By: Mike Rifkin
Last season the Anaheim Ducks finished seventh in the Pacific Division and thirteenth in the Western Conference. General Manager Pat Verbeek has been very active since the NHL trade deadline. At the deadline Verbeek traded away defenseman Josh Manson to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche for a 2023 Second round pick and prospect defenseman Drew Helleson. They then moved defenseman Hampus Lindholm to the Boston Bruins for a 2022 first round pick (C,Nathan Gaucher), Second round picks in 2023 and 2024, and defensemen Urho Vaakanainen and John Moore. Vaakanainen had two assists in 14 games with the Ducks after the trade. They also traded forward Nicolas Deslauriers to the Wild for a 2023 Third round pick. The last deadline move saw Rickard Rakell sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2022 Second round pick (D,Tristan Luneau), Goalie Calle Clang, Dominik Simon and Zac Aston-Reese. Aston-Reece and Simon each put up four goals in 17 games for the Ducks. The biggest departure from the Ducks was captain Ryan Getzlaf who announced his retirement after the season. Getzlaf, a former first round pick in 2003 posted 1,019 points in 1,157 games played all with the Ducks. He also helped the Ducks win the Stanley Cup in 2007.
In his first offseason as GM Pat Verbeek has been aggressive and has added some good pieces. First he signed Frank Vatrano to a three year contract. Vatrano had 18 goals and 32 points last season for the Panthers and Rangers. Vatrano added five goals and 13 points in 20 Playoff games with the Rangers. Vatrano has a very quick release and a great shot. Dallas Eakins can play Vatrano with Trevor Zegras who had 23 goals and 61 points as a rookie. Despite what John Tortorella says Zegras was fun to watch last season (youtube the lacrosse goal) Pat Verbeek wasn’t done plucking from the Rangers as he also signed Ryan Strome to a five year 25 million dollar contract. Strome last season had 21 goals and 54 points. As a Ranger Strome had 71 goals and 195 points in parts of four seasons on Broadway. Part of Strome’s success was playing with Artemi Panarin so I am intrigued if Dallas Eakins pairs him with Troy Terry who had a career high 37 goals and 67 points last season. The Ducks also bolstered their blue line by signing former Star John Klingberg to a one year seven million dollar contract. Klingberg had six goals and 47 points last season for Dallas. In his career Klingberg has 71 goals and 374 points. Klingberg in the playoffs has seven goals and 35 points in 59 career playoff games. Klingberg will join a defense group that already has veterans Cam Fowler and Kevin Shattenkirk and a potential game changer in Jamie Drysdale. But if the Ducks are out of race by trade deadline Klingberg can be a big time rental for a playoff team.
But the best move for the Ducks might be the one they didn’t make. Before the offseason began it was reported that goaltender John Gibson was willing to waive his no trade clause if the Ducks wanted him to, but that has yet to occur. Gibson last season went 18-26-11 with a 3.19 GAA and .904 save percentage. In his career he is 166-148-51 with a 2.67 GAA and .915 save percentage and 23 shutouts.
I really like what Pat Verbeek has done so far as GM from the trade deadline to the offseason. I don’t think the Ducks are a playoff team yet, but they can make life difficult for other Pacific Division teams this season.
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