GARTH'S CORNER: Duck Under Glass

Doubt Despres plays another game of hockey. Will remain on LTIR, so his salary is available. Look for Vatanen to be traded (or Fowler if Ducks cannot agree on salary). That adds another 4M to spend. Figure Ducks have around 10M available.

bieksa has a ntc as well. if you buy him out, you deal with the dead money cap hit, but could allow you to protect another key young defenseman. and you have to explore trading perry if you're convinced the current core can't get it done (and its hard not to believe that by now).

tough calls for sure.

bieksa has a ntc as well. if you buy him out, you deal with the dead money cap hit, but could allow you to protect another key young defenseman. and you have to explore trading perry if you're convinced the current core can't get it done (and its hard not to believe that by now).

tough calls for sure.
- hiway39

actually nvm, forgot his contract was 35+, so can't get cap relief by buying him out.
https://capfriendly.com/b...ator/kevin-bieksa#results

bieksa has a ntc as well. if you buy him out, you deal with the dead money cap hit, but could allow you to protect another key young defenseman. and you have to explore trading perry if you're convinced the current core can't get it done (and its hard not to believe that by now).

tough calls for sure.
- hiway39

They'll go 7/3/1 and protect (only listing D) Lindholm, Fowler/Vatanen (one gets traded) and Manson. That's assuming Bieksa waves NMC. Ducks (imo) will offer him a choice. Waive and they offer a contract extension (1, maybe 2yr), or buy him out. His choice. D then Lindholm, Vatanen/Fowler, Manson, Bieksa, Theodore, Montour, Stoner. IF they sign Holzer again to a 1yr 1M contract, that opens the door to trade Theodore (imo).

if they do trade fowler does that mean garth was right all along? GMJB always gets his man

Vatanen makes $4.875. If you think the Ducks are protecting him over Fowler, you're nuts.

Oh yeah, Garth wrote this article.

Bieksa and Stoner both come off the books after next season. That's another $7.25 right there.

Garth, don't let the facts get in the way of your man-crush on Fowler. You never have.

I should be surprised a hockey writer was unaware of bieksas ntc.
But it's Garth.
So yeah, no surprises

Vatanen makes $4.875. If you think the Ducks are protecting him over Fowler, you're nuts.

Oh yeah, Garth wrote this article.

Bieksa and Stoner both come off the books after next season. That's another $7.25 right there.

Garth, don't let the facts get in the way of your man-crush on Fowler. You never have.
- yzermaneely

But I think if the #'s between the Fowler camp and BM are too far apart, he gets dealt. In order to stay, Fowler NEEDS to take a hometown discount. He easily gets 7M or more open market. I think BM won't go more than 6M. If Vats is moved, it's because a contract extension is forthcoming. Also, I think it's possible Bieksa gets a contract extension (1or2 yr) as a perk for waiving his NMC. Otherwise, he gets bought out, but as a 35+ contract, there's zero cap relief (but it would allow us to protect Manson).

But I think if the #'s between the Fowler camp and BM are too far apart, he gets dealt. In order to stay, Fowler NEEDS to take a hometown discount. He easily gets 7M or more open market. I think BM won't go more than 6M. If Vats is moved, it's because a contract extension is forthcoming. Also, I think it's possible Bieksa gets a contract extension (1or2 yr) as a perk for waiving his NMC. Otherwise, he gets bought out, but as a 35+ contract, there's zero cap relief (but it would allow us to protect Manson).
- quackup

Whichever ones cheaper I guess. But yeah, it's gotta be done.

If I was him, I take the buyout and cash in elsewhere as well. (As one has to assume the extension would be under what the buyout will cost)
Dudes only 35, he could find employment elsewhere for at least a year +

I should be surprised a hockey writer was unaware of bieksas ntc.
But it's Garth.
So yeah, no surprises
- HB77

Your first mistake is thinking that Garth is a "hockey writer"

They'll go 7/3/1 and protect (only listing D) Lindholm, Fowler/Vatanen (one gets traded) and Manson. That's assuming Bieksa waves NMC. Ducks (imo) will offer him a choice. Waive and they offer a contract extension (1, maybe 2yr), or buy him out. His choice. D then Lindholm, Vatanen/Fowler, Manson, Bieksa, Theodore, Montour, Stoner. IF they sign Holzer again to a 1yr 1M contract, that opens the door to trade Theodore (imo).
- quackup

I wish Ducks had more expansion draft issues but really they don't. The forwards of note are all safe. It's like the Wild, the main issues are on the blue line & quite frankly it's a quick fix because there is a huge market for Fowler or Vatanen. I don't see Fowler getting 7.0 mill either, he'll fall in around where Ekblad & Dougie Hamilton came in at, 5 or 6 year deal at around 5.75 to 6.0 per year. At 7.0 mill per, you better have a Norris trophy on your mantle.

Whichever ones cheaper I guess. But yeah, it's gotta be done.

If I was him, I take the buyout and cash in elsewhere as well. (As one has to assume the extension would be under what the buyout will cost)
Dudes only 35, he could find employment elsewhere for at least a year +
- HB77

I don't know. He may want to stay. He and Kesler are buds from their Vancouver days, and our local writer had a nice write up on the Ducks in todays paper. His opinion is the Cup window may have actually opened a little with the maturation of the kids. Bieksa waives his NMC. Vegas isn't taking him. He signs a contract extension, so he gets his 4M next year, then is signed for another year or two for hopefully a couple M less. He gets to play on a Cup contender and keeps his family in place. I could see that happening.

I wish Ducks had more expansion draft issues but really they don't. The forwards of note are all safe. It's like the Wild, the main issues are on the blue line & quite frankly it's a quick fix because there is a huge market for Fowler or Vatanen. I don't see Fowler getting 7.0 mill either, he'll fall in around where Ekblad & Dougie Hamilton came in at, 5 or 6 year deal at around 5.75 to 6.0 per year. At 7.0 mill per, you better have a Norris trophy on your mantle.
- Kevin R

Normally I would agree, but Fowler "might" be the exception. His game vastly improved this year. He has been a pro for 7 years, and is only 25. That is almost unheard of. He is arguably our best PMD, and that ability to move the puck up ice and be so young. I don't think 7M on the open market is unreasonable. imo

note: Aaron Ekblad - 8yr - 7.5M per - 0 Norris

I don't know. He may want to stay. He and Kesler are buds from their Vancouver days, and our local writer had a nice write up on the Ducks in todays paper. His opinion is the Cup window may have actually opened a little with the maturation of the kids. Bieksa waives his NMC. Vegas isn't taking him. He signs a contract extension, so he gets his 4M next year, then is signed for another year or two for hopefully a couple M less. He gets to play on a Cup contender and keeps his family in place. I could see that happening.
- quackup

Seems totally reasonable

I just assumed he'd want dollars and th ducks might really lowball him considering there's no guarantee he'll even get much playing time

But yeah for sure, might want to stay in SoCal on a contender. Especially considering injuries happen and he'll still get minutes. Even if not on a ful time basis


So the consensus is he waives, you protect manson and deal vatanen?

It does Rinaldo

Seems totally reasonable

I just assumed he'd want dollars and th ducks might really lowball him considering there's no guarantee he'll even get much playing time

But yeah for sure, might want to stay in SoCal on a contender. Especially considering injuries happen and he'll still get minutes. Even if not on a ful time basis


So the consensus is he waives, you protect manson and deal vatanen?
- HB77

That seems the most logical. IF Fowler is traded instead, then that suggests he and our GM were too far apart in #'s. My gut says Vats is the one gone. I also think it's possible Theodore is also moved (for the right price). I see that if Holzer is resigned to another 1yr/1M contract.

That seems the most logical. IF Fowler is traded instead, then that suggests he and our GM were too far apart in #'s. My gut says Vats is the one gone. I also think it's possible Theodore is also moved (for the right price). I see that if Holzer is resigned to another 1yr/1M contract.
- quackup

interesting

The oilers would certainly be interested in vatanen, but the thing is they probably couldn't do the deal before the expansion as it would mess up what is a pretty tidy 7-3-1 situation for them right now

An besides that, can't see the ducks making things too easy on what might be a pretty serious rival in the coming years