Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray is determined to take a patient approach with his struggling team. While most in the media have taken that to mean that bench boss Bruce Boudreau won't be handed his walking papers anytime soon, it also extends to the players that Murray assembled this offseason in an effort to get the Ducks over the hump in the West. And while some of those players, like Ryan Getzlaf Jakob Silfverberg and Carl Hagelin continue to struggle offensively, young veteran defenseman Cam Fowler continues to blossom, a fact made all the more impressive considering its come during such a difficult season.
But while that likely means most Ducks fans would prefer - and expect - to see Fowler remain an important piece of the franchise going forward, the failing season combined with the lack of scoring and Fowler's strong play makes him all the more desirable as a trade candidate - for other GMs, and potentially for Murray.
"Cam Fowler's name has popped up a lot in recently trade discussion," David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported Tuesday. "A lot of teams really like this guy, and for good reason. With a number of good, young, quality defensemen on the roster, the Ducks are considering moving him for some scoring help."
The Ducks, despite boasting an offense comprised of players like Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler, are one pace to finish the season with about 153 or 154 goals. That's nearly 80 off the league-wide average of 228.5 goals for and against per 82 games, as calculated recently by Anaheim Calling.
Boudreau's Ducks are actually stronger defensively than some of the earlier iterations and his teams in Washington, but the fact that they can't score has pushed them to the basement of the Pacific and the Western Conference 33 games into the season.
Fowler, despite having gathered just three goals and 11 points and despite sporting a minus-11, has seemingly taken big strides as a leader on and off the ice this season. His possession metrics remain mediocre - his career-average Corsi For is 48.4 and he's managing just a 49.5 this year - but much of that can be explained away by the struggles of the team around him.
A former first-round pick, Fowler may never be a true No. 1 defenseman and would likely operate better as a top No. 2. He's a well-rounded player and with the rest of the NHL desperate to add defensive help, he'd likely fetch a significant haul.
The only problem would be finding a scorer another team is willing to part ways with.
With Shea Theodore moving closer and closer to a jump to the NHL with each passing day, the Ducks and Murray have an enviable amount of defensive depth from which to pull, if they so choose.
