What Your Team Is Thankful For: Anaheim Ducks
It’s Thanksgiving in the United States and the holiday season is right around the corner. Like the last few years, PHR will take a look at what teams are thankful for but this year comes with a bit of a change. Normally teams would have an idea of where their season was heading, coming up on the one-quarter mark with mountains of statistics to analyze. Instead, in this unprecedented year, the season hasn’t even begun. We’ll still take a look at what each group is excited about and what they could hope for once the calendar turns to 2021.
What are the Ducks most thankful for?
Extended training camp and European leagues.
This isn’t a contending year for the Ducks, who should be more focused on the development of their young prospects than anything else. Teams in that situation are probably incredibly frustrated with the status of junior leagues across North America, with young players like sixth-overall pick Jamie Drysdale unable to play in the OHL so far. Drysdale will get a chance to play at the World Juniors (after his quarantine) but many other youngsters are still waiting on their first competitive action since March.
The Ducks, as one of the teams that did not take part in the summer’s postseason bubble, are expected to receive an extra week of training camp when things finally get going. That will be quality development time for their young players, just like the time they’ve spent overseas in the interim. Lukas Dostal, who is now returning to North America, played 11 games for Ilves in Finland this fall, posting an incredible 10-1 record and .960 save percentage. While other prospects are just begging for ice time, he’s been refining his game against professionals.
Who are the Ducks most thankful for?
As we head into what will be a shortened season, Ducks fans can’t help but think about the fact that Getzlaf is in the final season of that massive eight-year, $66MM deal he signed in 2013. Now 35 and already missing Corey Perry, his partner in crime for more than a decade, the time for Getzlaf in Anaheim is winding down. But everyone that has cheered for the big centerman over the years is thankful for what he’s done for the franchise, constantly providing an anchor in the middle of the lineup and elevating his teammates on a nightly basis.
Though Getzlaf isn’t the 91-point superstar that once was or even the uber-confident youngster that helped the Ducks to a Stanley Cup championship, he’s still a strong leader and easy player to cheer for. While the organization grooms their next wave of leaders, give a thought to Getzlaf who will one day be the focus of a heated Hall of Fame argument (even if he might eventually miss the call).
What would the Ducks be even more thankful for?
A breakout performance.
While the team has a ton of young high draft picks in the system, they’re still waiting for a real breakout from someone. Like when Getzlaf jumped directly into the league with 39 points in 57 games as a rookie, the Ducks need someone to show they’ll be the next superstar in Anaheim. Troy Terry, Max Jones, Sam Steel, Isac Lundestrom, Trevor Zegras, Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Max Comtois, and on and on, someone needs to step up and become the next face of the franchise.
What should be on the Ducks’ holiday wish list?
Minor league and junior seasons.
If the opportunity isn’t there at the NHL level right away, the Ducks are going to have to hope that the AHL and Canadian junior leagues are able to hold seasons. Remember it’s not just Drysdale that the Ducks drafted in the first round this year, but Jacob Perreault, who is currently waiting on his OHL season to begin. The 27th-overall pick has already signed after scoring 39 goals and 70 points in 57 games last year, but wasn’t invited to Canada’s WJC camp and is too young for the AHL.
If it’s a development year, there need to be development leagues playing.
Last year’s Thankful series can be found here.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Ducks Recall Lukas Dostal
Lukas Dostal’s time in the Finnish SM-liiga has been nothing short of dominant this season as he leads the league in GAA (1.64) and SV% (.941) by quite a large margin. However, his time there has come to an end as Ilves, the team he was on loan to, announced that the Ducks have recalled him, suggesting that they believe that NHL training camps are going to be getting underway soon despite the lack of discussions between the league and NHLPA in recent days. The 20-year-old was a third-round pick of Anaheim back in 2018 (63rd overall) but has yet to play in North America, instead spending last year with Ilves and his post-draft year with them and three different levels in the Czech Republic.
Salary Cap Deep Dive: Anaheim Ducks
Navigating the salary cap is one of the more important tasks for any GM. Teams that can avert total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful. Those that don’t see struggles and front office changes.
PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation heading into the 2020-21 season. This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL. All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.
Anaheim Ducks
Current Cap Hit: $82,429,999 (over the $81.5MM Upper Limit)
Entry-Level Contracts
F Max Jones (one year, $863K)
F Sam Steel (one year, $863K)
Both Steel and Jones were selected as first-round picks with the hopes that they’d become key contributors one day. That hasn’t happened just yet as both have struggled at times in the NHL. Steel, a prolific point producer in junior, managed just 22 points in 66 games last season while Jones had only a dozen in 59 contests and was briefly sent to the minors as a result. The 22-year-olds are still certainly part of GM Bob Murray’s long-term plans but neither of them appears to be in line for a notable raise on their entry-level salaries.
One Year Remaining, Non-Entry-Level
F David Backes ($4.5MM, UFA)*
D Christian Djoos ($1MM, RFA)
F Ryan Getzlaf ($8.25MM, UFA)
F Danton Heinen ($2.8MM, RFA)
F Carter Rowney ($1.133MM, UFA)
* – Boston is retaining another $1.5MM on Backes’ contract
Statistically speaking, it was Getzlaf’s worst offensive year of his career as his 0.61 points per game average was a career-low. Also statistically speaking, he was one point off the team lead in scoring with 13 goals and 29 assists. Needless to say, that is not production worthy of that price tag but it’s also quite clear that Getzlaf’s next deal isn’t going to come anywhere near that. The 35-year-old made it clear last season that he had no interested in being traded so it stands to reason that his intention will be to remain with Anaheim once this contract ends. His next deal will carry 35+ implications (unless the salary is evenly spread) but something in the $4MM to $5MM range – second-line money – may be palatable to both sides.
Heinen and Backes were brought in from Boston in separate trades but for entirely different reasons. While Backes was salary ballast in the Ondrej Kase swap where a first-round pick was the key to the deal and likely won’t be back, Heinen was brought in to be a secondary scorer for the Ducks. While the pandemic makes it a limited sample size, he wasn’t producing at much higher of a rate than he was with the Bruins. If that happens again next season, he could be a non-tender candidate over giving him a $2.775MM qualifying offer and arbitration rights. If he performs closer to his rookie-season rate though, something in the $4MM range is possible. Rowney and Djoos are likely to be role players next season and while Rowney will likely be looking at a pay cut in his next trip through free agency, the 26-year-old Djoos could set himself up nicely if he can hold down a regular spot in the lineup which could give him a shot at doubling his price tag.
Two Years Remaining
D Kodie Curran ($1MM, UFA)
F Nicolas Deslauriers ($1MM, UFA)
F Ryan Kesler ($6.875MM, UFA)
D Jacob Larsson ($1.2MM, RFA)
D Hampus Lindholm ($5.206MM, UFA)
D Josh Manson ($4.1MM, UFA)
F Sonny Milano ($1.7MM, RFA)
F Rickard Rakell ($3.789MM, UFA)
Two years ago, Rakell was one of the bigger bargains in the league after putting up a 34-goal season. He hasn’t scored that many in the last two seasons combined. Along the way, he has gone from being a top liner to more of a secondary scorer. He’ll be 29 when he hits free agency and by then, the hope is the cap ceiling will be up, albeit only slightly. If he wants a shot at really cashing in though, he’ll need to back to his 2016-17 and 2017-18 output. Milano didn’t look out of place in nine games after being acquired which earned him a bit of job security but will need to take another step forward over the next two seasons if he wants to be tendered a $1.8MM qualifying offer. As for Deslauriers, his role on the fourth line is relatively secure for the time being but as the cap crunch continues to be felt around the league, even $1MM may be tough to get two years from now.
Then there’s Kesler. He last played on March 6, 2019 and isn’t likely to play again due to lingering hip issues. He’s eligible to be placed on LTIR which will allow Anaheim to spend over the cap (by up to his $6.875MM price tag depending on what their roster is before they place him there) which will allow them to comfortably get into cap compliance for next season without having to make any cost-cutting moves.
On the back end, Lindholm has never been able to become a top offensive threat but he has still been a quality top-pairing player over the last few years. Even in this most recent free agent class, top defensemen still received sizable raises and if he gets to the open market two years from now, Lindholm will certainly be in line for one as well. Manson signed his deal two seasons ago following a breakout year offensively but his production has plummeted since then. He’s still an effective second pairing player that provides some grit but he’s someone that could feel the squeeze a little bit on the 2022 market if he isn’t able to put up a few more points between now and then. Curran, a rookie who will turn 31 before next season starts and Larsson both will be trying to lock down full-time spots which will ultimately determine if they’re able to get a raise on their next deals or be settling for sixth or seventh defender money.
Three Years Remaining
F Derek Grant ($1.5MM, UFA)
F Troy Terry ($1.45MM, RFA)
D Kevin Shattenkirk ($3.9MM, UFA)
Grant finished fourth on the Ducks in goals last season despite missing a dozen games to a shoulder injury and several more after being traded to Philadelphia. That was enough to earn him a small raise and a three-year deal in what is his third stint with Anaheim. Unless he can get closer to the 20-goal mark though, it’s unlikely that another raise is on the horizon. Terry is another youngster that hasn’t quite been able to make a consistent impact in the NHL but Anaheim opted to give him a bit of a raise in exchange for a term that’s a bit longer than a bridge deal. There is some upside with this deal and if he is able to become a regular producer, doubling this price tag will certainly be an option.
Shattenkirk had a resurgent season with the Stanley Cup champions in Tampa Bay and was able to be one of the few players to land a contract greater than our initial projections when he was slotted 17th in our free agent rankings. He should step into a top-four role and provide a good return in that role but he will need to stay in the 30-point range to have a chance at landing a similar-priced contract in 2023.
Isac Lundestrom Recalled From Timra
It appears a couple of teams at least believe that NHL training camps are getting close to getting underway as Timra of the Allsvenskan in Sweden announced that center Isac Lundestrom (Anaheim) and forward Jesper Boqvist (New Jersey) have both been recalled by their respective teams. It’s worth noting that both the Ducks and Devils were among the seven teams that didn’t see any action this summer and as a result, they are expected to be allowed to conduct an expanded training camp.
Anaheim Wasn't The Only NHL Team That Showed Interest In Kodie Curran
- The Ducks weren’t the only team that showed interest in defenseman Kodie Curran this offseason, notes Scott Cruickshank of The Athletic (subscription link). However, as Anaheim had checked in on his over the previous couple of years, that was enough to sell the 30-year-old on signing his first NHL contract with them. Curran spent time in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden over the past four years and inked a two-year, one-way deal this offseason with a $1MM AAV, signalling that the Ducks expect him to be a part of their back end next season.
Trade Review Poll: Which Off-Season Acquisition Will Have Greatest Impact?
As NHL teams have been forced to shuffle their rosters this off-season in response to the flat salary cap, this off-season has quietly been filled with meaningful trades. While free agent deals always seem to dominate the headlines, there have been at least 20 different trades that sent a notable player to a new locale. This started way back in August, even as the postseason was in full swing, as teams had to look ahead to next season as early as possible to get a jump on cap management. When 2020-21 kicks off, who will make the biggest impact on their new team?
August 25: In a trade that actually contained six players, the only name of immediate note was Kasperi Kapanen making his return to the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs had initially acquired Kapanen from Pittsburgh in the Phil Kessel trade, but clearly the Penguins maintained interest in the player. Back with the team that drafted him, Kapanen will very likely slot in on the Penguins’ top line with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel after scoring at a 40+ point full season pace in each of the last two seasons.
September 2: After many years, the Montreal Canadiens finally landed a reliable backup to Carey Price. In what amounted to a salary cap dump for the St. Louis Blues, the Habs acquired former starter Jake Allen. Although Allen played second fiddle to Jordan Binnington again this past season, he returned to form and outplayed the starter with an impressive .927 save percentage and 2.15 GAA. After signing an extension, Allen also has some job security in Montreal and may even have the added incentive of playing well in order to land the starting job for the Seattle Kraken.
September 11: After acquiring Kapanen, the Pittsburgh Penguins knew they needed to shed salary. They turned to former front office exec Bill Guerin, now the GM of the Minnesota Wild. The Wild landed forward Nick Bjugstad at next to no cost and Pittsburgh retained some salary as well. Back in the state where he made his name as a high school and college star, Bjugstad looks ready for a fresh start. In a forward group that is week down the middle and lacking in size, the big center is almost guaranteed a meaningful role. Bjugstad has been streaky and injury prone in his NHL career, but has also shown on multiple occasions that he has 50+ point upside playing a full season on a scoring line.
September 16: The Wild were right back at it a few days later, adding another new face to the forward corps. This time it cost them though. Minnesota acquired Marcus Johansson from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Eric Staal. Johansson provides great versatility as a player who can effectively play any forward position and in any situation. He has also scored at a half-point per-game pace or better for nine straight years with four different teams. Johansson should be able to step in and make an immediate impact. On the flip side, Staal provides the Sabres with a bona fide second line center and veteran leader that they have been sorely lacking. The experienced pivot may not have the positional versatility of Johansson, but is still a superior scoring threat at 36 and knows how to grind out wins in the regular season and postseason.
September 24: The Penguins make their third different deal in less than a month, sending veteran forward Patric Hornqvist to the Florida Panthers for defenseman Michael Matheson and forward Colton Sceviour. While Matheson and Hornqvist are both overpaid, they each still bring value to their new team. Matheson, likely to play a bottom-pair role for Pittsburgh, is a huge upgrade to the players the Penguins rolled out on their final pairing last season. A perennial 20+ point producer and sound defensive player, Matheson will not be asked to play the same minutes as he did in Florida, but will still make the same impact in the minutes he does get from Pittsburgh. Hornqvist meanwhile has not played in more than 70 games in over four years, but is quietly still the same 50-point player that he always has been, just on a per-game basis. An expert net front presence and power play asset, Hornqvist will likely play a major role for a Panthers team that lost two of its top scorers to free agency.
September 26: In what was one of the more obvious salary cap dumps in recent memory, the New York Rangers traded away veteran defenseman Marc Staal and a second-round pick in exchange for “future considerations”. The lucky team on the other side was the Detroit Red Wings, who made out like bandits with a nice draft selection and a new veteran leader for their blue line. A young, rebuilding team who has seen countless veterans leave, many of whom just this off-season, Detroit adds a new face with years of experience and leadership in Staal. While he is definitely in decline at 33, Staal is still a strong defensive presence, a plus player, and a penalty kill asset. Even without much offensive upside, Staal seems locked in for at least a top-four role in Detroit.
October 5: It wasn’t the strategy that anyone expected, but the San Jose Sharks decided to try to solve their issues in net by bringing in another struggling veteran to compete with their current struggling veteran. Devan Dubnyk, who comes over from the Minnesota Wild, is just a few years removed from being one of the top keepers in the game. However, this past season he was not even close to that level of play, recording an .890 save percentage and 3.35 GAA, albeit in limited showings. He was one of the few goalies who performed worse was San Jose’s existing starter, Martin Jones. Dubnyk has more experience and his peaks are much higher than Jones’, but he is also four years older and may have less of an ability to return to form. Perhaps the goal is simply to elevate Jones’ game by giving him an established backup to compete with, but there is always the possibility that Dubnyk emerges the victor.
October 6: Two teams on the fringes of being contenders, each with specific needs up front, made a big swap that will have ramification far beyond this next season. The Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets exchanged restricted free agent forwards Max Domi and Josh Anderson, each of whom will look to rebound and play a major role for their new teams. Domi fills a need at center for Columbus and hopes to use his new two-year extension to finally earn a long-term home after bouncing around early in his NHL career. A player who has shown immense scoring potential, including a 72-point season in 2018-19, Domi could be a major difference-maker on the second line for the Blue Jackets, who desperately need scoring depth. Anderson was not able to provide that this past season, missing most of the year due to injury and underperforming when healthy. However, he too had a breakout 2018-19 campaign, recording 27 goals and 47 points. The Canadiens believe that this is his long-term yearly value, as they did not hesitate to sign Anderson to a seven-year deal. Montreal needs size up front and they hope the 6’3″, 220-lb. Anderson can be an impact power forward for years to come.
October 7: The Ottawa Senators have a deep pipeline of goaltenders, but did not have anyone ready to be a starter this coming season and perhaps for a couple seasons after that. As a result, they ignored that depth and landed a starter for the present who doubles as a starter of the future in young Matt Murray. A streaky, but accomplished keeper, Murray came over from the Pittsburgh Penguins at the price of a second-round pick and a prospect, but will be well worth it if he can solidify the net for the Senators. They certainly seem to think he will, signing him to a long-term deal. At just 26, Murray already has just under 200 regular season appearances and over 50 postseason appearances, with a pair of Stanley Cups backed up by stellar stats.
The same day, the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild swapped forwards, as the Wild continued to address the center position while the Predators got younger and faster. Minnesota acquired veteran center Nick Bonino to anchor the team’s third line, as he has for so many other teams. A two-way pivot who is good for 30-40 points and solid defensive play, Bonino is a useful addition for the Wild. Going the other way was 22-year-old Luke Kunin, who recorded 31 points in 63 games in just his third pro season this year. The 2016 first-round pick has found success at every level and on every team he has played for. Aiming for a top-six role in Nashville, Kunin could be an impact player right away and for years to come.
October 8: The Ottawa Senators continued to add via trade when they swung a deal for physical defenseman Erik Gudbranson from the Anaheim Ducks. A player who has now been traded three times in two years, Gudbranson is either in demand or expendable. He could be both for the Sens, who will give him a top-four role and let him be the defensively responsible counter to their other younger, more offensively-inclined defenseman, then could look to trade him away before his contract expires at year’s end.
Another defenseman was sold off for a late pick the same day and that was Ryan Murray. Though Murray has had immense struggles with health over the years, he had been a good player for the Columbus Blue Jackets when active. However, the team’s depth forced them to deal him away and the New Jersey Devils were the lucky recipients. While Murray is still remembered for his puck-moving pedigree as the No. 2 overall pick in 2012, he has taken on more of a two-way, defensive prowess in the pros and is very solid (again, when healthy). The Devils will almost certainly give Murray top-four and perhaps even top-pair opportunities and if they are fortunate enough to have him for a full season, they could be looking at one of the best value additions of the off-season.
October 9: As the Vegas Golden Knights cleared space for the off-season’s biggest free agent signing, it meant letting go of a proven veteran asset. The Knights traded center Paul Stastny to the Winnipeg Jets, letting go of a valuable two-way forward. While Stastny had an off year this past season, he is just one year removed from recording 42 points in 50 games, a 69-point full season pace. And he finished the season prior to that with none other than the Jets, with an incredible performance of 13 points in 19 regular season games followed by 15 points in 17 postseason games. Stastny has already shown that he can be an elite producer with Winnipeg’s talented forward group and has tremendous upside in the coming season. Even at 34, don’t be surprised to see the all-around forward return to form and potentially even rival the 70-point seasons of his early playing days.
October 10: If Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman knows one thing, it’s how to make a trade involving Brandon Saad. Saad was traded away to the Colorado Avalanche in a four-player deal, marking the third time in five years that has been traded away or to the Blackhawks. The key return for Chicago was young defenseman Nikita Zadorov. In Saad, the Avalanche add a legitimate top-six forward who will help their depth, especially in light of the injuries suffered by some of their top players last season. Saad has recorded 47+ points four times in seven full NHL seasons and would have hit 47 on the nose again this past season based on an 82-game pace. A consistent scorer with great finish and possession ability, Saad is a nice get for the Avs. Meanwhile, as Chicago begins a rebuild they have new cornerstone piece on defense in the 6’6″, 235-lb. Zadorov. A big, physical defenseman, Zadorov can sit back and be a reliable defensive presence, freeing up other members of the Blackhawks’ budding new defense corps, like Ian Mitchell and Adam Boqvist, to play their offensive game.
The same day, the New Jersey Devils made another buy-low addition, landing Andreas Johnsson from the Toronto Maple Leafs. A young player who has already shown signs of 50+ point upside, Johnsson will now find consistent top-six time and power play opportunity in New Jersey, which should get him closer to that mark. In need of impact wingers for Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes but not willing to derail the rebuild with high-priced trades or contracts, the Devils land a young player at next to no trade cost who is signed for several more years at an affordable price. It is the perfect fit and should pan out.
October 12: The Colorado Avalanche were back in the headlines a couple of days later when they dealt two second-round picks to the New York Islanders for RFA defenseman Devon Toews. The Islanders needed cap space and dealt from a position of immense depth and talent on defense. Yet, Toews was critically underrated in New York and the team gave up a very talented player. The rich get richer in Colorado, as Toews joins another strong blue line, but this time will be locked in for a top-four role and will get his due attention on one of the league’s top contenders. Even with only two NHL seasons under his belt, Toews has proven to be productive, defensively sound, an asset in puck possession, and overall capable of big minutes and an every-situation role. Toews may not be the biggest name traded this off-season, but could wind up as one of the best acquisitions.
Amazingly, the very last trade made in the NHL so far this season came nearly a month ago. In the final push needed for the Vegas Golden Knights to sign Alex Pietrangelo, the team dealt top pair defenseman Nate Schmidt to the Vancouver Canucks in order to clear the necessary space. It was quite a sacrifice and one the Canucks are happy about. At the cost of a third-round pick, a team who had had a disastrous off-season that point landed a bona fide top pair defenseman who is signed long-term. Schmidt did it all for Vegas: team-leading minutes, 30+ points, defensive awareness, shot blocking, possession, power play and penalty kill roles, and even locker room leadership. A player with a strong all-around game who is respected by teammates and opponents alike, Schmidt is a rare player to come across. Vancouver essentially lucked into him and it might just be the best trade of the off-season.
What do you think? Which trade acquisition will have the greatest impact in 2020-21 and beyond?
Mobile users, click here to vote.
Ducks Sign Jamie Drysdale
Earlier this week, the Ducks signed one of their first-round picks in Jacob Perreault to an entry-level deal. They’ve now done the same with their top selection, announcing the signing of defenseman Jamie Drysdale to a three-year, entry-level contract. CapFriendly reports (Twitter link) that the deal pays $925K in the NHL and $80K in the AHL (both entry-level maximums) while having an additional $850K in potential performance bonuses each year.
The 18-year-old was the sixth-overall pick last month and the second blueliner off the board after a dominant season with Erie. Drysdale hovered around the point-per-game mark for most of the year (no small feat for a draft-eligible defender) and wound up with nine goals and 38 assists in 49 games with the Otters. He also was part of Canada’s entry at the World Juniors and while he had a somewhat limited role, he still had a goal and two helpers in seven games. As things stand, he’s expected to be a key part of Canada’s entry this time around with that tournament set to run next month.
As Drysdale is ineligible to play in the AHL next season, his options will be Anaheim or Erie. There’s a good chance that he’ll get a look with Anaheim at camp but with Josh Manson and Kevin Shattenkirk already in place on the right-hand side of their back end, there may not be much of an opportunity to play impact minutes right away. Drysdale is one of a few players from this draft class that could conceivably play right away but if management deems that top minutes in Erie are better than a third-pairing role in Anaheim, he’ll return to junior. He will be subject to the entry-level slide rule which means he could normally play up to nine NHL games before his contract officially begins but that number could be pro-rated based on the length of the shortened schedule.
Expansion Draft Signing Coming For Anaheim Ducks
This offseason, not only are teams navigating a flat salary cap, reduced revenues, and the uncertainty of when next season will even begin, they also have to consider the upcoming expansion draft when the Seattle Kraken select 30 players and become the league’s 32nd franchise. The Vegas Golden Knights will not be forced to lose a player, but also don’t get a piece of the expansion fee, which could be very beneficial to teams at the moment.
In that expansion draft, there are various rules and requirements that must be met. One of them is that the team must expose at least one eligible goaltender who is signed through the 2021-22 season or a restricted free agent in the 2021 offseason. At least partly because of this rule, you’ve seen goaltenders like Dan Vladar, Dustin Tokarski, Kevin Lankinen, Hunter Miska, Keith Kinkaid, Michael Hutchinson, and several others receive multi-year contracts in an offseason where veteran NHL skaters can’t even find a job. It’s not that these goalies can’t be valuable additions to their organizations, it’s that the leverage required to land a multi-year agreement was a little tilted this fall.
With that rule in mind, it’s easy to see that the Anaheim Ducks will have to make a move at some point in the next few months to secure a depth option of their own. Currently, the only two goaltenders in their organization eligible for selection in the expansion draft are Anthony Stolarz, whose contract expires after this season, and John Gibson, their star netminder who will undoubtedly need protection.
Stolarz doesn’t fill the requirement at the moment, meaning a contract of some sort will have to come down the pipeline. For the 26-year-old, that might mean some added job security in the form of an extension given it might be hard to bring in another goaltender at this point. Not because they aren’t on the market, but because the Ducks may not want to clog up their minor leagues with bodies, taking away playing time from prospects like Lukas Dostal should he come to North America this season. An extension for Stolarz would get the job done and given how well he played at the AHL level last season it also may be well deserved.
Another interesting situation to keep an eye on with regards to the expansion draft is the New York Islanders, who currently only have one goaltender even eligible for selection. Since Ilya Sorokin can’t even be picked because of his lack of experience, the Islanders will also need another netminder if they want to protect Semyon Varlamov. Of course, they could also just leave him unprotected and decide not to protect any goaltender at all (don’t put anything past Lou Lamoriello) if they felt he might draw some attention away from the interesting forwards that may be available in New York.
At any rate, there are sure to be another few goaltending signings that raise some eyebrows over the next few months, if only for the length of the contract being handed out.
Anaheim Ducks Sign Jacob Perreault
The Anaheim Ducks have signed one of their 2020 draft picks, inking Jacob Perreault to his three-year entry-level contract. Perreault was selected 27th overall and plays for the Sarnia Sting of the OHL.
The son of longtime NHL forward Yanic Perreault, the 18-year-old winger is a completely different player than his father. Lining up almost exclusively at right wing, Jacob Perreault is a legitimate sniper who can score in a variety of different ways, including loading up his lethal wrist shot from the top of the circle. In his first two seasons of OHL hockey, he recorded 69 goals in 120 games.
He was the second first-round pick the Ducks had this season and will join an impressive group of forward prospects in the system. While the NHL team still includes quite a bit of veteran salary, there are better times ahead for Anaheim if even a handful of these high draft picks work out.
Of course, with any prospect these days, the question will be raised about where Perreault will play. The OHL is hoping for a February start but has had questions around the idea of playing without body checking, while Perreault is too young to play in the AHL. Under contract now, he could potentially be loaned overseas, though it would be much more difficult for the Ducks to have a say in his development.
Poll: Which Of The Eliminated Seven Will Return To The Postseason In 2021?
When the NHL convinced the NHLPA to return in a bubble this summer, part of the agreement was for an expanded postseason. Just seven teams were actually eliminated, finishing their seasons in early March with no chance at the Stanley Cup.
For many of the players on the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, and Buffalo Sabres, it has already been almost eight months since they last played a competitive hockey game. While those squads may receive some sort of extended training camp, it’s going to be a battle to get back into the postseason in 2021.
Even though it’s tough, that doesn’t mean they won’t give it a try. Many of the seven teams have made major additions this offseason, with some even completing sweeping changes to their roster.
The Ducks, who finished 29-33-9 in 2019-20, had almost no financial flexibility to do anything on the free agent market. Kevin Shattenkirk and Derek Grant were their UFA additions, both coming on three-year deals. They do however have a wave of young talent working its way up the depth chart, which could at any point propel them to success. The same could be said about the Kings, who spent even less in free agency. Los Angeles is just at the start of their rebuild and will hope that top pick Quinton Byfield can make an NHL impact quickly.
The Sharks were one of the most disappointing teams in the league this season, winning just 29 of their 70 games. This was a team that had just gone to the Western Conference Finals in 2019 and was still loaded with household names like Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, and Logan Couture. Goaltending was a huge part of the problem for the Sharks, but bringing in Devan Dubnyk certainly doesn’t guarantee an improvement.
New Jersey had plenty of hype after landing the first-overall pick in 2019 and surrounding him with expensive players like Nikita Gusev and P.K. Subban. When Hughes didn’t immediately set the league on fire, the team couldn’t really compete in a tough Metropolitan Division. This offseason the Devils have landed a proven middle-six winger in Andreas Johnsson, a capable defenseman in Ryan Murray, and a Stanley Cup champion in Corey Crawford to help them get over the hump. Development from Hughes is likely the most important factor here.
The same could be said about the Senators, who have taken an extremely young roster and added veteran pieces all over the ice. Evgenii Dadonov and Matt Murray highlight the additions, though the draft was really where the Senators believe their offseason earned its stripes. It’ll be tough for Ottawa this year, but they’re obviously on the track towards postseason contention.
Detroit is only really a year into their full rebuild and has stripped their roster of any long-term contracts. Sure, they added veterans like Vladislav Namestnikov and Bobby Ryan in free agency, but those both seem more like trade chips than core pieces.
In Buffalo, it’s playoffs-or-bust at this point. The team signed free agent superstar Taylor Hall to a one-year deal, brought Eric Staal away from his home in Minnesota, and added depth up front with pieces like Cody Eakin. New GM Kevyn Adams isn’t focused on a rebuild, he’s focused on getting the Sabres back to for the first time in a decade.
But who actually has the best chance at making the postseason? Cast your vote below and make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments!
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