Could these players be on the move?
The Anaheim Ducks have had an eventful offseason already to this point. They started by drafting Leo Carlsson with the second overall pick and then proceeded to sign a few veterans to help the team grow. Adding Alex Killorn and Radko Gudas to the mix gives Anaheim some veteran presence within this young, talented squad.
But despite the moves already made, there are still some that could happen. General Manager Pat Verbeek is always looking for ways to improve the team, and the Ducks happen to have a few players that could interest opposing teams.
Corey Abbott of TheHockeyWriters.com listed a few veteran Anaheim players that could be candidates to be moved. None of these are long-time goalie John Gibson, as the team still has his situation to deal with as well.
-“The roster of the Anaheim Ducks has undergone plenty of changes in recent years, which typically comes with the territory for a team that has been out of the playoff picture for the past five seasons. Ducks general manager (GM) Pat Verbeek will probably continue to be busy in the trade department leading up to and during the 2023-24 campaign.”
Abbott listed Adam Henrique, Cam Fowler, Jakob Silfverberg, and Frank Vatrano as the candidates.
Henrique makes sense to be moved because he no longer fits the team's timeline. He likely would have already been shipped out of town if he hadn't been injured during the trade deadline.
Fowler has been with the team for a bit now after signing an eight-year contract back in 2018. He posted career-high numbers last season, including 38 assists. Fowler could be a prime trade candidate if the Ducks want to shake things up.
Silfverberg will be a free agent after this coming season, so if the Ducks want to get some value for him, they should look to do so now. It seems like a good chance that he will return to Sweden after his contract is up, so Anaheim may as well get something in return.
-“He will be eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer and reports overseas believe he is strongly considering a return to Sweden to play for Brynas IF”
And the final name is a player that Anaheim signed last offseason. He is a tough player that can score goals, but there were rumors of the Ducks looking to move him at the trade deadline this season. Between all the names here, Vatrano may be the least likely to be moved, in all honesty.
No matter what Anaheim does the rest of the way, they should look to clear out some of the veterans on the team. They need to have room to allow their young guys the space to play and show what they can do. The future is bright in Anaheim, and while the team likely won't be contenders next season, they could be a fun squad to watch.