A little under three months remain until the start of the 2022-23 NHL regular season, but with the conclusion of the NHL Entry Draft and the first few days of free agency, things feel as though they’re mostly wrapped-up for many teams. At this point, signing some RFA contracts, evaluating what happened at development camp, and making a few more behind-the-scenes hires are all that is left for many organizations. However, as Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek made clear to Elliott Teaford of The Orange County Register, his team is not done with their offseason additions (link).
Verbeek mentioned that he would like to add another forward and defenseman to the organization, but before doing so, he wants to make sure the players he brings in are a good fit. Whoever the Ducks add, if anyone, wouldn’t be the first of this offseason, the team making a splash on the opening day of free agency, signing forwards Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome to three and five year contracts respectively. Signing the two veterans seems to mark a turning point for Anaheim, who has been pretty clearly categorized as a rebuilder for the better part of the previous four seasons, last making the playoffs in 2017-18.
Regardless of whether Verbeek wants to add more talent, the Ducks are going to have to look to add salary considering they currently sit just under $9.3MM below the salary cap floor. Anaheim’s cap situation is not for a matter of trying, considering their signings of Vatrano and Strome, but they will have to find additional salary to take on. before the start of the season. Many of the most prized UFAs on the market have since signed, but two, who will command a significant salary, remain: forward Nazem Kadri and defenseman John Klingberg. However, neither has been connected to Anaheim thus far.
With the talk of Anaheim needing to add salary, failing to give qualifying offers to forwards Sonny Milano and Sam Steel would seem to be a counter-intuitive decision. However, Verbeek told Teaford, “It boiled down to role. What role would they play and did it make sense with the dollars?” The GM added that their individual mixed results also played a role in his decision. Both former first-round picks, Steel finished this season with six goals and 14 assists in 68 games, while Milano had a somewhat of a breakout season, tallying 14 goals and 20 assists in 66 games.
Finally, Verbeek discussed his hiring of Craig Johnson as an assistant coach, noting that he felt Johnson would be a key piece in developing their players. As Verbeek said, “I don’t subscribe to the idea that once you’ve made the NHL that development time is over.” That sentiment is of course very relevant for Anaheim as they work their way out of this rebuild, expecting to be lead by a young core including Trevor Zegras, Troy Terry, Mason McTavish, and Jamie Drysdale.
Sure would be nice if they sign defenseman John Klingberg. Duck D is really weak right now.
The problem with Klingberg Is that he’s 29 years old and doesn’t play defense. I’d pay him about 5 million a year for 3 years.
And so 30 other teams would beat that offer so no Kling on your team!
As may be, but WP is right: Klingberg isn’t worth what some GMs would throw at him.
Problem is that there aren’t many teams left that could. Go toodling over to Puckpedia or Cap Friendly and see the diminishing free cap space leaguewide. There aren’t 30 teams that COULD beat that offer. The number’s more like three.
The game of musical chairs is winding down, and the Klingbergs and Kadris are about to face the problem that if they want to be paid the big bucks, the teams that can afford that aren’t contenders, and then you have the Chicagos and Anaheims who’ve no intention of spending that money.
How about the Pens send u Zucker and Petterson for “future considerations” so u can hit the cap floor? If Vegas can get away with it why not lol?
Not sure why he didn’t re-sign Aston-Reese…cheap energy player stabilized bottom 6 when he was here…which was an issue all year…
I’d throw a 1 year 10mil offer at Kadri with the promise to flip him to a contender at the deadline. Works for both parties and he can give free agency another go next year with more realistic contract expectations
Except that it wouldn’t work. Seriously, how many contenders are going to have $10MM cap space *available* at the deadline? How many did last year? Zero, that’s how many.
Thank you for that brief moment of common sense…
I mean, I’d imagine retention is given, and with how LTIR works, I could see contenders with $5 in full season space at the deadline.