On the Anaheim Ducks …
- Mark Spector of Sportsnet: The Ducks could use some help on the wing. Andrew Ladd would be a nice addition, and it could happen for two reasons.
“One, Chicago is very hot on Ladd, and getting the player that one of your chief opponents covets is simply good business.
Two, the Jets are believed to want a defenceman in any Ladd deal, and there is no team in the NHL better stocked to make that happen than the Ducks.”
Adding size is a priority for the Ducks as they’ll likely have to go through the Kings.
Mikkel Boedker could be another rental option.
The Oilers are knocking on the Ducks door about their defensive group, but Jordan Eberle or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins don’t fit.
- The Fourth Period: The Ducks are believed to have interest in Bruins Loui Eriksson. The Ducks will be one of several teams interested if the Bruins don’t re-sign Eriksson and look to move him. If the Bruins don’t move Eriksson, or if the price is too high, the Ducks could look at Kris Versteeg.
On the Washington Capitals …
- Chuck Gormley of the CSN Mid Atlantic: Does Capitals GM Brian MacLellan roll the dice on a big named player who could put them over the top or does he choose to not make a major move? For every major move that puts a team over the top, there are a dozen that don’t work out.The Capitals addressed some forward depth earlier in the season when they signed Mike Richards. Brooks Orpik just returned and Jay Beagle could be two weeks away.Head coach Barry Trotz and MacLellan have exchanged lists of players they think could help them out.
“(Team chemistry) is part of the consideration,” Trotz said. “If we find the right piece we’ll add it. If it can put us over the top and give us a huge advantage we’ll forgo the chemistry a little bit and go for it. But I think for the most part the group knows we want to move forward and we can’t move forward until we get our game totally in order.”
The Capitals will likely look to add a depth defenseman in the $1 million range.