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The Anaheim Ducks not only came out of the Western Conference Final without a ticket to the Stanley Cup Final, they emerged with a couple long-term injuries that could alter their summer plans and those of other teams looking to upgrade their defensive corps, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Ducks GM Bob Murray revealed on Thursday that blueliners Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen both suffered torn labrums during the post-season that require major surgery to repair. Lindholm is expected to be out until the end of training camp and Vatanen’s rehabilitation could last into the regular season.
#Leafs fans who did not stay up for double OT and found out that Ottawa lost this morning. pic.twitter.com/DfN2Yh3E2L
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) May 26, 2017
This news came on the same day that TSN’s Pierre LeBrun indicated that Anaheim will be resuming contract talks with Cam Fowler and that all signs are pointing towards the Ducks getting the 25-year-old defenseman locked up on a long-term extension.
The injured defensemen complicate what Murray may have been planning to do prior to the expansion draft. There is little chance that Anaheim will leave either Lindholm or Vatanen unprotected since Vegas GM George McPhee would gobble them up in two seconds and their health status diminishes the return in a trade.
It also rules out the chances of Murray trading youngsters Shea Theodore or Brandon Montour, who are exempt from the expansion draft and will be needed to fill in for Lindholm and Vatanen at the start of the season.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman mentioned earlier this week the possibility of the Ducks trading Vatanen entering the second year of a four-year, $19.5 Million contract (likely to clear cap space to re-sign Fowler) and that the Dallas Stars (who are reportedly shopping the third overall pick in next month’s NHL Draft) might be a good fit for that kind of move, but any chance of that might be a long shot now.
Toronto might have some interest in the 25-year-old Finn, but he offers the same skill set as Morgan Rielly, Nikita Zaitsev and Jake Gardiner and not the two-way ability that Mike Babcock is likely craving to be added to his top two pairings.
The Ducks can protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender or eight skaters and one goaltender and can shield Lindholm, Vatanen, Fowler and forward Jakob Silfverberg if they can get veteran Kevin Bieksa to waive his no-movement clause or buy him out, but there does not seem to be a viable scenario to protect 25-year-old blueliner Josh Manson, who played well in the playoffs and is still making less than $1 Million on his entry-level deal.
The Leafs have made defensive moves in the last few weeks, signing Swedish Hockey League products Andreas Borgman and Calle Rosen, but it is a stretch to expect either of them or Marlies defenseman Travis Dermott to step into the NHL and handle a top-four spot right away. It is still the likely course that Toronto GM Lou Lamoriello will either dip into free agency or trade some of the Leafs forward depth for a long-term solution on the blueline.
While it has long been rumored that Anaheim might be the eventual destination for winger James van Riemsdyk if Toronto cannot get him signed to a team-friendly extension, the Ducks might prefer a young forward such as Kasperi Kapanen, who is NHL ready and exempt from having to be protected.
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A report from Elliotte Friedman on Tuesday that Toronto had granted permission for the Colorado Avalanche to speak to Kyle Dubas sent Leafs Nation into panic mode, but the Sportsnet insider indicated to Fan 960 Radio in Calgary on Friday that the Assistant GM is likely not going anywhere.
“I believe the window is closed, I don’t think (Dubas) will be going (to Colorado) and I believe that Toronto closed the window. Initially they were willing to let him go and then they weren’t.… Friedman said. “Brendan Shanahan really likes and respects Kyle Dubas, he’s a big believer in him and the fact that (the Leafs) did let him go here, I wonder what it means.…
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