows.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic was first to break the deal on Twitter.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Backes and a first going the other way.
Eh
So underrated. I’d say the Bruins fleeced them, especially since they got out of Backes’ contract.
Huh
Injury prone with similar stats to under achieving D. Heinen. Fast but not a lot of grit that the Bruins need for a deep run against physical teams. You lose a first round pick and you have to eat 25% of Backes’ salary next year?
Don’t forget the prospect
as a Ducks fan, I can tell you that Kase can be exactly what the Bruins need. This has potential to be a great acquisition. I hope a change.
of scenery will make Kase reach that potential that he has shown at times with the Ducks.
The big win for the Bruins is not having to eat 75% of Backes’ salary next year.
Definite overpay unless they simply wanted to get out of Backes’ deal. A 1st, a 2nd round pick and cash for a third line winger? Probably could have gotten more for that package. They should have offered that up for Blake Coleman if anything.
Kase has huge upside. When you see him play, you’ll see.
This isn’t an overpay. Kase will be a beast with some quality linemates
Yes very underrated, and he hasn’t had a full injury free season. Maybe going to the East will help, since the East is less physical and more speed, which fits his game. We will see, but as a ducks fan who clearly has seen glimpses of the potential, I think the ducks did very well in this trade. Anaheim loves the Swedes!
Guess no Kreider
A guy who is never healthy, and when he is, is likely not even an upgrade over Coyle on 2nd line wing. Great to ditch the Backes salary, but this is hardly a “let’s go get the cup” move. Especially with a 1st rounder involved.
big package, but getting out of backes is worth it
I like it. Hopefully playing with 46/74 will give him a little boost. Rather have this then pay more for Kreider. And you only retain 25% of backes contract that is a huge win. Their top 4 is pretty much set for the next few years so I’m ok losing a 20yo D prospect
FYI so you can look smart in front of all your friends, it’s pronounced “KAH-sha.”
And this is worth it to unload Backes (that terrible deal runs through 2021.)
Don’t know what to make of the move. Nice to get out of the Backes deal but could that first round pick have been used on a more impactful player?
it wouldve been a pick near 30 anyway if they kept it, so very possible said player doesnt debut for a few years at best, and they probably wolnt be a stud.
Just the savings on Backes is worth it since they now have the money to extend Krug. Getting a useful player with upside in return is just a bonus. Kase needs to stay healthy but he’s going to look a lot better next to Krejci and Debrusk than he did on any line on the Ducks.
I figured they would look at a 3rd line center with possibility of bringing back Thornton , and move Coyle at Right Wing on line with Kreji , Debrusk , Question isn’t Kah-sha listed on IR according to just looked on capfriendly.com ? oh! well more research on cap space available and other trades today and more rumors, right now off to play some Forty Thieves on greenfelt.net solitaire games.
He missed the past 2-3 games. But he was back skating with the team a few days ago, albeit with a red non contact jersey. Murray said it’s because of the Flu, but he was hit pretty hard by Muzzin a few games ago. I’d be scarred because he has a history of concussion problems. But the trade went through so I’m sure he’s fine.
Thanks andrew read about the flu thing after posting , yeah! he has had issues with concussions in recent years with Ducks.
This opens up room for Kreider contract in the future so now the Rangers who love Kreider and want to keep him should really push King Henrique to waive his no trade as he has one year left at 4.5 mill and deal him to Colorado along with Fast to open up salary relief for next year to resign Kreider, DeAngelo, and Strome. Look for a 1st round pick return and a top 5 Colorado prospect.
Dude what?
Say what ??????
Each side should be giddy about this deal.
It was the Ducks holding Kate that kept them from acquiring Justin Faulk
Kase