Speculation: 2025 Trade/Free Agency Thread

[Leonardo87]

I think Pat will be active at the TDL simply because it is easier for him to acquire players via trade than convince them to sign here.

This could be the first TDL where they actually improve the roster. Fabbri and Dumolin have been meh. It’s an opportunity for the young players to take their ice time.

Vatrano has been locked in for more seasons, he is not going anywhere, so yeah I think it’s time to try and at least push for a playoff spot. This draft sucks anyway.

 

[tomd]

Maybe I should have clarified - I think he'll be more active in trading before the TDL, not necessarily trying to make typical TDL moves like acquiring a vet to push us over the limit.

I don't think he will go for high end players, I think he will just aim for improvements.

I'm sure he'd like to take a big swing in UFA but I have to imagine he's learned by now that it probably won't work out well for us and I think he knows he has to do something this year.

I'll still come back to the fact that the TDL is generally not where you'll find players to build your future roster with. That will have to happen around the draft and into FA.

 

[robbieboy3686]

Most of the players traded at the TDL tend to be older guys who are going to be UFA's in the summer. Not sure how getting one of the guys at the TDL helps the Ducks unless Verbeek is a buyer b/c he thinks the team can make the playoffs.

Definitely at the very least we need to start replacing mcginn lundy leason vanilla types with actual dudes who can play. The ones top teams know they can’t pay because they se up against the cap

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

I'll still come back to the fact that the TDL is generally not where you'll find players to build your future roster with. That will have to happen around the draft and into FA.

I agree with you it isn't the ideal place to do it.

But it's more ideal than getting rejected in FA and ending up with nothing, like what just happened with Stamkos, Marchessault, and a few other players.

And the benefit of trading now instead of in the off-season is that Pat wants to be playing meaningful games this year, and this would help them do that.

 

[tomd]

I agree with you it isn't the ideal place to do it.

But it's more ideal than getting rejected in FA and ending up with nothing, like what just happened with Stamkos, Marchessault, and a few other players.

And the benefit of trading now instead of in the off-season is that Pat wants to be playing meaningful games this year, and this would help them do that.

Sometimes you get lucky in FA by NOT getting players...just ask Nashville about that.

I would just say about the TDL that playoff teams aren't looking to shed players from their roster...quite the opposite...they are trying to add to their roster w/o giving up talented players. Non-playoff teams are ok shedding roster players...as long as you are will to overpay for them. It's just not a great time to make trades for teams in the middle and I don't expect Verbeek to do anything earth shaking at the TDL.

 

[DavidBL]

Sometimes you get lucky in FA by NOT getting players...just ask Nashville about that.

I would just say about the TDL that playoff teams aren't looking to shed players from their roster...quite the opposite...they are trying to add to their roster w/o giving up talented players. Non-playoff teams are ok shedding roster players...as long as you are will to overpay for them. It's just not a great time to make trades for teams in the middle and I don't expect Verbeek to do anything earth shaking at the TDL.

Pretty sure no one expected what happened to Nashville this season. Nor is it really fair to blame those players.

 

[tomd]

Pretty sure no one expected what happened to Nashville this season. Nor is it really fair to blame those players.

Pretty sure I agree with you. The players deserve their share of blame but so does the GM and the pro scouts. That said, if Trotz doesn't tear it all down this summer they may be better than expected next year.

 

[WhyVerbeekWhy]

Sometimes you get lucky in FA by NOT getting players...just ask Nashville about that.

I would just say about the TDL that playoff teams aren't looking to shed players from their roster...quite the opposite...they are trying to add to their roster w/o giving up talented players. Non-playoff teams are ok shedding roster players...as long as you are will to overpay for them. It's just not a great time to make trades for teams in the middle and I don't expect Verbeek to do anything earth shaking at the TDL.

I agree fully with your TDL stance. I don't see PV doing much at all and for this season, I am totally fine with that. Team is starting to roll (small sample size ofc) and you don't want to mess with chemistry or come off as sellers at all on them and ruin that. The chance you get a clear upgrade by TDL is slim to none.

That said, if a team makes a big all-in push out there and for cap reasons have to move out a good player they ARE upgrading in said all-in move, there may be opportunity if the receiver doesn't want/need that player or prefers futures, etc...whether it ends up as domino moves or a three-way.

I think Dumo does move because we need both Zelly and Minty getting that experience in and he's already expressed he would like to be on the east cost.

Fabbri I am fine keeping until off-season, he has motor and I'm sure good work ethic and you can never have too much of that rubbing off on youngsters.

 

[DavidBL]

Pretty sure I agree with you. The players deserve their share of blame but so does the GM and the pro scouts. That said, if Trotz doesn't tear it all down this summer they may be better than expected next year.

The players play so the some of the blame is always on them. I'm honestly not sure what happened with them. Can you imagine if they get a top pick though and their guys figure it out and get back to last years level of play? I have to admit I'd be a bit bitter if that happened.

 

[ADHB]

I think you might see Pat make some change of scenery trades. Not for typical rentals, but shipping out guys who don't appear to have a future here (Lundy, Leason, etc.) for guys who are in similar spots elsewhere but might be a better fit for this roster. If it doesn't work, you're not really losing anything.

But other than that, I don't expect to see any earth shattering moves.