WhatTheDuck
9 - 20 - 8
I think that's the final move of the off-season. Everything points to a move for a young RHD. I think the likely possibility is one of the M&M boys in Anaheim, that being Manson or Montour.
As I've said before, I believe that reconstruction of the defense is the heaviest lifting Gorton has to do. If the plan remains getting younger, and the Brassard deal is the prototype, then all three of Nash, Klein and Zucc are vulnerable to being moved. Then Gorton has to find a way to rid himself of Staal and Girardi. In the process he needs to find a suitable partner for McDonagh, as well as a quality RH PMD to pair with Skjei. Holden then becomes a placeholder for Graves.
The ideal setup on D is the following:
McDonagh/XXX
Skjei/XXX
Holden/McIlrath
How Gorton gets there is the big mystery to be solved.
Manson is very unlikely to be moved. He can play in the Ducks top 4 while costing under $1M for the next two seasons, for a budget team that makes him more valuable to us than he would be in a trade.
Despres is a LHD but plays his best on the right side. He's much more likely to be available, and it would be a buy low situation for you guys due to his concussion concerns. If he's back to being healthy you would have a young top 4 dman for a lot cheaper than what you would normally pay.
Montour would be tough to part with unless we are adding to get some established yet affordable scoring help, basically that means Miller or bust from my perspective.