Duck Tales: Potential trade targets

The Anaheim Ducks will have limited cap space this offseason as the team tries to rebuild its roster. With the economic fallout of the pandemic still unknown, teams will have to shuffle around their rosters, and make some tough personnel decisions.

General manager Bob Murray will have to be creative, but there are some intriguing options available, including some players that The Athletic’s Eric Stephens suggested. Those names include: Dylan Strome, Kasperi Kapanen, and Jake Virtanen.

Strome could be a great fit in Anaheim. He is just 23 years old, and recorded 38 points in 58 games last season with the Chicago Blackhawks. Strome would be able to immediately come in and be a top nine center, giving Ducks’ head coach Dallas Eakins some depth down the middle.

Kapanen has the potential to be a regular 40-point guy. He had 36 points in 69 games before the shutdown, and only carries a $3.2 million cap hit over the next two seasons. The 24-year-old would be a long-term fit with a young Anaheim roster. It may take a couple of picks to get him, but the Toronto Maple Leafs will be up against the cap, and desperate to shed salary.

Virtanen has been up-and-down since being sixth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2015 NHL Draft. The 23-year-old is a restricted free agent after this season, and has had a tough time earning Canucks’ head coach Travis Green’s confidence. Virtanen had 18 goals, and 18 assists prior to the league going on hiatus, and has shown improvement in his goal-scoring capabilities. Where he needs to improve is his own end. Again, his age makes him a viable candidate for the Ducks. If he can figure out things defensively, Virtanen could be a very good third-line player for a long time.