This Z rumor is silly. Without Zegras, ANA’s biggest need is a young, top 6 offensive winger with high upside. If you think about it, that sounds a lot like.. Zegras. His 200ft game has greatly improved under Cronin (who has frequently lauded it himself), and his down production is not concerning after missing training camp, adjusting to a new system on the fly, and dealing with injury (both to himself and revolving linemates). ANA would be trying to trade Zegras for.. a Zegras. It makes no sense. I’m stubborn and won’t be convinced otherwise 😂
Long-term needs for ANA are a young top 6 RW prospect and a big-body 1RD-potential prospect. Ducks likely end the season 3rd to last, giving them only 11% odds of Celebrini, and 70% to be choosing 4th-5th. As much as I’d love Celebrini, odds are they’re picking too late and my guess is that’s where they address the 1RD with Levshunov to ultimately pair with Minty.
That leaves the top 6RW vacancy. My pipe dream is a move for one of:
1. Gabe Perreault (BC and USA teammate of Gauthier and brother of Ducks prospect Jacob)
2. Alexander Holtz (new Swedish best friend for Leo)
3. Jonathan Lekkerimaki (same as Holtz)
I know none of these teams will want to move these guys, so let me know what you think about the offers below and how you’d tweak them. ANA would be trying to pull in one of these without moving Leo, McTavish, Cutter, Minty, Terry, ‘24 1st, Dostal, Z, Zellweger, Luneau, Warren (roughly in that order).
Pipe dream lines of:
Z - Carlsson - Terry
Gauthier - McTavish - Perreault 🔥
Or
Z - Carlsson - Holtz/Lekkerimaki
Gauthier - McTavish - Terry
Minty - Levshunov
Lacombe - Luneau
Zell - Warren
Still in the pipeline:
Dionicio, Sidorov, Pastujov, JPerreault, Gaucher, Pitre, Terrance, Helleson & more
This assumes NJD move Vanecek to another contender to free up cap space, and that Dougie/Nosek remain on LTIR to allow them to take on this cap hit
NJD definitely sacrifice long-term upside losing Holtz. Gibby and Henrique help them push for the cup. Add in another prospect to give a bit of youth in return (Tracy had a rough last year and a half in SD, but has been hot with 5-4 for 9 pts in his last 10 games). And then one of Lunde or Jones for a younger bottom 6 addition they can plug in now. My gut is this will feel like too many ‘small’/older pieces for one more valuable young player. Interested on if there’s a NJD pov on how to fix that without moving an ANA ‘untouchable’
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
remowilliams a aimé ceci.
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