Confirmed Trade: [ANA/STL] Cam Fowler and 2027 4th round pick for 2027 2nd round pick and Jeremie Biakabutuka

[LetsGoBLUES91]

This doesn’t make sense. The blues are absolutely loaded on 3rd pairing mediocre D. We have like 4 in the minors that could play a decent third pair.

 

[Mike Liut]

From Newport Beach to St. Louis. That’s gotta f***ing suck.

STL has some of the best suburbs in the country. Midwest living is the best.

 

[amnesiac]

nephew of ex NFL RB (Panthers), and Quebec native, Tim Biakabatuka

 

[RangerBoy]

Fowler got his wish. Anaheim offered Fowler to the Rangers for Trouba. EF reported Fowler was hoping for a trade to a more competitive situation.

 

[forever1922]

Ducks needed a change in the veteran leadership department. Fowler for Trouba is a huge step in that sense.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

nephew of ex NFL RB (Panthers), and Quebec native, Tim Biakabatuka

Was gonna say, haven’t seen that last name in a long time and not used to seeing it outside the NFL context.

Did they throw Kerry Collins and Muhsin Muhammad into the deal as well?

 

[Reality Czech]

This doesn’t make sense. The blues are absolutely loaded on 3rd pairing mediocre D. We have like 4 in the minors that could play a decent third pair.

He's going to play top 4 minutes to replace Leddy, who seems to be behind schedule on his recovery. Why doesn't it make sense? We had three bottom pair guys in the lineup lately.

Maybe not the best solution but it's a cheap fix in the short term.

 

[Satan]

Ducks fans are really treating this player with class on his way out yowza

 

[SirKillalot]

We have a ton of better prospects and actual AHL level talent in the AHL.

Who are those tons of talents in the AHL?
Question given first he was on a try-out with Detroit, then played some games for Grand Rapids and then signed with St. Louis before being traded to Anaheim, so someone must see something in him as a what looks to be defensive defenseman.

 

[TK 421]

Fowler will like playing for Montgomery and we could use the immediate help.

 

[DatDude44]

He's going to play top 4 minutes to replace Leddy, who seems to be behind schedule on his recovery. Why doesn't it make sense? We had three bottom pair guys in the lineup lately.

Maybe not the best solution but it's a cheap fix in the short term.

If anything it makes a ton of sense and was a low cost of acquisition. Him and Broberg gives us two capable puck moving LHD in the top 4….now if Justin Faulk can get his head back on straight we should have a D core we can win some hockey games with.

Fowler-Parayko
Broberg-Faulk

Should be plenty capable

 

[Vipers31]

This doesn’t make sense. The blues are absolutely loaded on 3rd pairing mediocre D. We have like 4 in the minors that could play a decent third pair.

He’s still more than a 3rd pairing guy.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Why is everyone saying Krug? Are teams allowed to trade injured players?

 

[Quack Shot]

Fowler has been dealt the short end of the stick 80% of his career and received too much hate. Hope he has success the rest of his career and earns a Cup.

 

[FiveTacos]

Ducks needed a change in the veteran leadership department. Fowler for Trouba is a huge step in that sense.

Well I dunno about that, Cam was never captain material but he was just fine as a teammate.

I think it's more that swapping Fowler for Trouba balances the LHD-RHD better, so their young guys don't have to play on the off side as much. The retention plus Trouba's higher cap hit also means they keep up with the cap floor next year. And Fowler's strengths overlap more with the young players' skillsets than Trouba's does, and at this point the Ducks would rather have the youngsters taking on those particular roles.

Now it's just a matter of time before Dumoulin is gone too, and the Ducks will ride with Gudas, Trouba, and a bunch of kids (at the moment Mintyukov, Zellweger, Lacombe, and Helleson).

 

[Just Linda]

If anything it makes a ton of sense and was a low cost of acquisition. Him and Broberg gives us two capable puck moving LHD in the top 4….now if Justin Faulk can get his head back on straight we should have a D core we can win some hockey games with.

Fowler-Parayko
Broberg-Faulk

Should be plenty capable

Ouch. That's tough top 4 to try to win with.

 

[Terry Yake]

Ducks fans are really treating this player with class on his way out yowza

are we supposed to lie and say he's one of the best dmen in the league? you'll find more grateful and nostalgic posts in the thread on the ducks board

 

[Mr Positive]

As a Blues fan, I like Fowler, but this is not a glaring need for us as much as a 2c behind Robby is

For a core need, closer to the deadline might make sense. This might be a move of opportunity that just makes the deadline just have the one need

 

[DatDude44]

Ouch. That's tough top 4 to try to win with.

Better than without Fowler and we’re in the hunt…..

 

[lwvs84]

Fowler is still a second pairing D, the hate has to do more with coaching and usage and what he could have been. This year has been bad (maybe he's checked out?).

He shouldn't be used on the top pair, he's probably a low to mid end #3 but don't expect him to carry the 2nd pairing with a #6/7 D as his partner. He can play PK2 and PP2 but his shot isn't good (both how hard it is and getting it past opponents shin pads) and he's not physical. He'll join the rush and still can move, just not like he used to when his skating was legitimately top end.

 

[Treb]

Jérémie Biakabutuka...to be fair it sounds like an Californian island. So what's the report on him now, why he hasn't played much AHL at all, is the depth in the Blues system so good? Or is he not ready and going ECHL route instead of NCAA?

He's a Canadian who played in the QMJHL and was signed as an undrafted FA. The NCAA was not a choice for him. He's pretty unremarkable even in the ECHL.

He's in the trade because he's a contract spot.

 

[forever1922]

Well I dunno about that, Cam was never captain material but he was just fine as a teammate.

I think it's more that swapping Fowler for Trouba balances the LHD-RHD better, so their young guys don't have to play on the off side as much. The retention plus Trouba's higher cap hit also means they keep up with the cap floor next year. And Fowler's strengths overlap more with the young players' skillsets than Trouba's does, and at this point the Ducks would rather have the youngsters taking on those particular roles.

Now it's just a matter of time before Dumoulin is gone too, and the Ducks will ride with Gudas, Trouba, and a bunch of kids (at the moment Mintyukov, Zellweger, Lacombe, and Helleson).

Fowler's reluctancy to take hits regularly leads to turnovers. He is not one to stand up for anyone. I have a very hard time seeing him hold anyone accountable with any authority. Trouba is his complete opposite.

Doesn't mean those factors you mention are any less true.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Ducks fans are really treating this player with class on his way out yowza

Yeah I don't think it's really called for myself. 14+ years and 991 games + playoffs. There should be zero disappointment in the investment from a mid first round pick originally. He was played as a #1 D far too often, which he just never has been - and he's unfairly become a whipping boy because of it. This year he hasn't played well at all, but he's also dealt with the weight of knowing this was coming at any point, after all that time in one place. Stands to reason he's been a mentally bogged down.

He's always been a pretty darn good puck mover, had elite controlled zone exit ratings in his prime. The team and these fans just seem to want to rip him for what he's not, rather than just respect him for what he's been. Yes he's not a gritty person or captain material, still seems like a quality dude who can still be a useful if utilized properly on a decent team.

If you give him a Parayko or Faulk, instead of having to play 24+ mins per night on the worst team of the cap era with waiver pickup Scott Harrington as his partner, he is probably going to look better than he has these recent years. I hope he does rebound and find success

 

[Stealth JD]

Robbery by Verbeek

 

[Terry Yake]

Fowler is still a second pairing D, the hate has to do more with coaching and usage and what he could have been. This year has been bad (maybe he's checked out?).

He shouldn't be used on the top pair, he's probably a low to mid end #3 but don't expect him to carry the 2nd pairing with a #6/7 D as his partner. He can play PK2 and PP2 but his shot isn't good (both how hard it is and getting it past opponents shin pads) and he's not physical. He'll join the rush and still can move, just not like he used to when his skating was legitimately top end.

he's been bad for the last couple seasons. his regression is mainly due to losing a step which has slowed him down and affected his skating, which has always been his biggest strength