Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek has stated his intention to add key pieces to his roster this offseason, a top-six right-shot winger and a top-four right-shot defenseman. Could his search take him 30 miles up Interstate 5?

Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek has made his intentions for the 2024 offseason crystal clear regarding the areas of the roster he means to improve upon. 

A top-six right-shot winger and a top-four right-shot defenseman are at the top of Verbeek's shopping list.

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A couple of players from the Ducks' biggest rival, the Los Angeles Kings, who fit those billings will become unrestricted free agents on July 1; forward Viktor Arvidsson and Matt Roy.

Viktor Arvidsson

"I'd like to find another top-six right winger," Verbeek said at the Ducks post-trade deadline "Ducks Migration" event. "You need a variety and we don't have enough right-hand shots in our lineup."

Viktor Arvidsson (31) has had a tumultuous relationship with the injury bug over the last couple of years. As the Kings were making their playoff push late in the 2021-22 season, Arvidsson suffered from a herniated disk in his back which required surgery, effectively ending his season. 

He required a second back surgery for "repair" in October 2023, causing him to miss the Kings' first 50 games of the 2023-24 season. Shortly after his return, he was forced out of action with a lower-body injury which sidelined him for nearly a month.

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When he was in the Kings' lineup during his three-year stint in Los Angeles, he was remarkably productive and a significant piece of what they wanted to accomplish. As a King, Arvidsson scored 123 points in 161 regular season games and 10 points in 11 playoff games. 

Despite his 5-foot-10, 185-pound frame, Arvidsson is one of the toughest players to play against in the NHL. He is as tenacious as they come and epitomizes the term "high motor." 

Arvidsson primarily played on a line with Trevor Moore and Phillip Danault, creating one of the league's best shutdown lines that could swallow a rush and counterattack with lightning speed. 

He plays a north/south brand of hockey, can create chances off the rush or forecheck, has quality small-area skills, and works to get his shot off as often as he can. 

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The Anaheim Ducks under relatively new head coach Greg Cronin strive to play an up-tempo, high-pressure system that would fit Arvidsson like a glove. Pat Verbeek would perhaps only want to entertain the prospects of bringing the Swedish forward in if he was certain his body could hold up as he ages into his 30's.

Matt Roy

"I'm looking for a top-four defenseman," Verbeek added during his exit interview at the end of the 2023-24 season. "If you look at our lineup, we have a lot of left shots, so I'm looking for a right-shot defenseman."

Matt Roy (29) has established himself as one of the NHL's better shutdown defensemen on one of the league's best defensive teams over the last few seasons.

In 2023-24, Roy finished second on the Kings in ice time (1401 minutes) and was first on the team in shorthanded minutes (220 minutes). He has 106 points in 369 games during his six NHL seasons, all with the Kings. 

While Roy is very "meat and potatoes" offensively, he fends off forechecks well and is smart when reversing or making slip passes to outlets or supporting teammates. 

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The Kings ran a similar defensive zone coverage scheme to the Ducks and Roy was masterful within that man-to-man structure. He mirrored puck carriers well, didn't allow assignments inside, and was disruptive when attackers threatened dangerous areas of the ice. He punished opponents around the crease area and made it a chore to get to his team's net. 

With the up-and-coming offensive talent the Ducks deploy on the left side of the blueline like Pavel Mintyukov, Olen Zellweger, and Jackson LaCombe, any of them would thrive on a defensive pair with Matt Roy. He, like Radko Gudas last season, can provide a stable and nurturing environment for them to grow on both sides of the puck. 

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With young defensemen learning the intricacies of the NHL game, playing alongside a partner who can be relied upon to make simple plays and not put them in a tough spot is paramount to them realizing their full potential.

Both Arvidsson and Roy would likely come with price tags in the $4-6 million AAV range and likely require 3-6 years in term. If the price is right, the on-ice fit for the pair of Kings makes sense. 

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