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It’s a slow news day for the Ducks, who are dealing with post bye week syndrome, a totally real thing that I didn’t just make up in order to not call this a “slow start.”
It seems that with the All-Star Game thankfully behind us, the hockey world is now pressing toward the trade deadline and the Anaheim Ducks are poised to be sellers — but how far will they go?
Our friends over at Pensburgh believe the Ducks make for a good trade partner when it comes to fulfilling each other’s needs, having already done so once this season in the Erik Gudbranson trade. It would make sense, though the writer is assuming some big names might be on the table for Anaheim. Other reports seem to indicate that won’t necessarily be the case.
Pierre LeBrun of the Athletic recently looked at where every team in the league is with regards to the trade deadline. Sean Tierney of Charting Hockey pulled all of the players mentioned by LeBrun as potentially on the move and made this viz using Evolving-Hockey’s GAR data:
I went through LeBrun's deadline piece for The Athletic and picked out all of the players he mentioned (even just tangentially) and then went through https://t.co/B27gbx44tS's GAR data to sort them.
— Sean Tierney (@ChartingHockey) January 27, 2020
Here's how it turned out.
And here's LeBrun's piece: https://t.co/YDsgC3eQVU pic.twitter.com/TJFBPAGWzU
Of course, we know that a player’s worth is often driven by other factors, but what this says to me is that the Ducks are in a bit of a scary situation when it comes to a rebuild. They just won’t be offering pieces to drive a major return, as evidenced by the relatively low GAR. The reluctance to tear down is understandable, but it could hurt the Ducks in the long run if they aren’t smart in which assets they acquire.
But that’s just based on LeBrun’s reporting. Anything can happen at the deadline.
Read more about it, along with other news and notes from around the league, below:
On the Pond
- Could the Penguins and Ducks hook up for yet another trade? [Pensburgh]
- Steps of Improvement for the Anaheim Ducks [Cali Sports News]
Around the League
- ‘I want to cherish every moment’: Why Brock Boeser put family first during the Canucks’ bye week [The Athletic]
- Color of Hockey: Canada Post stamp celebrates Black History Month [NHL.com]
- A detailed history of Claude Giroux’s love for grilled cheese sandwiches. You’re welcome, world. [Russian Machine Never Breaks]
- Elite League defenseman Zach Sullivan comes out as bisexual ahead of Manchester Storm Pride game [Russian Machine Never Breaks]
- WWE star Xavier Woods on surreal NHL All-Star experience, bar arcades, and wrestling/hockey crossover [ESPN]
- A glimpse at European hockey development: Can Sweden, Finland, Russia keep pace with North America? [ESPN]
- Black Hockey Players Celebrated In NHL’s Mobile History Museum [NPR]
- Former NHL goalie arrested in Bowling Green [WNKY]
- Mock expansion draft: What Seattle’s NHL team might look like and which player each team could lose [The Athletic]
- Six ‘Swing Teams’ Who Could Shape the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline [Sports Illustrated]
Recaps & Scores
- Ottawa Senators 5, Buffalo Sabres 2
- St. Louis Blues 5, Calgary Flames 4 (SO)
Click each team’s name to find a recap on their own SB Nation team site!
On the Schedule
- Nashville Predators at Washington Capitals, 4:30 PT/7:30 ET on NBCSN
- Toronto Maple Leafs at Dallas Stars, 4:30 PT/7:30 ET on SN, TVAS, FS-SW
- Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers, 7 PT/10 ET on SN360, SNE, SNO, SNW, TVAS
- Arizona Coyotes at Anaheim Ducks, 7 PT/10 ET on PRIME, FS-A, FS-A PLUS
- Tampa Bay Lightning at Los Angeles Kings, 7 PT/10 ET on NBCSN
- Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks, 7:30 PT/10:30 ET on ESPN+, NBCSCA, SNP