The Ducks have been quite busy leading up to and including the start of NHL free agency. By breaking down the moves, I'll answer the titular question. Today is part one, part two will come on Friday followed by a wrap up on Sunday.
Paul MacLean hired as assistant coach
This is a funny place to start, but its an important move. I'd like to tell you that this move is a shot across Bruce Boudreau's bow. Maybe it is, but I believe you can't have too much intellectual talent. A former Jack Adams winner as the league's top coach in 2013, MacLean's experience and knowledge can only benefit the team. Also, if he can help improve the disappointing power play; the Ducks are all the better for bringing him in.
Kyle Palmieri shipped to New Jersey
At first glance this was a bit of a head scratcher. Upon further review, I kind of like it. It was clear by the end of the playoffs that Palmieri was at best the third best right wing on the team. He is in the last year of his contract which pays him $1.47M in 2015-16. For the money he will command next summer, he didn't fit in the Ducks salary budget. Why not pick up and develop some young talent with the second round pick acquired from the Devils.
Etem gives way to Hagelin
Hometown boy Emerson Etem never could get his mojo going with the Ducks. His talent was never in question, but the results were rarely seen. Etem was traded to the Rangers for Carl Hagelin. In the interest of full disclosure, I have to say I am a Hagelin fan. He may be one of the few guys in the league that is faster than Andrew Cogliano. Hagelin is a marvelous penalty killer. He and Cogliano will be the wings to Nate Thompson and Ryan Kesler on the PK units. Although he doesn't have great hands, and has some finishing issues, his speed creates opportunities and I wouldn't be surprised to see him score 20 goals.
Wiz to Carolina for Khudobin No one who follows the Ducks is surprised that James Wisniewski was traded. Further, there was no way he was going across town to the Kings. The surprise here was the acquisition of goalie Anton Khudobin. No offense to the newly acquired goalie, but he is needed as much as a second nose.
John Gibson was pushing incumbent Frederik Anderson for the number one job before he got hurt just before the end of the regular season. I would have welcomed an open competition in goal during training camp between Andersen and Gibson. Maybe that is still possible and it turns into a loser leaves town match. After all both players are restricted free agents and you can bet your butt that they will garner interest from plenty of teams across the league.
Khudobin is a very good back up goalie, He has proven in the past that he can fill in at the top spot for an extended period and keep his team competitive. This acquisition brings up more questions than it answers. There is one year remaining on his contract before he hits free agency, so why bother trading for the Russian netminder if he isn't a long term player and can walk at season's end? Is GM Bob Murray sending a message to Gibson and Anderson? If so, is it wise to play with psyche of two young players? Was Khudobin picked up in the hopes that he could be flipped for a bigger windfall if another team has an injury to their primary goalie?
In part two, the plights of Kevin Bieksa, Francois Beauchemin, Matt Hackett and Shawn Horcoff will be analyzed.
Ed