The Ducks have sold. And sold. And sold and sold and sold at the trade deadline.
But this season, they’re nestled into second place in the Pacific Division, on track to not only make the playoffs for the first time in eight years but to host a first-round series. That could and should change the calculus for General Manager Pat Verbeek ahead of Friday’s noon PT cutoff for trades.
Yet the Ducks don’t have any glaring positional needs or deficiencies, with their offense carrying them early and their defense improving right when they needed it to, when they faced a spate of injuries and a heavy workload for star goalie Lukáš Dostál.
Here is a quick glimpse at who could stay and who could go as Verbeek, a wild card among GMs who favors the unconventional, assesses his group ahead of the deadline.
PLAYERS WHO COULD BE MOVED
Ryan Strome, Center
Strome was a key player for the Ducks as recently as last season, centering a line with Troy Terry and Frank Vatrano that was counted on as both a reliable offensive weapon and the shutdown trio for the Ducks.
Yet a deepened group up front, including in the middle, left little room for Strome, who also started the season injured and has yet to find a consistent role. Jettisoning his $5 million salary cap hit, which is also on the books for next season, would help the Ducks as they seek to both lock down and add to their core, in addition to giving the veteran a home where he is more highly valued.
A young defenseman (or two)
The Ducks have quantity to spare on the blue line, playing a numbers game with their seven rostered defenders in addition to possessing three promising prospects with their AHL affiliate in San Diego. What they might lack is top-end quality and cohesion, given that their group is made up of 25-and-under defenders and two more who have played a rugged game into their 30s.
Consolidating some pieces to improve quality or trading an up-and-comer for an established piece could help solidify a defense corps that has put no shortage of pressure on Dostál in the vast majority of their games. Pavel Mintyukov was reportedly frustrated with a short string of scratches earlier this year, but he has improved his play and standing since.
POTENTIAL TARGETS
Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly, Nashville Predators
Verbeek broke into front-office work with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where the Ducks’ Alex Killorn and Nashville’s Stamkos were getting rolling on a run that would take them to two Stanley Cup titles and four Final series. When Stamkos was hitting free agency two seasons ago, the Ducks were major players with his two former cohorts lobbying for him, but they lost out to the Predators, who also signed another object of the Ducks’ desire, Jonathan Marchessault, and defenseman Brady Skjei.
Though they are in the thick of the wild-card race, the Predators’ shopping spree did not give them much of a boost as they missed the playoffs last year and seem to be in the mix by default this year. They could sell off not only Stamkos – one caveat, he has a full no-movement clause – but another veteran forward with Cup pedigree, Ryan O’Reilly. They can both play wing or center, which would allow the Ducks to move a pivot like Mason McTavish or Mikael Granlund to the wing.
Tyler Myers, Vancouver Canucks
While the Ducks already have four right-handed shots on their blue line, Myers’ massive size and considerable experience have made him likely to escape from lowly Vancouver and join a more vigorous contender by Friday. The Ducks missed out on Connor Murphy, who traveled from Chicago to Edmonton on Monday and was the sort of player the Ducks might covet.
Whether it’s Myers or another target who can kill penalties, block shots, box out, protect the net and win battles in the dirty areas, the Ducks could stand to add a battle-tested stalwart for their postseason run.
A BIG NAME
St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas headlines a group of trade-protected stars under contract beyond this season who could be available at this trade deadline. It would take both an attractive situation for the player and for his team to pry such an asset, but the Ducks might be well-positioned to check both boxes.
Though they have to pay for generous raises to Jackson LaCombe, Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier, among others, the Ducks have plenty of cap space now and will gain flexibility as veterans’ contracts expire. They also have a nice stock of future draft picks, including their first-rounder and three second-round picks in a deep 2026 draft. Given that another salary-cap catapult is in store this summer, the deadline might be the right time for the often unorthodox Verbeek to shop for a big-ticket item.
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