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Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Not Interested in Moving Key Pieces, But Have Two Available

The Anaheim Ducks aren’t interested in moving core players despite their poor season. But, they do have two players available before the NHL Trade Deadline.

Last week we reported that the Anaheim Ducks weren’t willing to move Ryan Getzlaf if he wasn’t interested in going anywhere. Reports were that Getzlaf wasn’t and actually believed he could help the Ducks win another Stanley Cup before he retired as an NHL player.

While a difficult thing to imagine considering how far it seems the Ducks are from being a contending team, perhaps Getzlaf isn’t the only person inside the Ducks’ organization that thinks success isn’t that far away.

Elliotte Friedman noted in his latest 31 Thoughts article that the Ducks aren’t “particularly interested in moving their key pieces — from Josh Manson, to Cam Fowler, to Hampus Lindholm, to Jakob Silfverberg, to Rickard Rakell.” He added, “You’re really going to have to move the needle.”

Who Might the Ducks Be Willing to Move?

Friedman did think that there were two players the Ducks might move. The first was Ondrej Kase. Friedman noted there is interest around the NHL in Kase — although he has missed two straight games after being hit by Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin.

And, injuries might be a concern. While he’s a much less expensive alternative to a player like Chris Kreider, the injury bug has been an issue for Kase over his NHL career. His 2018-19 season alone included head injuries and season-ending shoulder surgery. Buyer beware on the player, but it could also mean a big payoff if a team acquires him on the cheap and he turns out to be extremely productive.

He’s also not a rental and has a pretty reasonable contract if he stays healthy.

The second player is forward Derek Grant.

With 13 goals and 18 points, Grant is having a strong season and a pending UFA who comes in at a $700K salary, he’s an affordable rental for a number of teams.

There is some speculation the Edmonton Oilers might be interested as the Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson writes, “Just tossing this out there as right-shot 3C rental possible addition for Oilers: Well-travelled, big Derek Grant in Anaheim. 11 goals, 16 pts in 41 games, 52.9 percent on 346 draws. He’s cheap and UFA July 1.”

That’s the type of stat line a few teams might find attractive.

Related: Conflicting Reports Suggest Shea Weber’s NHL Future Uncertain

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