Speculation: 2025 Trade/Free Agency Thread

[Hockey Duckie]

I think reworking the bottom 6 is just as important as adding another top 6 forward

A bottom-6 who is a FO and PK specialist with speed would be great! Winning a FO on the PK with a clear will eat up 20-25 seconds. According to NHL.com, we rank last in the league in overall FO% with 44.4% and 23rd in PK FO% with 43.5%. Just for kicks and giggles, our PP FO% is at 43.8%, which ranks last in the league. Guess we need a FO specialist in the top-6 and bottom-6.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

I think reworking the bottom 6 is just as important as adding another top 6 forward

Win more faceoffs, win more battles and get stronger defensively - and our top six guys will get more time with the puck and more o-zone starts like the wave of a magic wand. We badly need a veteran defensive C who wins draws at a high clip.

 

[MMC]

Win more faceoffs, win more battles and get stronger defensively - and our top six guys will get more time with the puck and more o-zone starts like the wave of a magic wand. We badly need a veteran defensive C who wins draws at a high clip.

What I'd hope for is that we sign Nico Sturm, and two of Anthony Beauvillier, Andrew Mangiapane, Taylor Raddysh, Joel Armia, Alex Iafallo, or Brandon Tanev. I'd probably be willing to sign Marner or maybe Ehlers but I'd avoid the Bennett/Nelson second tier of free agents as I think those are the most likely to not be worth their contracts. Probably have to trade for a top 6 guy which is fine with me.

So something like

Zegras-Carlsson-top 6 add
Gauthier-McTavish-Terry
Vatrano-Strome-Armia
Killorn-Sturm-Tanev

 

[FiveTacos]

For sure, but even adding actual 4th liners to this group would be an upgrade. Johnston/Harkins aren't NHL players, Leason and Lundestrom provide nothing offensively and get caved in possession-wise, McGinn would be better suited as a 13th forward on a contender and Fabbri's OKish when healthy but he's hurt all the time.

Well okay but other than that, things are pretty good right?

 

[Hey234]

What I'd hope for is that we sign Nico Sturm, and two of Anthony Beauvillier, Andrew Mangiapane, Taylor Raddysh, Joel Armia, Alex Iafallo, or Brandon Tanev. I'd probably be willing to sign Marner or maybe Ehlers but I'd avoid the Bennett/Nelson second tier of free agents as I think those are the most likely to not be worth their contracts. Probably have to trade for a top 6 guy which is fine with me.

So something like

Zegras-Carlsson-top 6 add
Gauthier-McTavish-Terry
Vatrano-Strome-Armia
Killorn-Sturm-Tanev

What happens to players like Colangelo and Nesterenko? Colangelo, in particular, has been consistently scoring and positively impacting play. Adding two top 6 forwards is what they really need to push Killorn and Strome down but it's unrealistic. One top 6 forward and a bottom six center makes sense and doable. But adding 4 forwards seems like too many. Some combination of:

Gauthier-Carlssson-xxx
Killorn-Zegras-Terry
Vatrano-McTavish-Colangelo
Nesterenko-xxx-Strome

 

[MMC]

What happens to players like Colangelo and Nesterenko? Colangelo, in particular, has been consistently scoring and positively impacting play. Adding two top 6 forwards is what they really need to push Killorn and Strome down but it's unrealistic. One top 6 forward and a bottom six center makes sense and doable. But adding 4 forwards seems like too many. Some combination of:

Gauthier-Carlssson-xxx
Killorn-Zegras-Terry
Vatrano-McTavish-Colangelo
Nesterenko-xxx-Strome

Depth

 

[McDonald19]

Dany Heatley signing with the Sharks comes to mind. I guess you could make an argument for Kovalchuk coming out of retirement and signing with Kings as well, but that one falls closer to Fedorov than Neidermayer.

Edit - Nevermind Heatley, forgot that was a trade.

Pretty much all trades, including Jumbo Joe.

 

[Mr Rogers]

I've been critical of Verbeek for certain decisions but I can't blame him for not getting players who have no desire to play in California. I offered a challenge yesterday to provide a list of all the top tier UFA's that have been signed by ANY California team in the last 30-35 years. Someone mentioned Neidermayer. Still waiting for another. Fedorov was well into his 30s when he signed with the Ducks which doesn't really match the age range that Verbeek should be aiming for IMO.

The top tier this year is Marner, Ehlers, Bennett, and Boeser. So mathematically the Ducks have a 1/8 or 12.5% chance of getting one of them. That's a tough bet to take.

I think there's a lot of truth to it, although very few truly elite players make it to FA these days. But yes those that do, never seem to go there. Tavares and the Sharks is a good example of that from a few years back - i seem to remember him strongly considering going there, but ultimately choosing Toronto. I know the Sharks made a big push.

I don't see Marner wanting to play for a guy like Cronin, if it were between the Ducks and Sharks for him, IMO he'd choose SJ.

 

[ohcomeonref]

I think there's a lot of truth to it, although very few truly elite players make it to FA these days. But yes those that do, never seem to go there. Tavares and the Sharks is a good example of that from a few years back - i seem to remember him strongly considering going there, but ultimately choosing Toronto. I know the Sharks made a big push.

I don't see Marner wanting to play for a guy like Cronin, if it were between the Ducks and Sharks for him, IMO he'd choose SJ.

He'd absolutely go to SJ if it was between us and them. He has a budding star to work with there too

 

[Mr Rogers]

He'd absolutely go to SJ if it was between us and them. He has a budding star to work with there too

Yup. I don’t think it’s particularly close either, at least as of now

 

[Hey234]

He'd absolutely go to SJ if it was between us and them. He has a budding star to work with there too

I disagree. I don't think the Ducks he'd sign with the Ducks regardless, but San Jose is rough. Even with Celebrini, they are going to be bad for awhile. The Ducks are showing real signs of taking the next step and the locker room is reportedly very close. A new coach would go a long way to help, but the Ducks are much closer to contention that the Sharks.

 

[zegrassyknoll]

He'd absolutely go to SJ if it was between us and them. He has a budding star to work with there too

Yeah but his car has a significantly higher chance of being stolen again in SF/SJ than it does in Newport lol

 

[Anaheim4ever]

I disagree. I don't think the Ducks he'd sign with the Ducks regardless, but San Jose is rough. Even with Celebrini, they are going to be bad for awhile. The Ducks are showing real signs of taking the next step and the locker room is reportedly very close. A new coach would go a long way to help, but the Ducks are much closer to contention that the Sharks.

True. They don't have a LaCombe or a proven Dostal/Gibson duo. They got Askarov but he's raw and inexperienced. Dickinson could play next year but his defense is gonna be really bad as we've seen how Sennecke makes him look bad in the OHL. They still need a few Dmen behind Dickinson, Shakir, Cagnoni, and Thrun. Thrun hasn't improved offensively at all.