seanlinden
Registered User
- Apr 28, 2009
- 25,459
- 1,904
This is a contradiction.
Radko Gudas literally is a player of Trouba's ilk.
The fact that the ducks acquired Radko Gudas for 4 mill x 3 years quite literally proves that you do not need to pay 8 mill and 7 years to acquire a player like trouba.
Radko Gudas, for the vast majority of his career prior to joining the Ducks, was a #4-5 defenceman.
He has never averaged more than 20 minutes a night in a season, and prior to joining the Ducks, only averaged more than 18:01 3 times in his career, the latest being 7 seasons earlier. His career high in points, 20; which occurred 8 years ago.
Jacob Trouba, prior to this season, had never averaged less than 21:00 minutes a game. His career-high in points 50, with several recent seasons above 30, and his career low in points, if you exclude the 1 season he only played 38 games, was 21. I think any reasonable GM is also not going to put much stock into his play this year, given the offseason issues.
Yes, they're both "most known" for their big hits and physical play, but the reality is Trouba is a much more versatile defenceman that can and should be playing higher in the lineup than Gudas should.
He's also 3 years younger than Gudas was.
I mean, look no further than this past offseason -- where the Ducks apparently swung and missed on a bunch of the premiere UFAs. Good players, when given the choice, want to play with known good players.... and those aren't exactly in abundance in Anaheim right now.
I’d far prefer having a 30 year old Trouba on a 1.5 year 6 million dollar deal (8 million AAV) over a 29 year old Zadorov getting 5 million a year until he’s 35-36 especially seeing as the Ducks aren’t a cap team.
Trouba is solid for what he is. The problem is that he isn’t an 8 million a year player. However, he does improve the Ducks defense and the term is short.
The deal was a no brainer for the Rangers considering their team / cap structure. However, it still makes sense for Anaheim. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see him play solid hockey for the Ducks, then get dealt next deadline for a 2nd or something. Guys like Savard and Chiarot have brought back 1st rounders on expiring deals. Then we’ll be saying Verbeek “weaponized his cap space” without taking on a long term commitment.
Bingo!
You also likely couldn't get Zadorov for $5m x 6... given that he signed with Boston -- a team that was likely a much more desirable destination given where they were in the standings vs. the Ducks.