With the news coming out over the weekend that the Ducks are open to taking on bad contract for young assets, the Ducks appear to be finally accepting that they are not in a retool and instead are more in a rebuild. As a part of that, they should be looking at moving on from some of the middle age to older members of the roster in order to bring in younger players and draft assets who are more likely to help out the Ducks when their next contending window is here. In my estimation that window will open once Trevor Zegras becomes the top line center for this team; however long that will take is unknown.

With this being the case, it is useful to understand the pros and cons to trading each player in the 26+ age range, along with the potential value each may bring in a trade to the Ducks. I want to be clear that I am not suggesting the Ducks should trade each of these players.

Josh Manson

Position: D

Age: 28

Contract status: $4.1 Million cap hit with 2 years left after this season

Trade Protection: 12 team no trade list

2019-2020 Stats: 27 GAMES 0G 3A 3P 51% CF% 41% GF% 49% xGF%

Pros: Josh Manson has had a tough season this year, and the previously popular argument that he is a necessity on the blue line has started to fade. In the past, Manson cut his teeth putting up fantastic shot metrics numbers alongside Lindholm. Now, even though they are above 50% CF% as a pair, they are below 50% in xGF% revealing they have allowed more quality chances against than for when they have been on the ice. The hard results are even worse with that pairing being under 40% GF%. Having said all of that, Manson still has solid trade value due to his track record and with him being a right handed shot. There are plenty of teams in the league that will value him highly as well because of the his edge.

Cons: Manson is currently the Ducks’ best right handed shot defenseman and is an assistant captain on the team. I primarily look at numbers because they qualify opinions with evidence, but there is no doubt that losing a leader on the team will negatively impact the team- not only this season but in future years. In addition to this, early on in the season when Manson got injured, the Ducks’ 5-on-5 play took a huge hit. Even though he has not been fantastic this year, Manson’s presence on the roster allows other defenseman to find themselves in more favorable roles. The Ducks do not have a replacement waiting in the wings for the role that Manson fills.

Comparable player in contract and style recently traded: Jake Muzzin

Potential Value: Jake Muzzin is a perfect example of the potential return for Manson. The Kings got a 1st round pick, Carl Grundstrom, and Sean Durzi (Both were 2nd round picks). Manson could have even more value due to his contract having one more season on it than Muzzin’s at the time of the trade.

My Verdict: Manson should be moved. There are plenty of teams that value what he brings and need a right-handed shot defenseman. Manson plays a style of game that most likely will not age well. Due to this a 1st and some good prospects will help this team out more in a few years than Manson will.

Cam Fowler

Position: D

Age: 28

Contract status: $6.5 Million cap hit with 6 years left after this season

Trade Protection: 4 team trade list

2019-2020 Stats: 46 GAMES 9G 14A 23P 53% CF% 58% GF% 52% xGF%

Pros: Cam Fowler is having an amazing season (If you want a deeper dive into the success of the Fowler Gudbranson pairing, go check out my podcast cohost’s article on the pair on The Fourth Period). He is on pace for his second 40+ point season in his career, all while having solid on ice metrics. This means that his value will never be higher than this moment, and some GM might be willing to part with valuable pieces to get Fowler and absorb his contract. The Ducks also have a potential replacement in Mahura waiting in the wings.

Cons: The elephant in the room is Fowler’s long term contract. The fact that he has that much term remaining could be prohibitive in a trade and negatively affect the potential return. In addition to this, Fowler has made every single d partner he has had this season better. That is valuable to the Ducks both this season and beyond.

Comparable player in contract and style: None

Potential Value: The value for Fowler is a complete unknown, because these types of deals do not happen that often. He is someone who, depending on the GM’s view of his deal, could get a great return or absolutely nothing.

My Verdict: Fowler is almost immovable due to his NTC and his contract. In addition to this, I don’t believe he should be moved. His game should age well because it is not built upon speed necessarily, but on a fluid stride that should not go away. He should be the person to lead the Ducks into the next window and should be the next Captain, whenever Getzlaf hangs the skates up.

Erik Gudbranson

Position: D

Age: 28

Contract status: $4 Million cap hit with 1 year left after this season

Trade Protection: None

2019-2020 Ducks Stats: 35 GAMES 3G 4A 7P 50% CF% 47% GF% 48% xGF%

Pros: Erik Gudbranson is at best a stop gap for this team for a few years. That is not necessarily someone who needs to be kept around. If he can be moved for any form of draft pick, the Ducks should look to do it. During his time in Anaheim, his numbers have been decent to good, especially when paired with Cam Fowler. The question is: has this time rehabbed the view the NHL had of him earlier this year?

Cons: Cam Fowler is a player who has struggled to find partners that he has clicked with. Gudbranson has been that for him this season and could be that for him moving forward.

Comparable player in contract and style recently traded: It might be simple but Erik Gudbranson.

Potential Value: Gudbranson was acquired by the Ducks earlier this season for Andreas Martinsen and a 2021 7th round pick, which is essentially nothing. Curiously, can the Ducks flip him to a contender, potentially retain salary, and in return get a draft pick of note?

My Verdict: Gudbranson should be moved if someone is willing to take him.

Korbinian Holzer

Position: D

Age: 31

Contract status: $0.850 Million cap hit that expires this season

Trade Protection: None

2019-2020 Ducks Stats: 35 GAMES 1G 2A 3P 44% CF% 41% GF% 43% xGF%

Pros: Korbinian Holzer has been one of the worst Ducks defenseman this year and has dragged down his partners. The Ducks have been significantly better with him off the ice.

Cons: He has very little to no trade value.

Comparable player in contract and style recently traded: Michael Del Zotto last season.

Potential Value: Del Zotto got the Ducks a 6th round pick. Holzer might be able to get a 6th or a 7th.

My Verdict: Move him.

Michael Del Zotto

Position: D

Age: 29

Contract status: $0.750 Million cap hit that expires this season

Trade Protection: None

2019-2020 Ducks Stats: 31 GAMES 1G 7A 8P 46% CF% 54% GF% 46% xGF%

Pros: Michael Del Zotto is a fill-in player for the Ducks. Losing him will not hurt the Ducks long term, and a pick, even if it is late, could help.

Cons: He has been a serviceable 6/7 D man that has been solid, when paired with Fowler.

Comparable player in contract and style recently traded: Michael Del Zotto last season.

Potential Value: A late round pick.

My Verdict: Move him.

Ryan Miller

Position: G

Age: 39

Contract status: $1.125 Million cap hit that expires this season

Trade Protection: 6 team trade list

2019-2020 Ducks Stats: 12 GAMES 0.899 SV%

Pros: Ryan Miller has value for a team that is looking for goaltending help on their push for a Stanley Cup. He might not be able to carry the load, but he can fill in for a team in need of a great backup.

Cons: The goaltending market is typically odd and Miller has not had outstanding numbers. In addition to this, Miller holds all the cards with his trade protection.

Comparable player in contract and style recently traded: None.

Potential Value: A mid to late round pick.

My Verdict: If a team on his trade list wants him, you move him.

John Gibson

Position: G

Age: 26

Contract status: $6.4 Million cap hit with 7 years left after this season

Trade Protection: No protection currently, but a 10 team no-trade-list kicks in during the 2021-2022 season

2019-2020 Ducks Stats: 35 GAMES 0.905 SV%

Pros: Trying to come up with reasons to trade the franchise goaltender who is the best player on the team is tough, but here it goes. John Gibson is currently in his prime years and in essence those years are being wasted on the current Ducks team. His value will never be higher than it is currently, so if you believe that he will no longer be an adequate goalie by the next contending window the Ducks should look to move him. The 10-team no-trade-list that kicks in in the 2021-2020 season could make it difficult to move him in the future, so if you are willing to move him, it needs to be this season or next. He could bring back a king’s ransom of futures for the Ducks.

Cons: He is the franchise goaltender and the best player on the team. Those are not easy to find and moving him could hurt the Ducks more in the future than help them. It is as simple as that.

Comparable player in contract and style recently traded: None.

Potential Value: Should be huge, but the goaltending market in the NHL is an odd one with returns never being as big as they should be.

My Verdict: Do not move.

A similar evaluation of the forwards to follow later on this week.

*All stats per Hockey Reference and Naturalstattrick. All shot metrics listed are at 5v5.