Despite enjoying a three-game winning streak, the Anaheim Ducks are still expected to be deadline sellers for the seventh consecutive season. They own a fair amount of expiring assets such as Robby Fabbri, Frank Vatrano, and Brock McGinn, and The Fourth Period is adding defenseman Brian Dumoulin to that mix.
It’ll be the second time in Dumoulin’s career he will head into the trade deadline on an expiring contract. His six-year, $24.6MM agreement with the Pittsburgh Penguins expired after the 2022-23 season, but the team held on to him for their playoff push down the stretch despite missing out by one point.
This time, Dumoulin’s two-year, $6.3MM contract originally signed with the Seattle Kraken will end after this campaign. His showing with the Ducks this season proves that last year’s campaign was somewhat of an apparition on the defensive side of the puck.
He scored a career-high six goals with the Kraken last year but failed to total more than 100 blocked shots in a full campaign since the 2016-17 season. It was also the first time since the 2015-16 season that Dumoulin didn’t average more than 20 minutes of ice time per night. Much of that has changed in Orange County.
Dumoulin has tallied eight assists in 37 games for the Ducks this season averaging 19:47 of ice time per night. He’s a left-handed shot defenseman who can play on both sides of a defensive pairing and has been a useful option next to Anaheim’s younger defensemen. Blocking shots has also come back into focus for Dumoulin who’s expected to reach 135 on the year if he continues his current pace.
His career history will also make him an attractive choice for many contending teams. Dumoulin is a two-time Stanley Cup champion from his time with the Penguins and holds an impressive 91.9% on-ice save percentage 5on5 throughout his eight trips to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Given his cost-effective salary and ability to play on both sides of the blue line, he should have several suitors at the trade deadline. Dumoulin has a 10-team no-trade clause in his contract meaning Anaheim can discuss his availability with the 21 teams off his list. The Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets are all legitimate contenders who could use more defensive depth on their blue line.
You mean to tell me that a rebuilding club that is well outside the playoff picture is going to shop a veteran, pending UFA at the deadline? Let me guess – next you’re going to try and tell me water is wet?
So you would rather a hockey site not have posts about hockey players and teams?
I don’t know why the leafs need depth they already have a lot of it. Timmins, Benoit and Meyers have all been pretty good on 3rd pairing I doubt Hakanpaa plays again but who knows. they have a plethora of bottom pairing guys in the AHL with Benning, Rafi, Mermis and young guys looking to break into the NHL in Nemlia and Webber who almost made team outta camp. Leafs need a 2nd line centre with some term and decent cap hit maybe they could swing a deal akin to the Jake McCabe trade a few years ago to get that type of player. Dumoulin wouldn’t be much better then the guys they have already
All that and they are sure to remain a regular season wonder.
It is interesting how fans and the media are a curse to this team.
Breaking news!
Franky V the missing piece of NY Rangers RW. Another Drury’s mistake to let him go.
@Brendan — I think “aberration” would be better than “apparition”. Not sure if Dumo was very ghostly last season, but his numbers were an aberration for him, scoring-wise, at least.
@Mac- no offense, it’s Brennan, not Brendan.
@Zakis — I know, and I had it spelled right when I hit the Post Comment button. I supposed if I cared enough, I’d screenshot the post, then hit the button. This smacks of more AI garbage infesting the interweb. Thanks for the heads up, though.
@Brennan — Sorry for the misspelling, there. Second Thanks to @Zakis for noticing, too.
Perhaps the Jets could get rid of Fleury, And Stanley, And get a guy like Dumoulin and Jack Johnson, It would definitely improve the Jets weak links.