Not a huge fan of Drouin. Silfverberg on defense?

I think we see Lacombe-Helleson as the 3rd line of D. All for signing 1-2 veteran defenseman UFAs but not more than that or there won't be opportunities for the young guys to get some ice time. Hesitant to even sign more than 1 UFA to more than 2 years, we have too many young defenseman coming up and not enough space. Benoit and Vaaks can fills the roles this year. Love that Vaaks is already on IR in this roster though lol.

I think the wing is more of an issue because we don't have as many or as talented prospects there. Who else could the ducks target? I've wanted Domi but not sure if he would even consider us or what his price would be.

From what I saw last season, I think LaCombe, Helleson and Nesterenko need one more season in the AHL to develop properly (along with all the newcomers like Zellweger and Mintyukov).

I do think Verbeek has plenty of options in the FA defensemen market and has the opportunity to add a couple above their appropriate salary in the 2-4 year range. For those, I'm looking at Dumba, Gavrikov, Severson, Graves, Gustafsson, Mayfield and Soucy.

He's right shot and a defensive specialist, it was an off the wall idea from way back. Would it really be worse than another season of Shattenkirk?



LaCombe is the only one who is maybe ready, Helleson and the others are going to need more time to develop in the AHL.

Right side top 4 D is a long term need, we have no problems signing long term there. Drysdale and Fowler historically have gotten completely caved in, we need a defensively responsible partner to clear the crease out for both Fowler and Drysdale.

Mints has the size, but his defensive abilities have been noted as suspect for a while now, he needs a lot of work in his own zone. I think we're going to need a defensive partner for Drysdale long term, and I'm not sure how fast Hinds will be ready.

I agree that they aren't ready right now, but you've filled 4/6 starting spots for the next 5 years (assuming fowler and drysdale are extended). Meanwhile we have Mintyukov, LaCombe, Zellweger, Helleson, Luneau, Hinds, and others. Not saying that we don't need the guys right now, but it doesn't seem like the right move to not leave any space open in the future.

Fowler is going to be 34 at the end of his deal, I assume he won't be extended, so that leaves 3, two RHD and one LHD, two of which are defensive types. Gavrikov Drysdale would be our top line, one of the young LHD with Dumba, another young LHD with Helleson on third pairing.

Not all the guys are going to work out at the NHL level either, that's the nature of prospects, we probably trade one of the LHD in a package for a top 6 winger too.

Anyone of worth is going to require term, but if the belief that Fowler Drysdale doesn't work as a line and a defensive LHD is needed, I can stomach signing someone to 5 years.

Previously I proposed bringing Kulikiv back for 2 years, an option I still like. He had the best +- of any duck defender last year (of those that played a large number of games that is)

Yeah, he had to babysit Klingberg, and that didn't go well, but Drysdale isn't a complete defensive liability like Klingberg is. He also shouldn't have been bumped up to the 1st line on his off hand, but he was surviving up there. If we get to the point where Klingberg is the liability on defense, I'll be happy with the quality of the defense.