Speculation: 2024-25 - Free Agency/Trade Thread

[Ducks DVM]

If he was a decent leader he woulda been made a captain already,

He might be likable, and helpful to young players…. But much different than being a good leader. A good vet might be the correct term

Or, one could have the opinion that decent leaders get an A, and only truly exceptional leaders get a C.nobody on the team at the moment is an exceptional leader.

I think fowler should produce more than a couple rookies, I imagine this conversation gets a lot closer this year.

Fowler’s been in the league forever and still questionable defensively.

Fowler was 24th in the league in PPP/G for defensemen. Saying that he brings nothing to the team in that department is nonsense. If anything, they should be giving his other minutes away and increasing the PP time, until the kids actually produce.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

It doesnt have to be either/or. Losing Fowler still takes away from the roster with who to replace him? Vaak?

If we're to follow the notion of the podcast, it's gonna be internal and a youth. That means Verbeek will be pushing Luneau to the NHL this year.

2024-25
Minty - Gudas
Dumo - LaCombe
Zell - Luneau
Vaak

Verbeek wasn't lying when he said he wants the older youth (although just a year more experience) to teach the new youth.

2025-26
Minty - LaCombe (?)
Solberg - Luneau
Zell - Gudas

pushing the youths much.

 

[Trojans86]

I wonder what we could get for him. I wouldn’t mind some assets that help us move up in the draft next year.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Or, one could have the opinion that decent leaders get an A, and only truly exceptional leaders get a C.nobody on the team at the moment is an exceptional leader.


Fowler was 24th in the league in PPP/G for defensemen. Saying that he brings nothing to the team in that department is nonsense. If anything, they should be giving his other minutes away and increasing the PP time, until the kids actually produce.

I have yet to mention Fowler’s production…. So maybe your miss quoting me.

All I’ve said is I’d like the kids to get more experience on the power play, as they are the future.

Getting more reps/chances to form chemistry isn’t a bad thing for the kids

 

[Ducks DVM]

I wonder what we could get for him. I wouldn’t mind some assets that help us move up in the draft next year.

I don’t think he should be moved unless it’s for a piece that is in the NHL or NHL ready. I don’t think more pieces in the 27-28 season do much outside turning us into Buffalo.

 

[JAHV]

If he was a decent leader he woulda been made a captain already,

He might be likable, and helpful to young players…. But much different than being a good leader. A good vet might be the correct term

Just like Teemu wasn't a captain (outside of an interim captain when Kariya was hurt). What a terrible leader he was.

 

[Static]

I don’t claim it as facts, sorry if you took it as facts.

But the post you quoted was pretty accurate.

A little curious why you would want to advocate so strongly for an opinion you admit is not supported by facts. Kind of does the opposite for you.

 

[Ducks DVM]

I have yet to mention Fowler’s production…. So maybe your miss quoting me.

All I’ve said is I’d like the kids to get more experience on the power play, as they are the future.

Getting more reps/chances to form chemistry isn’t a bad thing for the kids

As opposed to your take?
fowler is not the type of guy we need, nor is he good at doing what he is being asked to do right now

Let the kids spread out those mins and gudas and dumolin and potentially guys like hill/maataa fill in when the kids struggle

 

[Dirk316]

Can’t wait for us to trade Fowler and all the Fowler haters realize we suck even more without him and he’s actually an important part of our D

He's good when paired with a big tough dman like Gudbranson. For some reason the coach and gm insist on pairing with dmen even smaller and softer. It's crazy

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1832084488379371634

 

[Leonardo87]

Trading Fowler now when our Young D are not ready would be a huge mistake.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Trading Fowler now when our Young D are not ready would be a huge mistake.

We could possibly end up drafting top 5 again!

I think this is heavily exaggerated, and hope fowler is moved asap

 

[dracom]

We could possibly end up drafting top 5 again!

I think this is heavily exaggerated, and hope fowler is moved asap

so is the solution to just keep drafting top 5 and never actually get better? fantastic...

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

so is the solution to just keep drafting top 5 and never actually get better? fantastic...

Cause Fowler has prevented that!

Fantastic, even camtastic

 

[70sSanO]

I don’t think he should be moved unless it’s for a piece that is in the NHL or NHL ready. I don’t think more pieces in the 27-28 season do much outside turning us into Buffalo.

This is really the scenario. If we can move him for a RHD that will fit our needs and not a pylon 3rd pairing, then you move Fowler.

The correct RHD will be more valuable than Fowler. If you can bring in a top 4, which is much easier said than done, then Fowler is expendable.

John

 

[dracom]

Cause Fowler has prevented that!

Fantastic, even camtastic

right cause it's all been fowler's fault and no one else.

 

[tomd]

This is really the scenario. If we can move him for a RHD that will fit our needs and not a pylon 3rd pairing, then you move Fowler.

The correct RHD will be more valuable than Fowler. If you can bring in a top 4, which is much easier said than done, then Fowler is expendable.

John

Yeah, I don't think Fowler brings back a top 4 RHD...they are too rare right now. This just seems like a very odd time for a trade.

 

[Ducks DVM]

Yeah, I don't think Fowler brings back a top 4 RHD...they are too rare right now. This just seems like a very odd time for a trade.

There’s nothing that’s indicated that a trade is imminent. One would think it isn’t happening just because.

"What I’ve heard is that Fowler has indicated a willingness to talk to more teams than that and consider more teams than that," Freidman added. "Fowler has a lot of respect around the league. There will be interest. I don’t think anybody will be surprised if some time this season Cam Fowler is elsewhere."

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/report-ducks-and-fowler-working-on-what-his-future-could-look-like

 

[70sSanO]

Yeah, I don't think Fowler brings back a top 4 RHD...they are too rare right now. This just seems like a very odd time for a trade.

I agree you won’t get a top 4 RHD for Fowler.

But Fowler would be a separate transaction. If you get the RHD for whatever assets we send, then move Fowler for whatever we can get.

My point was not to just move Fowler, but fill a need and then move him. If you can’t get a RHD, keep Fowler.

John

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

so is the solution to just keep drafting top 5 and never actually get better? fantastic...

Some people here do seem to lean that way.

 

[DavidBL]

Some people here do seem to lean that way.

At least until we get lucky enough to draft a generational talent.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

At least until we get lucky enough to draft a generational talent.

So we should not try to improve until we draft a McDavid? How many years will that be?

 

[anezthes]

Minty, Zell, and LaCombe haven't shown they're ready just yet.
Throwing them to the wolves could be detrimental to their progress.

Let them develop at their own pace and earn those minutes.
When, or if, they show they're ready, then you trade away Fowler.

IMO/YMMV.

 

[DavidBL]

So we should not try to improve until we draft a McDavid? How many years will that be?

Sorry, I was being sarcastic. I'm very much over being a bottom 5 team. I've been vocal about being disappointed PV wasn't able to improve this team this summer. But that is the sense I get from the people who seem to be okay with it. 10 first rounders, including a 2nd oa 2x 3rd oa and a 6, 9, and 10 isn't enough for some folk I guess.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

Minty, Zell, and LaCombe haven't shown they're ready just yet.
Throwing them to the wolves could be detrimental to their progress.

Let them develop at their own pace and earn those minutes.
When, or if, they show they're ready, then you trade away Fowler.

IMO/YMMV.

To me this is simple arithmetic and I don’t get why there’s resistance to it. The kids should absolutely cut in to Fowler’s ice time as they develop but Fowler is the safety net. I.e., you don’t NEED to play these minutes kid, so just relax and get used to the bigger role, versus OMG you’re all we have don’t f*** up. Fowler’s not blocking any kids, he’s the key to giving them bigger roles in a structured way.

It’s just objectively wrong that Fowler sucks and is somehow making the team worse, but even if that were true there’s still intrinsic value in keeping someone who’s used to playing those minutes on the roster. Not anyone can do it, take Gudas’s example from last year.