Last Friday, the Anaheim Ducks relieved themselves of Carl Hagelin's 4-year, $16 million contract by trading him to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In return, the team received left wing David Perron and defenseman Adam Clandening. This opens up salary space for general manager Bob Murray, who is now able to keep his prized young defensemen, Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm, as well as forward Richard Rakell.
"It was a definite plan to move finances that way," Murray said Saturday. "The other thing is it's two players that are kind of a little bit different and probably both needed a little bit of a change. Hags was starting to fit in, starting to work here a little bit with [Ryan] Kesler's line but I don't think the fit was great with us. And David has been struggling a little bit to fit in with the Pittsburgh group," according to LA Times reporter Helene Elliott.
They are set to arrive in Anaheim on Saturday.
In addition to Clandening, defenseman Simon Despres has been recovering from a concussion and is playing with the San Diego Gulls in the AHL on a conditioning stint before a possible move back to the team. Cam Fowler is also set to return from a knee injury.
With these additions, plus the Duck's already effective defense, Murray might eventually make some deals involving his stacked defense.
Would the Ducks have enough assets to make a play for Drouin? They were rumored to be in the hunt for the young forward, and the Lightning has also been looking for defensive players, something the Ducks have an abundance of now.
The general manager might have different plans though. "There's more than just him [Drouin] that's probably out there and available right now," Murray said. "Let's just leave it at that. We're looking at a whole bunch of things. We know he's there, but there's a few others out there, too, that haven't requested trades. Requesting trades on entry level, that's something new for you and I. ... Entry-level players requesting trades. Amazing."
Even if the Drouin trade does not come to fruition, the Ducks still have a lot of talented young defensemen they can offer up. "Murray is expected to move one of them, at some point, for another scoring forward," according to the Fourth Period.
It could be a risky move. Since the Ducks acquired their defense-minded strategy, they have been in the win column after an abysmal start to the season.
