Speculation: 2026-27 Trade/FA thread - Waiting for the SCF to be over….

[Leo2Cutter]

Carolina drafted their key guys like Aho, Slavin, Jarvis and etc. but they also made big trades to get them to winning a cup. Can't just rely on the draft. Tampa, Florida, and etc. All the same.

Not sure who is considered the Ducks core, but it's those 5 or 6 guys, and support around them, and will need to make those trades or sign FA's to get them that support.

Gauthier Sennecke Carlsson Terry

Lacombe


The core right now.

Defense- I think guys like Mintyukov Solberg Luneau could end up core pieces
Forwards- idk that anyone else jumps into the core at this time.... Mcqueen prob best shot of jumping into the core.

Prob trade for another core piece or 2 (pref 1 on defense)... you could trade mctavish + and hopefully get a core piece.

 

[Leonardo87]

Gauthier Sennecke Carlsson Terry

Lacombe


The core right now.

Defense- I think guys like Mintyukov Solberg Luneau could end up core pieces
Forwards- idk that anyone else jumps into the core at this time.... Mcqueen prob best shot of jumping into the core.

Prob trade for another core piece or 2 (pref 1 on defense)... you could trade mctavish + and hopefully get a core piece.

Yeah that is who I have as my core. I think you can add Dostal....but honestly, I am not sure. Dostal needs to be better, and I really think Verbeek needs to consider a 1A and 1B situation.

Ducks got to Round 2, Game 6, with Mac not doing much at all, and with bad goaltending. So you can see the opportunity here to improve this team. Plus, Leo, Cutter and Beckett are going to get better as well. They just need the support around them.

 

[Leo2Cutter]

Yeah that is who I have as my core. I think you can add Dostal....but honestly, I am not sure. Dostal needs to be better, and I really think Verbeek needs to consider a 1A and 1B situation.

Ducks got to Round 2, Game 6, with Mac not doing much at all, and with bad goaltending. So you can see the opportunity here to improve this team. Plus, Leo, Cutter and Beckett are going to get better as well. They just need the support around them.

I mean there was that report that Dostal failed his physical to join Czechia at world championship.... so you wonder how long he mightve been playing with an injury and if that was part of his issue this year.

Yep the young dmen should all improve this year... i assume dostal will bounce back a bit(but id like to get a reliable 2nd goalie that can play 32-35 games if needed). You have to assume were going to be active in the off season ..... the young forwards will be better, in theory our PP/PK should be better.

I think this year is our "window open" year, last year was kinda playing w/ House money.... now i think were a legit threat. I think a pacific title is potentially on the table, and id say were prob a good shot at a WCF appearance.... assuming good health and what not.

 

[Leonardo87]

I mean there was that report that Dostal failed his physical to join Czechia and world championship.... so you wonder how long he mightve been playing with an injury and if that was part of his issue this year.

Yep the young dmen should all improve this year... i assume dostal will bounce back a bit(but id like to get a reliable 2nd goalie that can play 32-35 games if needed). You have to assume were going to be active in the off season ..... the young forwards will be better, in theory our PP/PK should be better.

I think this year is our "window open" year, last year was kinda playing w/ House money.... now i think were a legit threat. I think a pacific title is potentially on the table, and id say were prob a good shot at a WCF appearance.... assuming good health and what not.

Guys get banged up and tired, but we had guys with legit injuries. So to me that is a blessing in disguise if these guys are healthy next season, will see a difference right away.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Gauthier Sennecke Carlsson Terry

Lacombe


The core right now.

Defense- I think guys like Mintyukov Solberg Luneau could end up core pieces
Forwards- idk that anyone else jumps into the core at this time.... Mcqueen prob best shot of jumping into the core.

Prob trade for another core piece or 2 (pref 1 on defense)... you could trade mctavish + and hopefully get a core piece.

I would add Washe to the list of core players. What he did in the playoffs to contain McDavid's line was amazing. Sami Pahlsson's line was a significant factor to winning a Cup.

 

[Leo2Cutter]

Guys get banged up and tired, but we had guys with legit injuries. So to me that is a blessing in disguise if these guys are healthy next season, will see a difference right away.

I think our focus in offseason
1. Top 4 RHD(maybe 2, but im okay with Luneau getting bigger mins)
2. Bottom 6 winger that kills penalties (Pius suter, michkeyev, lehkonen etc)
3. 2A goalie behind Dostal

- Im cool holding on to McTavish/mcqueen and seeing how they bounces back(with granlund being here as an insurance plan), unless an obvious upgrade scenario pops up (for a package around McTavish, zellweger, 1st(or 2nd)).

I would add Washe to the list of core players. What he did in the playoffs to contain McDavid's line was amazing. Sami Pahlsson's line was a significant factor to winning a Cup.

Good call, washe was very good in our bottom 6 (I also like Poehling, wasnt willing to say hes a core piece... but hes an important role player)

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

I see that Vatrano has a 7 team no trade list. On a completely unrelated note, there are 7 Canadian teams in the NHL.

I could see a deal like that if Nurse had 1 or 2 years left, but Verbeek has been careful about handing out term to older players.

FWIW, I read somewhere that Vatrano's NTC is indeed all of Canada because his deferred pay would supposedly be taxed either immediately or over his playing years rather than when received in the future.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

- Im cool holding on to McTavish/mcqueen and seeing how they bounces back(with granlund being here as an insurance plan), unless an obvious upgrade scenario pops up (for a package around McTavish, zellweger, 1st(or 2nd)).

Sam Bennett didn't become a playoff monster until he turned 26 years old. Maybe Mac needs a little more time.

 

[Leo2Cutter]

Sam Bennett didn't become a playoff monster until he turned 26 years old. Maybe Mac needs a little more time.

Agreed, im okay waiting on him a bit.... we have Granlund and even Gauthier as insurance 2c.

If its not an obvious upgrade on mctavish (like a thomas/larkin move), really no reason to move him.... if we did move him for a dmen... it would need to be someone in the 24-28 range(i dont like a mctavish for parayko move).

Even if Mctavish isnt a long term plan for anaheim, him bouncing back this season does give us more value for him trade wise..... if he comes back to camp better this year, hes going to get a good chance at playing with at least 1 of gauthier/sennecke.

 

[JAHV]

You aren’t reading my post. There’s no money to do any of that. Parayko takes the Trouba money.

The Ducks can find money by dumping Vatrano or Kreider. I don't see it being an issue.

 

[Static]

Here are the moves I would make (if possible):

Mctavish, Mintyukov, highest of our three seconds to Detroit for Larkin

Frank Vatrano and a 2027 2nd to chicago for a 2027 fourth

Sam Colangelo and a 2028 3rd to Edmonton for Nurse at 2 million retained

2026 2nd and Noah warren for Michael kesserling

Re-sign Trouba at 6x4

Re-sign Olen at 2x2

Re-sign Viel at 1.5x2

Re-sign Leo at 13x8

Re-sign Cutter at 11x8

Re-sign Moore at 1.25x2

Re-sign Hinds at .975x1

Re-sign Gaucher at .975x2

Re-sign Kesselring at 3x3

Sign Ilya Mikheyev at 5.5x3

Cutter - Leo - Killorn
Kreider - Larkin - Sennecke
Mikheyev - Poehling - Granlund
Viel- Washe - Gaucher/Moore
Terry

Lacombe - Trouba
Nurse - kesserling/Luneau
Zellweger/Hinds - Kesserling/Luneau
Moore

Dostal
Husso

I don't think this is doable as I think they are at $102 with Terry on LTIR and another roster spot open.

It does kind of illustrate the difficulty of improving the team this offseason. We don't have as much money as we might think, and we need to upgrade 2C, 2/3 LW, RD, and potentially LD if we make trades.

Also, Vatrano needs to go. We need that money

 

[JonathnTaylorTavares]

I shit you not I had a dream last night that I saw Vatrano working at Chick Fil A. It kinda made me sad.

 

[Static]

I shit you not I had a dream last night that I saw Vatrano working at Chick Fil A. It kinda made me sad.

Maybe he owned it

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

I shit you not I had a dream last night that I saw Vatrano working at Chick Fil A. It kinda made me sad.

You should go watch Kent Huskins make a cup of coffee.

 

[Hey234]

I've mentioned this a few times but Mikheyev would be a really good add. Size, speed, works hard, excellent penalty killer. Poehling and Mikheyev would make a crazy good 2-way 3rd line. Would be a great depth add for the forwards and he's a UFA. Killorn-Poehling-Mikheyev would dominate other 3rd lines and really help the PK

 

[Static]

I think kesserling and Mikheyev are great targets. Im also wonder if moving Mctavish for an ELC player like Hage is a more prudent decision than someone like Larkin.

No, it doesn't help nearly as much now, but it's a one step back three steps forward if Hage is who scouts think he is. He will play in the NHL next year, but 2C is too steep an ask.

 

[robbieboy3686]

I think kesserling and Mikheyev are great targets. Im also wonder if moving Mctavish for an ELC player like Hage is a more prudent decision than someone like Larkin.

No, it doesn't help nearly as much now, but it's a one step back three steps forward if Hage is who scouts think he is. He will play in the NHL next year, but 2C is too steep an ask.

+1000 on the hage front. But we already have McQueen. So MacT for someone to help us now seems like the play the beeker will make

 

[Static]

+1000 on the hage front. But we already have McQueen. So MacT for someone to help us now seems like the play the beeker will make

Hage is more NHL ready than McQueen, though.

Really though, I think the value proposition for dmen right now is just in a much better position than 2C.

To aquire a good 2C will cost both assets and money, while there are a few dmen out there who will just cost money. If we can reallocate mctavish into another shot at a 2C but on an ELC, that seems like a better bet.

Again, I don't think Montreal will go for it. I wouldn't trade hage for mctavish.

 

[dracom]

Carolina showed that it’s important to have a good backup imo. Granted you’re probably not going to find a backup like Bussi but we need one we can truly rely on; and Husso is not it.

 

[anezthes]

Mctavish, Mintyukov, highest of our three seconds to Detroit for Larkin
Sam Colangelo and a 2028 3rd to Edmonton for Nurse at 2 million retained

Yeah, no. Zero interest in trading Mintyukov, and Nurse is... I mean, there's no nice way to put this... not smart.

Im also wonder if moving Mctavish for an ELC player like Hage is a more prudent decision than someone like Larkin.

Yes.

 

[Static]

Yeah, no. Zero interest in trading Mintyukov, and Nurse is... I mean, there's no nice way to put this... not smart.



Yes.

Nurse isn't as bad as he's made out to be. It's literally another trouba situation, which worked out very well for us.

 

[Leonardo87]

Carolina showed that it’s important to have a good backup imo. Granted you’re probably not going to find a backup like Bussi but we need one we can truly rely on; and Husso is not it.

I feel it was more of a 1A and 1B situation. He played 39 games in the regular season. I'm hoping Verbeek goes this route. Husso is certainly not a 1B, and barely is a back up.

To further my point, this just came out, Dostal was the worst goalie in the playoffs. Ouch!

NHL Goalie Advanced Stats 2025-2026

NHL Goalie Analytics, Goals Saved Above Expected

moneypuck.com

 

[Static]

Trouba and Nurse's cards at the time of trading. Kind of interesting

 

[anezthes]

Nurse isn't as bad as he's made out to be.

I respectfully disagree.

 

[Static]

Kinda nowhere to put this with the existing roster thread closed (???), but our kids performed well during the playoffs