Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray made two bold statements to the rest of the NHL on Thursday.
First and foremost, Murray inked defenseman Hampus Lindholm to a six year, $31.5 million contract extension. In so doing, Murray added a slick, puck moving, 200 foot defender to his already talent-rich blue line.
Secondly. Murray proclaimed that he is committed to taking another run at the Stanley Cup with his core group of players.
“I’m going to the best I can to give this group one more shot at this and I’m going to do everything in my power to keep it that way", Murray said on a conference call to discuss the Lindholm contract.
When I first read Murray's coments I immediately concluded in my head that the Ducks GM wants no part of trading defenseman Cam Fowler right now.
By signing Lindholm to his extension, Murray has exceeded the NHL salary cap. There had been a narrative surrounding the Ducks throughout the Lindholm protracted negotiation. That is, once the young Swede signed his new contract, Murray would have to trade Fowler's $4 million salary cap space in order to accomaodate the new Lindholm pact.
Murray put an end to that speculation on Thursday when he said that he will do everything in his power to give his current roster the chance to compete for anotehr Stanley Cup.
Part and parcel of that is keeping his core of Getzlaf-Perry-Kesler-Fowler-Vatanen-Lindholm intact.
Fowler isn't leaving Anaheim soon. He's been the best player in Black & Orange this seasons scoring 3 goas and 4 assists in 8 games played.
You may ask yourself how Murray can afford to keep Fowler now that Lindholm is back in the mix in Anaheim.
Long term injury relief.
That's how,
A potential career threatening injury to defeneman Simon Despres was brought to light by Murray during his media call.
On Sunday, Murray placed Despres on injured reserve, and it didn't appear to be a serious injury.
Despres, has appeared in one game this season, has been sidelined with an upper-body injury. There is suspicion that Despres suffered a concussion. Despres missed 42 games last season due to a serious concussion.
On Sunday, it appeared that Murray moved Despres to the injury list as a means to create salary cap space for Lindholm's new contract. Despres is a $3.7 million cap hit this season. It's a business tactic that NHL GMs employ when they need cap space.
However, the tenor and urgency of Murray's concern for Despres was brought to light on Thursday. Murray's comments were ambiguous yet carried serious weight.
"The Despres situation is one that's a very sensitive issue and it's one that my whole goal is to hopefully make it so Simon in the end of all this lives a happy, healthy, normal life and it's going to take some time before we get to that point," Murray said.
"Really that's all I want to say on this time on that because it is sensitive and I feel real bad for Simon."
Let's assume that Murray will be placing Despres on long term injured reserve. That would mean that the Ducks would not have to make any roster moves while Despres is on the LTIR the Ducks would be given cap relief on the $3.7M AAV. Fowler is a $4M AAV this season and next. The salary cap relief for Theodore will be $3,376,667. The Ducks are currently $3.3 millioin over their cap.
Do the math. If Despres is sent to LTIR, his cap relief will allow Murray to hang on to Cam Fowler for a the rest of this season.
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To create a rosterLindholm, Bob Murray reassigned defenseman Shea Theodore and left wing Emerson Etem to the San Diego Gulls.
Theodore, 21, is Anaheim's best defense prospect. He earn one assist and a +2 rating in three appearances with the Ducks following his recall from San Diego on October 22. The 6'1", 195 lb. defenseman has earned 3 goals and 6 assists for points with a +9 rating and four PIM in 22 career NHL games.
Theodore earned two assists and a +2 rating in two AHL games this season.
Selected by Anaheim in the first round (26th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Theodore has scored 13 goals and 37 assists for 50 points in 65 career AHL games with San Diego (2015-present) and Norfolk (2014-15). Theodore was named the Western Hockey League's (WHL) Defenseman of the Year in 2014-15.
Bob Murray said that he wants to keep his core group together for another Cup run , right?
Theodore is not a core member yet. He will be the first man called up in the event of an injury to a Ducks D-man.
If I were an NHL GMs who has been waiting patiently for a Cam Fowler trade, I would now turn my attention to asking for Shea Theodore in a trade.
Theodore carries an $863,000 cap hit for the next two seasons.
Why would Bob Murray trade his top D prospect now?
Usage.
Theodore has proven time and time again that he is to talented a player to be stuck in teh AHL. Theodore is ready for prime time. He may pull a Jonathon Drouin or Jacob Trouba and ask for a trade.
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