Ben Shelley: Ducks spent season treading water, did little to build for future success

The rebuild needs to include management. Players swaps and picks won't get them out of this rut.

I keep hearing how great the Kings farm system is, and yet the Gulls were demonstrably better this past season. And that was with Zegras and Drysdale playing the majority of time with the Ducks. Then we get to the Drew Doughty quotes in which he basically said he doesn't give a sh!t about the Kings prospect pool, he is tired of losing and wants to win now and if Blake trades some of those fine prospects for established NHLers, well Drew is perfectly fine with that.
As for Barstool Bob, I believe his major error this past season was over-valuing Rickard Rakell, similar to what you did in your previous blog. Rickard makes $3.8 million and his goal production has nose-dived the past 3 seasons. Who is going to give decent assets for that? If Seattle takes him and the Ducks get nothing in return, so what? His value is minuscule right now, in fact, his only real value is his $3.8 mil cap hit going back on the books.
As for Manson, there was a trade agreed upon with Winnipeg for what I was told was a decent return but Manson nixed it. That's the problem with NTC's and newly married players, the wives don't want to leave Socal. Hopefully, Murray will be less willing to include NMC's in future negotiations with players.

Yep… I’ll take our prospect pool over Kings all day… Drysdale already a stud D @ what 20 !!! Z is a monster / Benoit a solid top 4 / Gorouxl I’d coming - Thrun / Nickl / Perreault…
Yeah we’re good.

They got yawl ruining the rebuild and trading for Eichel! Trading 4 good pieces for him will take a while to recover from!

They got yawl ruining the rebuild and trading for Eichel! Trading 4 good pieces for him will take a while to recover from!
- HenryHockey

I think if the Ducks were willing to give up four “good” pieces for him the deal would be done.
I thought I read the Ducks were willing to give Zegras plus some spare parts but not the 3rd overall or the 3rd overall with some spare parts but no Zegras.
If I had to guess,
It’ll end up being
3rd overall
Perreault
Henrique
A D prospect not named Drysdale
For Eichel

I think if the Ducks were willing to give up four “good” pieces for him the deal would be done.
I thought I read the Ducks were willing to give Zegras plus some spare parts but not the 3rd overall or the 3rd overall with some spare parts but no Zegras.
If I had to guess,
It’ll end up being
3rd overall
Perreault
Henrique
A D prospect not named Drysdale
For Eichel
- Ross77

I would miss Perreault because I think he’s going to be really good..
but I would do it … no way Sabres would though.

I think if the Ducks were willing to give up four “good” pieces for him the deal would be done.
I thought I read the Ducks were willing to give Zegras plus some spare parts but not the 3rd overall or the 3rd overall with some spare parts but no Zegras.
If I had to guess,
It’ll end up being
3rd overall
Perreault
Henrique
A D prospect not named Drysdale
For Eichel
- Ross77

3rd Comtois Perreault or Mclaughlin Henrique

I think the Ducks are still sitting in a good position. Probably was better not to jump the gun too much this season. They have a good prospect pool and can easily utilize cap space to improve the team quicker if they want.

Ducks need just a couple pieces and a new coach

First you say the Fleury acquisition was a good one and that he "could end up being part of the Ducks' blue line in the years to come." Then later you state about Fleury (and Volkov), "were nice additions but neither player will likely make a huge impact for the Ducks in terms of building for the future." Maybe you need to define "huge." Third pairing D come and go all the time. If you think Fleury will be part of the D for "years to come" then you're talking top 4. I think that's significant. Which is it?

I think Bob actually did well by not dealing Manson and Rakell at the previous deadline for two reasons 1) he probably didn't get the returns he wanted, which means he wasn't selling low 2) next year's draft is not only supposed to be better, but much less of a crap shoot with a (fingers crossed) full year of scouting potential.

I think the wait had more to do with the additional year of term those players had than anything else.