NHL Trade Deadline Grades: Anaheim Ducks

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Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks takes a shot past the stick of Erik Gustafsson of the Detroit Red Wings. Getty Images

The Anaheim Ducks weren’t expected to be major players at the NHL trade deadline, and general manager Pat Verbeek stayed true to that forecast. With the team still emerging from its rebuild and aiming to take steps toward contention, the Ducks opted for a quiet and calculated approach, making just one notable move.

The biggest deal of the deadline for Anaheim was shipping veteran defenseman Brian Dumoulin to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a second-round pick and forward prospect Herman Träff. It was a solid return, though some might argue the Ducks could’ve squeezed out a bit more in a seller’s market. Still, adding another draft pick and a young, intriguing forward fits with Anaheim’s long-term vision.

One of the biggest storylines heading into the deadline was whether the Ducks would entertain offers for long-time goaltender John Gibson or forward Trevor Zegras. But as expected, neither player was moved. Despite trade speculation, both still figure into Anaheim’s future plans, and their presence will be important as the young core continues to develop under head coach Greg Cronin.

Verbeek made it clear that he wants to let the team’s young players take the reins, particularly on the blue line. Moving Dumoulin opens up a permanent spot for promising 21-year-old defensemen Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger, both of whom have had to fight for playing time this season. Verbeek also added depth with the acquisition of Oliver Kylington, who will serve as a reliable seventh defenseman.

While the Ducks currently sit outside the playoff picture, they aren’t that far off. Verbeek spoke about the importance of giving his young team a chance to compete in meaningful games, as Anaheim is still within striking distance of the Western Conference wild card race.

“We talked about having meaningful games,” Verbeek said. “And being in this spot, fighting for a playoff spot, here we are. We’re seven points out, and we’ve got the teams that we’re gonna play, that we’re fighting to climb over.”

The real excitement for Anaheim likely comes this offseason, when Verbeek will have significant cap space to work with. With the foundation set, the Ducks can shift from passive sellers to active buyers in the coming months.

For now, though, Anaheim’s deadline was about patience, development, and keeping an eye on the bigger picture- which can be difficult to do as a fanbase of a team that has been pretty bad for a while- but it’s the correct approach in this case.

Official grade: B