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Deadline Day 2019: Ducks open for business. Sell, sell, sell! |
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It's NHL Trade Deadline Day! For contenders, it's a chance to get stronger and deliver the fans a type of Christmas in February. For bottom-feeders, its a chance to cut bait with expiring contracts and futureless players - a post-mortem for those fans because they realization of another lost season has set in. (Same intro in SJ blog because it fits. 😁)
Unlike the Sharks, the Anaheim Ducks are in full sell mode. With Bob Murray at the helm for a handful of games, its clear whom he has singled-out as a 20-something not living up to expectations.
Yesterday, the Ducks shipped Brandon Montour to Buffalo for 21-year-old defensemen Brendan Guhle, plus a conditional first-round pick in the 2019 draft. The pick will either come from the Sharks or the St. Louis Blues.
Guhle is a good prospect and a first round pick is always nice. Buffalo might of given up too much. Way to go Bob.
I was a bit shocked when I first heard about the Montour trade because he was an entertaining player in Anaheim. But, entertaining doesn't always translate to success. Montour could be a bit sloppy in his own end and prone to the bad turnover.
In the last couple of seasons, Murray has traded away Montour, Shea Theodore, Marcus Pettersson and Sami Vatanen. That's kinda nutty, but there's a method to Bob's madness.
This trade also gives the Ducks some cap relief, because they were slated to be over the cap next season.
- Brian Gibbons was traded, in a seperate deal, for 24-year-old defensemen, Patrick Sieloff.
- Michael Del Zotto flipped to the Blues for a 6th rounder. Nice cup of coffee in Anaheim before going to the Gateway City.
I don't think the fire sale is over yet. Names being dangled are Adam Henrique, Ryan Miller and even Ryan Getzlaf.
I will update the blog throughout the day as the exodus unfolds.
Thanks for reading,
Steve
Colorado Avalanche Blogger • 
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