Is Bob Murray a Green Day Fan?

Summer vacation is over for most of us. The Ducks front office may be on a different schedule. Its not hard to imagine that “Wake Me Up When September Ends” is playing in the hallways. Sure its hard to think hockey when the sun is shining and waves are crashing, but at this point management has plenty to do and a rapidly shrinking window to accomplish it in.

At the top of the list is signing restricted free agents Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell. Signing these key players is important for two reasons. Number one is because both players are very important to the Ducks lineup. Reason number two is a bit more complicated. The roster for this upcoming season is far from set. As a team on a budget, GM Bob Murray needs to know how much money, if any, remains to bring in an additional player or two.

While on the topic of budgeting, the Ducks look to be pretty close to their internal cap. Here is the math. Anaheim usually spends to 90 - 95 percent of the NHL cap. A $73M league cap puts the Murray's spending range between $65.7M - $69.35M. Without resigning the UFAs, the current payroll stands at $65.48M. Factor in Nate Thompson's contract going to long term injured reserve, the absolute max money to spend is $6.47M. That is enough to cover Lindholm's new deal (apx $5M+) and part of Rakell's (apx $3.5M - $4M). Unfortunately, it still leaves Anaheim over $2M short.

Duck fans have been waiting a long time for the arrival of a legitimate top six left wing. There is not enough money in the coffers to re-sign Rakell, let alone bring in a top tier player. So the next “to do” item is to cut money from the existing payroll. Likely contracts to move include Clayton Stoner, Cam Fowler and Jakob Silfverberg, with Fowler as the most attractive to other teams.

Originally, the hope was to move a player like Fowler for a top notch left wing. The numbers don't bear it out. Murray will need to make two moves in order to get the needed help up front. For a team to take Stoner off Anaheim's hands Murray, will need to throw in a very good prospect.

World Cup – Duck Style

The Ducks have eight players who will participate in the World Cup of Hockey.

Canada – Ryan Getzlaf, and Corey Perry
Finland – Sami Vatanen
Sweden – Rickard Rakell, Silfverberg, and Lindholm
Young Guns – John Gibson
USA – Ryan Kesler

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