The Anaheim Ducks didn't make a big splash on trade deadline day, but have made a few roster moves
Shortly before the Noon PST NHL Trade Deadline on Friday, the Anaheim Ducks placed a waiver claim on LHD William Lagesson from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Lagesson (28) was drafted in the fourth round of the 2014 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers and has been on an extensive hockey journey. He was drafted 91st overall out of Frolunda HC's U20 team. Since then, he's played in the USHL, NCAA, two World Junior Championship tournaments, the SHL, HockeyAllsvenskan, the AHL, and the NHL.
Lagesson made his NHL debut in 2019-20, has played 90 games, and scored 11 points (all assists) for the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Over the last five seasons, he's also played 173 games in the AHL, scoring 21 goals and 51 assists. He will likely remain in the NHL with the Ducks for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. If the Ducks were to send him to the AHL, he would have to be put on and clear waivers.
Earlier in the day, the Ducks also traded a 2024 fifth-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Ben Meyers. According to AHL transactions, Meyers is currently on the Ducks roster.
Trade: Ducks Acquire Forward Ben Meyers for a Draft Pick
After the acquisitions of Lagesson and Meyers, the Ducks returned defenseman Olen Zellweger and forward Glenn Gawdin to the San Diego Gulls from their loans.
Gawdin (26) only saw 7:35 of ice time during the Ducks 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday.
Zellweger's (20) return to the AHL is a bit more surprising. He was recalled ahead of the Ducks' 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils on March 1. In the three games he's played since his recall, he's averaged over 18 minutes of ice time and tallied a primary assist on Alex Killorn's game-winning goal on Wednesday.
One of (or both of) these transactions could be "paper transactions" so Gawdin and Zellweger could maintain AHL eligibility for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. A clearer picture will likely be formed as the dust settles following the trade deadline.
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