NHL Rumors: Ducks ready to move veterans at deadline, Predators may trade Ryan Ellis, and Marc Staal plan B for Flyers
Anthony Scultore
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The Anaheim Ducks have been identified as sellers for this trade deadline and it appears GM Bob Murray is ready to move veterans. His problem is how “quiet” it’s been in the NHL regarding trades. He told Pierre LeBrun that it’s a combination of the pandemic, flat-cap, and pending expansion draft.
NHL Rumors: Ducks ready to move veterans – in hockey deals
Murray’s most valuable trade asset is 27 year-old forward, Rickard Rakell. His cap hit is $3.789 million with one year remaining on his contract. This means he’s not a rental and a very intriguing player available on the market. For the GM, he wants to make hockey deals on a player of Rakell’s caliber.
“It can’t just be all for draft picks, I’ve got to start getting some younger prospects,’’ Murray said.
via The Athletic
One veteran that he will not move unless asked is Ryan Getzlaf. Murray has made it clear on several occasions that the only way he will trade him is if Getzlaf requests a move to a contender.
NHL Rumors: Predators may trade Ryan Ellis?
While Mattias Ekholm is at the top of almost every trade bait list, Friedman’s latest believes the Predators may opt to trade Ryan Ellis instead.
Biggest question Poile must answer: Mattias Ekholm or Ryan Ellis? Initially, the latter was off limits, but something’s made the Predators think. Both are highly regarded defenders. There are a lot of players with Ellis’s term (six years remaining at a $6.25-million AAV) who couldn’t get moved now, but I could see him being an exception.
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This one is a pretty wild one considering he was listed as an untouchable at some point this season. Whomever would be looking at Ellis is taking on a nice contract with six years on it. The team has to be viewing Ellis as a long-term solution. The 30 year-old rearguard has 9 points in 21 games this season with Friedman believing the Flyers would be the perfect fit.
At this point, Philadelphia really needs to take a long look in the mirror at their defense.
NHL Rumors: Flyers plan B could be Marc Staal
The Flyers have lost six of their last eight and are sinking in the standings. They have been trying to add to their blue-line all year. They’re attached to names like Ekholm and now Ellis in Nashville with nothing yet to come to fruition. But if the prices are just too steep in this uncertain season, Alain Vigneault may look to bring in one of his top defenseman from his days with the Rangers.
Elliotte Friedman noted Marc Staal could be a nice add for the Flyers at the deadline. This would be a perfect backup plan in this current trade market, which as Bob Murray pointed out is very quiet.