When the GM "asks" you to open up the number of teams to be traded to beyond your NTC limit during the summer, then you already know the org is holding the door open to kick you out. Verbeek has been actively trying to shop Fowler since "asking" Fowler to increase the number of teams to be traded with. Fowler's situation is similar to Trouba's situation with the Rangers, but with less public toxicity. If Trouba's play can be affected, then so too the possibility with Fowler. Although, describing affected play as "mailing it in" is a significant knock on Fowler's character. No one on this board said that Trouba was "mailing it in", but often cited that his play was affected by the public toxicity. Our situation was mostly behind the scenes, but same situation of a GM wanting to get rid of a player.
Cronin made some slight changes to the system to where the d-men can pinch more often because we have an offensive problem. Fowler was injured during that change in the system. When Fowler returned, he scored 2 pts (0g, 2a) in five games. The previous 12 games, he scored 2 pts (0g, 2a).
Anaheim was about three minutes from losing the game in regulation against a like-minded team with Columbus. Difference between the Toronto and Columbus ending was that a forward did cough up the puck in the Toronto game to reduce our chances of winning. Many Duck fans love to blame Fowler for all the team's problems when the team has been worse this year than last year, but points are better due to amazing goaltending. The same many Duck fans that want Gibson traded for the past few years.