Potential Anaheim Ducks targets for their blue line
Eric Stephens of The Athletic: Looking at some possible free agent and trades the Anaheim Ducks could and should look at.
Free agent defensemen Anton Stralman, Ben Chiarot, Patrik Nemeth, Ben Lovejoy, Deryk Engelland, Oscar Fantenberg, and Nate Prosser.
Potential trade targets include Travis Hamonic, Nikita Zaitsev, Ryan Murray, and Julius Honka.
The Winnipeg Jets have a lot on their plate that needs to get taken care of
Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun: Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff knows that he a big offseason ahead and a lot on his plate.
“We’ve got a lot of work that needs to be done with exceptional players that we’ve drafted and are a big part of our organization and a big part of our future. So, this summer will be the most important one, until the next one.”
Key restricted free agents for the Jets are Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor and Andrew Copp.
The Jets won’t be big players in free agency as they don’t have a lot of space.
“It’s not July 1 yet, but it’s approaching July 1, so you’re never surprised when you see some of those things,” said Cheveldayoff. “But, again, you’ve got a cap, so essentially you’ve got a pie and there are only so many ways you can divvy it.”
Laine and Connor are expected to be looking for long-term deals and a bridge deal seems unlikely.
If Copp goes to arbitration is could be looking for between $2.9 million and $3.5 million, with the Jets likely at between $2 and $3 million.
Defenseman Nathan Beaulieu would have required a $2.4 million qualifying offer – which he didn’t get. They could look to re-sign him in the $1.6 to $2 million range.
Defenseman Ben Chiarot will get more money on the open market.
Recently acquired Neal Pionk should get a bridge deal in the $1.775 million range.
