Speculation: 2024-25 - Free Agency/Trade Thread

[dracom]

Don’t really see a fit for the blues.

I actually think Toronto could have interest in fowler…. But idk what they have on top of liljegren to persuade us

toronto has Reilly, OEL, Mccabe and Beniot as their LHD; dont see them having interest in another LHD. they also have like no cap space (technically they have like 1$ in cap space lol)

 

[All Mighty]

I definitely think there’s interest in Fowler, but it’s tough to see him fit on most teams. Here are a few options I came up with:

Detroit for Maatta + Veleno +
Winnipeg for Pionk +
New York Islanders for Pageau +
New York Rangers for Lindgren +
Pittsburgh for Graves/Rakell +

Not many great options, but I still think Detroit makes the most sense. Of course, significant retention would open up some more options, but I’m not confident we would do that.

 

[Anaheim4ever]

I definitely think there’s interest in Fowler, but it’s tough to see him fit on most teams. Here are a few options I came up with:

Detroit for Maatta + Veleno +
Winnipeg for Pionk +
New York Islanders for Pageau +
New York Rangers for Lindgren +
Pittsburgh for Graves/Rakell +

Not many great options, but I still think Detroit makes the most sense. Of course, significant retention would open up some more options, but I’m not confident we would do that.

Rakell returning to Anaheim would be interesting, he didn't want to play for a rebuilding team but Pittsburgh is no longer a contender at all, having missed the playoffs 2 years in a row and they needed to start a rebuild already and the Ducks will be much closer to contending again than Pittsburgh.

 

[duckpuck]

Uh, but there is plenty of veteran presence on the roster without Fowler.

They just named a veteran captain. Dumolin/Killorn have both won 2 Stanley cups. Strome/Vatrano/Fabbri have been around the block.

We’re not icing the San Diego gulls if Fowler isn’t here

There’s zero evidence that the roles these guys would be playing without Fowler would be detrimental to their development - provided that the coaching staff distributes minutes correctly

How so, I don’t feel the team needs another puck moving 3/4 guy on the left side. If he was more of an anchor defensively, or more physical I wouldn’t mind…. But he’s average at best in terms of defense, and he’s 1 of the softest players in the league.

I also have said I don’t mind waiting till deadline to up his value a bit… in terms of more teams pursuing him potentially. But I won’t cry if he’s traded this week(maybe cry a little but they’d be tears of happiness)

Fowler’s skill set is redundant with what we already have. Puck moving LHD. He isn’t good in his own zone. Mintyukov, LaCombe, and Zellweger can do what he is doing at this point. Ducks D won’t be any worse if Cam is traded. Fowler getting caved in isn’t protecting anyone. Heck, LaCombe looked like a different player once they got him away from Fowler.

My response to all 3 of these posts is basically the same. Today, Fowler (flawed though he may be) is still better suited to playing a top 3 role than most of the young guys. I think it is flat wrong to say that "Mintyukov, LaCombe, and Zellweger can do what he is doing at this point". Maybe Minty (who I really like), but the other two guys are no where near the players that Fowler is.

Having Fowler on the team shelters the younger guys and allows them to develop as the season progresses. It is better for the teams overall play and the development of the players to keep Fowler - for now.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

Would love to have TL here in Anaheim. We need another puck moving RHD

 

[Gliff]

Trading Fowler without full retention just seems dumb. The amount of teams able to acquire him at 3.25 is a lot more then would be able to at say 5.

 

[Rooch]

So wait. Friedman saying the Zegras trade rumors this offseason were just talk?! Color me not the least bit surprised.

 

[12ozPapa]

Interesting watching people say young players playing without vet support/above their heads has no impact on their development when talking about trading Fowler, an example of that happening

 

[FiveTacos]

Guys, we can't let Fowler tear us apart like this lol.

 

[AngelDuck]

Interesting watching people say young players playing without vet support/above their heads has no impact on their development when talking about trading Fowler, an example of that happening

That’s not an example of that happening though. Fowler maybe just never had the potential any of us thought he had - part of the reason he fell to #12 in that draft.

You guys thought he was the next Niedermayer but he was really just a poor man’s Jay Boumester

Still a very good career

 

[12ozPapa]

That’s not an example of that happening though. Fowler maybe just never had the potential any of us thought he had - part of the reason he fell to #12 in that draft.

You guys thought he was the next Niedermayer but he was really just a poor man’s Jay Boumester

Still a very good career

We both can argue the opposite, but we will never know because of how he was thrown to the wolves and has been essentially his entire career

 

[AngelDuck]

We both can argue the opposite, but we will never know because of how he was thrown to the wolves and has been essentially his entire career

Precisely. We’ll never know. Best not to speculate

 

[12ozPapa]

Precisely. We’ll never know. Best not to speculate

So then close the forum, I suppose?

I think it’s a fair discussion. There’s points to support both sides. I also think historically, throwing young players to the wolves before they are ready doesn’t work out well in the long term.

Trading Fowler is a thing because people don’t like what he is. That’s fine, but to act like somehow we’d be better without him and trusting unproven youth to lead would be a bad idea, in my opinion.

 

[cheesymc]

I’m curious if we checked in on the Leafs RHD Liljegren…. We have plenty of cap space. Could we swap McGinn, or Lundy (had he not recently gotten injured?), with the leafs saving some cap space? That would give guys like Colangelo, Gaucher, Nesterenko, etc. with some opportunities.

Or could we swap Vaak, which would almost save them 2 million?

It would be nice to have a guy who is in between Gudas (grey beard near retirement) and Luneau (barely any experience who is still 20 years old). I’d still prefer a bully meat and potatoes defensive dman, but there isn’t really anyone available. At least Liljegren has offensive upside and is a dynamic skater, and maybe our coaching staff is ready to commit to utilizing our youthful speed and skill on the blue line. But then it also might mean less opportunities for Zellweger this year, and more development in the AHL, or unless Fowler actually gets traded. The nice thing is we have a lot of defensemen who we can juggle that aren’t waiver eligible.

I know we haven’t even played a game but it would be nice to see Verbeek roll the dice and take a small swing.

 

[Kalv]

I’m curious if we checked in on the Leafs RHD Liljegren…. We have plenty of cap space. Could we swap McGinn, or Lundy (had he not recently gotten injured?), with the leafs saving some cap space? That would give guys like Colangelo, Gaucher, Nesterenko, etc. with some opportunities.

Or could we swap Vaak, which would almost save them 2 million?

It would be nice to have a guy who is in between Gudas (grey beard near retirement) and Luneau (barely any experience who is still 20 years old). I’d still prefer a bully meat and potatoes defensive dman, but there isn’t really anyone available. At least Liljegren has offensive upside and is a dynamic skater, and maybe our coaching staff is ready to commit to utilizing our youthful speed and skill on the blue line. But then it also might mean less opportunities for Zellweger this year, and more development in the AHL, or unless Fowler actually gets traded. The nice thing is we have a lot of defensemen who we can juggle that aren’t waiver eligible.

I know we haven’t even played a game but it would be nice to see Verbeek roll the dice and take a small swing.

That's an interesting option, we'd need some RHD help for sure. But the leafs just signed him in the offseason, unless he totally bombs out, I imagine they're not moving him anytime soon

 

[Frosted Tips]

That's an interesting option, we'd need some RHD help for sure. But the leafs just signed him in the offseason, unless he totally bombs out, I imagine they're not moving him anytime soon

They did, but at least in the latest Friedman's 32 Thoughts he said that it sounds like the Leafs are looking to trade him. I don't know the situation but maybe he got outplayed during the pre-season?

 

[cheesymc]

That's an interesting option, we'd need some RHD help for sure. But the leafs just signed him in the offseason, unless he totally bombs out, I imagine they're not moving him anytime soon

There are many reports that he is no longer in the Leaf's plans (they have Timmons currently over him, and probably Benoit) so they obviously would want to clear his 3 million cap hit. I don't think the ask will be much at all. Maybe a 3rd or 4rth round pick, prospect, or in our case hopefully a roster player so we can give more opportunities to our Gulls prospects.

If we do make a trade like this, I really hope we greenlight the blueline to be very aggressive and accept the occasional defensive lapses. At the very least this year, we need our defensive prospects to establish themselves offensively so we can evolve and tinker with the defensive side the following year and pray for playoffs. I'd be more accepting of more 4-6 losses then the boring 1-3 losses... at least it would be more exciting to watch.

I could see the following pairings if we eventually trade Fowler (hopefully the earlier the better for developments sake, and I'm still praying its Nashville since they have interesting prospects like Surin and L'Heureux):

Lacombe - Liljegren (both entering their prime years (24-25), good skaters and would likely play 20-22 minutes a night, a great development opportunity for them, and they could be a strong offensive pair)
Minty - Gudas (our most important pair, our best defensive prospect and most physical/leader, but they would only play sub-20 minutes a game unless Minty breaks out)
Dumoulin - Luneau (Maybe the shut-down line, which would be a big development opportunity for Luneau, and they would play sub-20 minutes a game)

Then we would have guys like Zellweger/Vaak, or other prospects/waiver claims getting opportunities throughout the season. We'd still be one of the softest blueline in the league but at least we would have speed and skill (if they can establish themselves this year).

 

[DavidBL]

So for perspective people. Benoit, a guy we let go, has outplayed TL and we want to being TL in which would reduce opportunity's for Luneau and Zell as they both play RS? That's what we're advocating here?

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

So for perspective people. Benoit, a guy we let go, has outplayed TL and we want to being TL in which would reduce opportunity's for Luneau and Zell as they both play RS? That's what we're advocating here?

Benoit and Zell are both LHD. Zell only plays on the right side because we have too many LHD.

 

[Static]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1844870514776424737

Watching providence. I'm sure it's nothing, but who cares.

 

[70sSanO]

That's an interesting option, we'd need some RHD help for sure. But the leafs just signed him in the offseason, unless he totally bombs out, I imagine they're not moving him anytime soon

I did read that he has fallen down the depth chart and has been a healthy scratch. Not sure if play or they don’t want to risk injury if on the move.

I think they signed him so keep out of arbitration. I’m guessing the $3m hit is not endearing to the Leafs. But it is only for 2 years which is perfect for Verbeek.

Not a top 4, but it would not surprise me if he ends up in Anaheim.

John

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

What is the point of having interest in TL? He’s not the top 4 RHD Verbeek wanted this summer.

We already have guys with higher upsides who can play bottom pair now. No need to clog up the current mix with an overpaid guy who isn’t what we need.

Rather save the money and use it to lower the free chicken to 4 goals instead of 5.

 

[DavidBL]

What is the point of having interest in TL? He’s not the top 4 RHD Verbeek wanted this summer.

We already have guys with higher upsides who can play bottom pair now. No need to clog up the current mix with an overpaid guy who isn’t what we need.

Rather save the money and use it to lower the free chicken to 4 goals instead of 5.

I'd rather target Andersson from Cgy but not sure how that deal would look. But even then he's more offense which isn't exactly what we're looking for.

 

[All Mighty]

What would you trade for a signed Rantanen? In a main board thread, I suggested a package around Zegras + Zellweger. Maybe they would prefer hometown Terry to Zegras? Unfortunately I think the only way we get Rantanen is to trade for him.

EDIT: For the record, I still think it’s likely that he stays in Colorado, but he’s a rare commodity so it’s worth discussing if there’s any chance.

 

[Static]

What would you trade for a signed Rantanen? In a main board thread, I suggested a package around Zegras + Zellweger. Maybe they would prefer hometown Terry to Zegras? Unfortunately I think the only way we get Rantanen is to trade for him.

Would he sign with us if traded? I know you don't know, but that would be the issue.