Speculation: 2025 Trade/Free Agency Thread (TDL is March 7th)

[All Mighty]

What about Ehlers? He seems like a guy who could work with Leo. He has some injury problems here and there, but generally he is productive guy.

I’m a huge Ehlers fan. If you factor in the contracts they are likely to get, I might even prefer him to Rantanen.

 

[TheGoodShepard1]

Would anyone be interested? Very talented, physical head case.

Apparently, he's only willing to waive to go to a contender, so the point is likely moot (my answer would have been a no anyway as well).

Also hilarious that in addition to Kane refusing to relocate to Robidas Island, Friedman is reporting that the Oilers--unbeknownst to almost everyone--handed out no-moves to Rico and Arvidsson as part of getting them to re-up this offseason, which is going to make freeing up money on the fringes next to impossible. Good golly miss Molly, Edmonton is an adventure.

 

[Gliff]

What about Ehlers? He seems like a guy who could work with Leo. He has some injury problems here and there, but generally he is productive guy.

I’m a huge Ehlers fan. If you factor in the contracts they are likely to get, I might even prefer him to Rantanen.

I like Ehlers a lot and would gladly take him if the 2 big guys are gone, but he is easily behind those 2 to me. He is the oldest of the 3, he is the smallest of the 3, he doesn't penalty kill, he is far behind the other 2 in production.

Marner and Rantanen are legit top line guys that drive play. That is what we need. Ehlers would be a nice consolation prize though.

 

[JonathnTaylorTavares]

If we werent able to garner Marner, I would put out the feelers on Ehlers

 

[70sSanO]

I don’t want Rantenen. He was the recipient of playing with MacKinnon for years. I don’t see him as a creator or driving the play.

You could probably put any good wing with MacKinnon and they would produce.

Rantanen is definitely a top wing, but depending on AAV and term there is a lot of potential to be a bad contract.

John

 

[TheStuntman]

Curious if Dumo is staying or going. For the good of the team long term, he should go. He's been great for the team and provided the team with veteran and steady play. Dare I say Verbeek should be asking for a 1st for him with retention.

EDIT: Sounds like he might be open to staying here longer. Decision Time for the Ducks: The Brian Dumoulin Conundrum at the Trade Deadline

Edit 2: A 1st rounder is too heavy of a price, but either way, think he should be moved so that Olen and Minty can play every game.

 

[All Mighty]

I like Ehlers a lot and would gladly take him if the 2 big guys are gone, but he is easily behind those 2 to me. He is the oldest of the 3, he is the smallest of the 3, he doesn't penalty kill, he is far behind the other 2 in production.

Marner and Rantanen are legit top line guys that drive play. That is what we need. Ehlers would be a nice consolation prize though.

I did say that Ehlers is on their level with the condition that you factor their likely contracts into account. $9-10M for Ehlers vs $13-14M for Rantanen, for example.

Also, I would disagree with you on saying Ehlers isn’t a top line play driver. I know he doesn’t play on Winnipeg’s top line, but he is a fantastic offensive player that isn’t far behind the other 2, if he is at all. The main issues with Ehlers are health and size, which is partly why he will be notably cheaper.

 

[JAHV]

If we werent able to garner Marner, I would put out the feelers on Ehlers

I hope we're banterin' on Rantanen.

 

[quackquackquack]

I did say that Ehlers is on their level with the condition that you factor their likely contracts into account. $9-10M for Ehlers vs $13-14M for Rantanen, for example.

Also, I would disagree with you on saying Ehlers isn’t a top line play driver. I know he doesn’t play on Winnipeg’s top line, but he is a fantastic offensive player that isn’t far behind the other 2, if he is at all.

Agreed and the other 2 definitely have their warts as well. I'm more worried about Marner than Mikko to be honest. Marner just doesn't play a winning style of hockey to me. especially when the moments are brightest (outside of 4N)

Curious what are the group's thoughts about moving Zelly in a deal to get a Top 6 F. He's been collecting dust in the press box. Part of me thinks PV likes having the mix of vets (Radko, Trouba, Dumo) along with the kids (LaCombe, Hellesen, Minty) on the back end. Maybe that leaves Zelly permanently on the outs.

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

If we werent able to garner Marner, I would put out the feelers on Ehlers

Have you not boughten in on Rantanen?

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

The only

Criticism of Verbeek is not getting enough in trades and not leveraging situations enough

I mean look at what he flipped Fowler for. A second and an AHL/ECHL 'prospect'

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

Pretty much the usual:

• Verbeek sets high prices for his players and usually doesn't budge much
• Criticism of Verbeek is not getting enough in trades and not leveraging situations enough
• Verbeek likely looking for a high end forward, but is more concerned with long term than making a deadline splash
• Podcasters don't see Anaheim as buyers, especially after the stinker vs. CHI
• Dumo situation could go either way, main concern is he's blocking younger guys with no major blue line injuries this year
• Price for Gibson is still high, teams probably concerned with his inability to stay healthy
• Zegras something something (more unsubstantiated fluff)

Is it just me or do those top two bullets almost directly contradict each other?

He sets a high price, doesn't budge, but then doesn't get enough back?

 

[All Mighty]

Is it just me or do those top two bullets almost directly contradict each other?

He sets a high price, doesn't budge, but then doesn't get enough back?

The first point is more about trading away his own players and the second is more about acquiring external players.

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

The first point is more about trading away his own players and the second is more about acquiring external players.

But isn't he acquiring those external players with the internal players he values highly?

 

[dracom]

Is it just me or do those top two bullets almost directly contradict each other?

He sets a high price, doesn't budge, but then doesn't get enough back?

Guessing that is more about not getting much back for taking on cap for other teams. Like Trouba for example.

 

[JAHV]

But isn't he acquiring those external players with the internal players he values highly?

No, it's in reference to acquiring high-dollar players who are cap dumps and not squeezing the other team for more assets. So in this case, the asset he's not valuing highly enough is the Ducks' favorable cap position, according to the criticism. Specifically, Friedman mentioned Trouba and Husso, although he was a bit more understanding of the Husso acquisition.

I don't necessarily agree completely with that criticism, but I think it has some validity.

 

[MMC]

No, it's in reference to acquiring high-dollar players who are cap dumps and not squeezing the other team for more assets. So in this case, the asset he's not valuing highly enough is the Ducks' favorable cap position, according to the criticism. Specifically, Friedman mentioned Trouba and Husso, although he was a bit more understanding of the Husso acquisition.

I don't necessarily agree completely with that criticism, but I think it has some validity.

It's hard to determine how much of that is ownership and how much is him, he's said before he's working with a budget while the team is rebuilding

 

[JAHV]

It's hard to determine how much of that is ownership and how much is him, he's said before he's working with a budget while the team is rebuilding

Understood, but in this case, the critique is that he's made deals for cap dumps at full freight (Trouba and Husso) without getting assets back for taking on their cap hit. That's the criticism Friedman was talking about, although he didn't specify who levied it. Other insiders, perhaps.

Again, I don't agree with that fully in either case:

-While Trouba was definitely a cap dump, there was reportedly a bidding war for him, and the Ducks were the team he accepted a trade to.
- The Ducks needed Husso and while his cap hit wasn't great for Detroit, they had plenty of cap room and didn't NEED to trade him in order to add at the deadline.

However, I understand the critique. Those were both seen as bad assets and Verbeek got nothing to take them on.

 

[Rybread86]

The only reason I want Dumo traded is because we have young guys who really need the playing time and we only have more on their way. Ive really liked Dumo and thinks hes added a lot to our blueline but were getting to the point in the rebuild where we need to be finding out who of the youngsters are going to stay and who we might need to use as trade bait.

If he were a few years younger or we were a few years further into the rebuild, Id say we should keep him.

 

[robbieboy3686]

What about Ehlers? He seems like a guy who could work with Leo. He has some injury problems here and there, but generally he is productive guy.

Another small finesse player. Hard no

I don’t want Rantenen. He was the recipient of playing with MacKinnon for years. I don’t see him as a creator or driving the play.

You could probably put any good wing with MacKinnon and they would produce.

Rantanen is definitely a top wing, but depending on AAV and term there is a lot of potential to be a bad contract.

John

A lot of people around here bitch about killorn being to slow to play with Leo. If Leo is really on his way to being an elite center, would stand to reason that Leo+ rats would mesh

 

[Rasp]

We are not going to allow misinformation posted and to fuel discussion based on false info. Speculation is one thing but when there is a legit rumor it can only be posted if it’s by a legit NHL insider like a Dreger, Friedman, or yes even Seravelli even if we don’t care for him here.

Plus a lot of these guys do more speculation than anything.

A person with 3k followers on twitter is not a legit insider. Especially a person who says “I heard a rumor that these teams are interested in Zegras”

It’s utter BS and we are not going to allow misinformation posted.

The link that was deleted here was an account that started in 2019 and has 3,100 followers. It’s not a legit account. If you’re on the trade boards, then they’re even stricter.

You are both ignoring the fact this isn't a one time occurrence and are just trying to justify it based off of one post. A Philadelphia beat writer talking about his contact with Flyers isn't a BS source.

Don't pretend you have inside info and know what is true and false.

Censoring discussion because you don't like the topic is terrible. Other posters have been able to see what is happening so if they decide to accept censorship on ducks info then that's their choice too.

That's the last I'll say on this topic.

 

[The Duck Knight]

I don't think either Rantanen or Marner is a good fit at 13/14m per but if I had to take one (in FA) I'd take Mikko all day. Leo needs a finisher on his right side a hell of a lot more than he needs a pass first perimeter player like Marner.

 

[Gliff]

I did say that Ehlers is on their level with the condition that you factor their likely contracts into account. $9-10M for Ehlers vs $13-14M for Rantanen, for example.

Also, I would disagree with you on saying Ehlers isn’t a top line play driver. I know he doesn’t play on Winnipeg’s top line, but he is a fantastic offensive player that isn’t far behind the other 2, if he is at all. The main issues with Ehlers are health and size, which is partly why he will be notably cheaper.

Ehhh I don't know about that.

Ehler PPG since 17-18 is .8 with a career high of .98.
Marner PPG since 17-18 is 1.17 with a career high of 1.35. He has topped PPG every year except his rookie year.
Rantanen is 1.19 with a career high of 1.30.

They really arent on the same level. Ehlers is a solid top liune winger. The other 2 are in the conversation for top 10 forward in the league.

 

[All Mighty]

Ehhh I don't know about that.

Ehler PPG since 17-18 is .8 with a career high of .98.
Marner PPG since 17-18 is 1.17 with a career high of 1.35. He has topped PPG every year except his rookie year.
Rantanen is 1.19 with a career high of 1.30.

They really arent on the same level. Ehlers is a solid top liune winger. The other 2 are in the conversation for top 10 forward in the league.

It's definitely a lot closer than you are making it out to be, especially at even strength. Over the last 3 years, Ehlers is 15th in the NHL in 5v5 scoring efficiency (5v5 points per 60 minutes with at least 2000 minutes), Marner is 7th and Rantanen is 41st. Marner and Rantanen obviously play(ed) with 2 of the top 5 players in the game, while Ehlers was doing that mostly on a 2nd line. And while I do think Rantanen should be more productive than he's currently showing in Carolina, I highly doubt his numbers will be the same as they were in Colorado, mainly because he won't be getting as many easy PP points.

Again, if all of these guys were getting the exact same contract, I would probably take Ehlers 3rd, but he's definitely getting a smaller contract than the other guys are.

 

[MCB]

Lol chances are we don't get any one of ehlers, rantanen or marner.
But it's nice to dream. So in Dreamworld: I was dead set on rantanen being the one of those three we target, but @All Mighty and a few others have brought up some good points for ehlers.