Ed Stein: Plenty of Ducks News Leads to More Questions

Initially, I was totally against trading Fowler. I really believe he has elevated his game. He has been ANA's best D so far. With that said, he is an incredible trade asset. Signed to a cap friendly hit, playing top pairing minutes he would defintely command a nice return. With Lindholm poised to have a higher overall ceiling, and Theodore waiting in limbo, this is our chance to grab a legitimate scoring winger. Trading an unsigned Vatanen will not yield the high quality player/+ we need.

Lets not forget we also have Montour in SD. I think that kid deserves a look. We are stocked for puck-moving/offensive D. You have to give to get, therefore since we desperately need a scoring winger, Fowler is our best asset.

I would prefer not to see him go, but at the end of the day it is not realistic to think we can keep Fowler, Vatanen and Lindholm while carrying the Stoner/Bieksa contracts and paying KES his big contract next year. Lets not forget about Rakell, who is due a raise. Theres more, you get the point.

The point to this essay is while I don't want to see Fowler go, we have an opportunity to make this team better; so we need to take it.

Initially, I was totally against trading Fowler. I really believe he has elevated his game. He has been ANA's best D so far. With that said, he is an incredible trade asset. Signed to a cap friendly hit, playing top pairing minutes he would defintely command a nice return. With Lindholm poised to have a higher overall ceiling, and Theodore waiting in limbo, this is our chance to grab a legitimate scoring winger. Trading an unsigned Vatanen will not yield the high quality player/+ we need.

Lets not forget we also have Montour in SD. I think that kid deserves a look. We are stocked for puck-moving/offensive D. You have to give to get, therefore since we desperately need a scoring winger, Fowler is our best asset.

I would prefer not to see him go, but at the end of the day it is not realistic to think we can keep Fowler, Vatanen and Lindholm while carrying the Stoner/Bieksa contracts and paying KES his big contract next year. Lets not forget about Rakell, who is due a raise. Theres more, you get the point.

The point to this essay is while I don't want to see Fowler go, we have an opportunity to make this team better; so we need to take it.
- Bombay1993

Yak for Fowler

Yak for Fowler
- hunter3333

I said Better...not make this team more inconsistent and unreliable

I would prefer Cam not go anywhere - however with the offense woes of this team something needs to be done- watching Ottawa last night and Hoffman get two goals I wonder if there's a deal to be made there... It is become evident that the team as currently constructed is not working- for the most part the goaltending & defense has been very good - shuffle off to Buffalo -

I really have no idea what can happen now. Lots of people can go or you just play this awful season out. Maybe you get a really high draft pick and re-tool over the draft by trading Andersen and potentially others. You can still trade some people mid season and try to get hot at the right time towards the end and go for it. BM does make mistakes, but he never really over reacts. Hope he doesn't here by feeling the pressure.

I really have no idea what can happen now. Lots of people can go or you just play this awful season out. Maybe you get a really high draft pick and re-tool over the draft by trading Andersen and potentially others. You can still trade some people mid season and try to get hot at the right time towards the end and go for it. BM does make mistakes, but he never really over reacts. Hope he doesn't here by feeling the pressure.
- Orange_me_Black

First time I've heard a Ducks fan hint "to wait out an awful season for a high draft pick"

Now I surely know I'm not dreaming, the Ducks are the worst scoring team in the league, dead last in the Western Conference, and are possibly in the Austin Matthews Sweepstakes.

The Ducks obviously have problems. But I think the team should be careful about panicking. This year it added Hagelin, Stewart and Bieksa. Those to a team that had finished first in the Conference season and had a 2.78 goals per game average. Did it give up any big scorers? I would say not. Yet this year its gpg average is 1.90--last in the League. Injuries would not seem to be the problem. Nor players suddenly going over the hill. Something else is responsible, and it seems that a long look at the coaching approach is in order. It's the coach's job to orchestrate. Now he faces his big challenge. Anyone could have ridden Secretariat in the Belmont. It's when the team is facing challenges that coaching skills are most needed. Like a chemist, he needs to identify the problem and make adjustments. If he's lost the room, then he needs to go. The team is only 3 points out of a playoff spot. I think the talent is there--basically the same team that scored well last year plus a few others with scoring potential. Getting Skinner for Fowler would be a real gamble. Smart coaching making a few adjustments should fire up this team. Can Boudreau make them? Murray needs to make that assessment.

The Ducks obviously have problems. But I think the team should be careful about panicking. This year it added Hagelin, Stewart and Bieksa. Those to a team that had finished first in the Conference season and had a 2.78 goals per game average. Did it give up any big scorers? I would say not. Yet this year its gpg average is 1.90--last in the League. Injuries would not seem to be the problem. Nor players suddenly going over the hill. Something else is responsible, and it seems that a long look at the coaching approach is in order. It's the coach's job to orchestrate. Now he faces his big challenge. Anyone could have ridden Secretariat in the Belmont. It's when the team is facing challenges that coaching skills are most needed. Like a chemist, he needs to identify the problem and make adjustments. If he's lost the room, then he needs to go. The team is only 3 points out of a playoff spot. I think the talent is there--basically the same team that scored well last year plus a few others with scoring potential. Getting Skinner for Fowler would be a real gamble. Smart coaching making a few adjustments should fire up this team. Can Boudreau make them? Murray needs to make that assessment.
- Klaatu

They might be 3 points out of the playoff picture, but they are also 2 points away from being tied dead last in the entire league. Which way it goes is anybody's guess. For now I will continue to watch and do and this with an occasional followed by in the end.

I do agree with what you are saying though.

They might be 3 points out of the playoff picture, but they are also 2 points away from being tied dead last in the entire league. Which way it goes is anybody's guess. For now I will continue to watch and do and this with an occasional followed by in the end.

I do agree with what you are saying though.
- Orange_me_Black

Very well emoted!

I think they will be fine, Relax...being in First the last three years didnt bring us anything.. Maybe closing in late would be a good change .. wait til the trading dead line to see where they`re at

I think they will be fine, Relax...being in First the last three years didnt bring us anything.. Maybe closing in late would be a good change .. wait til the trading dead line to see where they`re at
- rubberduckies

I appreciate your confidence.

I think they will be fine, Relax...being in First the last three years didnt bring us anything.. Maybe closing in late would be a good change .. wait til the trading dead line to see where they`re at
- rubberduckies

I am not stressed. I am basically saying change the team up around deadline with a potential hockey trade also or just ride this season out with what you got. See where you end up and how your playing towards the deadline and if its crappy take the top draft pick. Just don't sell to sell your future players because of poor play. It is what it is to me at this point. They are still right there in the hunt.

I am not stressed. I am basically saying change the team up around deadline with a potential hockey trade also or just ride this season out with what you got. See where you end up and how your playing towards the deadline and if its crappy take the top draft pick. Just don't sell to sell your future players because of poor play. It is what it is to me at this point. They are still right there in the hunt.
- Orange_me_Black

Agree with this 100%. Knee jerk reactions in situations like this almost always backfire. Lombardi didn't overreact last year when the Kings sh!t the bed. Sometimes it just doesn't happen and no matter what you do you can't fix it.

The Ducks have scored 24-25 less goals than everyone else in the division, expectations were high this season and now I think is the time to shake things up. I don't sense much urgency from BB, if the ducks come home with less than 4 points on this coming road trip he needs to go.

If they can find a way to address their problems early enough, I think they can push their way in like the Wild did last season bringing in Dubnyk (deal happened in mid-January). Waiting until the TDL is too late for the position these guys currently hold in the standings. 56 goals in 29 games is a joke for a team that is supposed to be a cup contender.

This is where trading Fowler makes sense, we are deep with young talent. I don't see Fowler developing into a top 15 star defensemen like Subban, Karlsson, Doughty, Keith, etc. With high-ceilings in pending RFA's Vatanen and Lindholm, Theodore developing in the minors; the Ducks would certainly get greater return on #4. This team could really use a Ladd/Johansen/Hornqvist/Okposo type of top 6 forward.

The Ducks have scored 24-25 less goals than everyone else in the division, expectations were high this season and now I think is the time to shake things up. I don't sense much urgency from BB, if the ducks come home with less than 4 points on this coming road trip he needs to go.

If they can find a way to address their problems early enough, I think they can push their way in like the Wild did last season bringing in Dubnyk (deal happened in mid-January). Waiting until the TDL is too late for the position these guys currently hold in the standings. 56 goals in 29 games is a joke for a team that is supposed to be a cup contender.

This is where trading Fowler makes sense, we are deep with young talent. I don't see Fowler developing into a top 15 star defensemen like Subban, Karlsson, Doughty, Keith, etc. With high-ceilings in pending RFA's Vatanen and Lindholm, Theodore developing in the minors; the Ducks would certainly get greater return on #4. This team could really use a Ladd/Johansen/Hornqvist/Okposo type of top 6 forward.
- getzlaugh

Agreed that Theo could probably replace fowler at some point, but this season fowler and Vats have been the best we have at the blue line. I for one think you cant get rid of Vats. He and Lindholm need to be locked up long term. I just don't know if selling Fowler right now would get you anything that would put the Ducks over the top this season by the way they have and are playing. I agree with the players you said of that caliber, but Ladd and Okposo are getting huge raises after this year. Hornquist is RW and Johansen is young, skilled, good, but due for new contract after next season I believe. I say wait towards the deadline. If you still suck maybe you can sell some pieces for draft picks with all the one year guys. Sell a fowler maybe if you feel inclined. Deal Andersen at draft. Get a new coach most likely. Take your high draft pick and come back rejuvenated next year....kings as example this year.

I feel if Fowler/Lindholm can continue to improve (Fowler just turned 24 so still young and improving) they can be a great tandem like our version of Keith/Seabrook as long as one of them can play on their off-side.

It would be a huge mistake trading Fowler for older forwards (Ladd/Hornqvist) because of some early season struggles by the rest of the team.

The main problem is Bieska. Seems like he wants to play the puck moving defenseman roll instead of the more stay-at-home tough, veteran presence that Beauchemin provided.

I'm not so confident Fowler will ever put up Keith type numbers, Fowler's stats and production was at his best with 40 pts in his rookie year. Keith has been averaging 40+ since his 5th NHL season. Fowler is in his 6th and still not producing the way I had hoped when he was first drafted.