The Anaheim Ducks find themselves in a familiar spot as the NHL trade deadline approaches – near the bottom of the Pacific Division, saved from last place only by the struggling San Jose Sharks.
The team’s been busy reshaping their identity under head coach Greg Cronin and GM Pat Verbeek. They’ve already grabbed tough guy Jacob Trouba and power forward Justin Bailey in trades, making it clear they’re all about adding size and grit.
At 21-24-6, the Ducks are definitely sellers as the deadline nears.
The biggest trade chip might be goalie John Gibson, who’s been in trade rumors since 2020. At 31, he’s finally showing signs of his old self with a .913 save percentage this season. But his $6.4 million salary makes him one of the NHL’s highest-paid goalies – not exactly a bargain for interested teams.
Young star Lukas Dostal has taken over as the starting goalie, making Gibson expendable. The 24-year-old Dostal even grabbed gold at the 2024 World Championship, proving he’s ready for the spotlight.
Then there’s Trevor Zegras. The skilled forward hasn’t quite clicked with Cronin’s rough-and-tumble coaching style, and injuries haven’t helped. He’s managed just 13 points in 29 games this year – way below what you’d expect from a former top-10 draft pick.
But at just 23, Zegras could be really appealing to teams looking for young scoring talent. His $5.75 million contract through next season isn’t bad either.
The Ducks are clearly hunting for more physical players. Boston’s Trent Frederic could be perfect – he can play center or wing, and he’s won all four of his fights this season. Montreal’s Jake Evans or Seattle’s Brandon Tanev could work too, though they’re a bit older than ideal.
One thing’s for sure – Anaheim needs more scoring punch. Their bottom six forwards are averaging just 11.5 points, and rookie Cutter Gauthier’s doing a lot of the heavy lifting there with 21 points.
Some interesting targets could be Buffalo’s Dylan Cozens or Nashville’s Thomas Novak. Both bring a mix of skill and physicality that might fit what the Ducks are building.
With plenty of draft picks in hand and nearly $78.5 million in deadline cap space, the Ducks have options. The question is: will they go all-in on getting tougher, or try to find a balance between skill and strength?
