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The Anaheim Ducks put together this near decade best run, fully opening their long delayed competitive window. But then their solid postseason ride fizzled out into that rough second round exit, dropping the series 4 games to 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights, and the whole thing felt like it had that constant structural pressure behind it. The Game 6 5–1 loss was the moment general manager Pat Verbeek basically couldn’t ignore: that young core is spectacular, but the lineup still needs careful optimization, to go from a playoff team that’s rising into a true elite Stanley Cup type machine.
And because there are so many prospects right there at the door, plus this clear need for consistent top-six scoring, Verbeek is expected to go pretty hard during the summer trade period. But honestly, in a flat-cap world you can’t just wish for upgrades, you usually have to move assets around. So some familiar roster pieces become natural candidates for the chopping block. Looking at offseason retooling, two Ducks players really stand out, like the most sensible trade chips for a big shakeup.
Frank Vatrano
The situation with Frank Vatrano is basically that classic sell-high dilemma. He’s been a productive winger for Anaheim, no question, but once the younger core starts owning more of the top-six forward reps, his long term fit starts looking less “necessary.” With guys like Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke ramping up and getting heavier, more situational minutes, Vatrano’s time on ice and offensive usage should naturally slide down.
Also, he’s getting close to the final stretch of his contract, so contending teams that want proven, cost-controlled scoring depth are going to circle fast and the Ducks get a real chance here to turn that hype into real value before something awkward happens like losing him for nothing in free agency, or keeping him while his role quietly shrinks. If Anaheim moves him before the draft, they should be able to pull a premium return, probably a mix of strong draft equity or a defensive minded prospect, something that actually lines up with their competitive timeline.
Mason McTavish
Trading a former third-overall pick might sound wild at first, but league folks have been calling Mason McTavish an obvious blockbuster trade target since that second round exit. McTavish has this strong mix of physical bite and real offensive upside, but Anaheim’s middle of the ice depth turned into a logjam. With Leo Carlsson locked in as the franchise’s clear number-one center, and Mikael Granlund already doing the important middle-six work, McTavish is stuck in the numbers game.
And moving him isn’t some lazy salary dump move. It’s more like a calculated masterstroke meant to fix the roster’s biggest weakness. The Ducks really need an elite, top-pairing defensive anchor, the type that can steady the young defensemen. Put differently, by making a blue-chip like McTavish available, Verbeek has the “currency” to land a massive player for player hockey swing, especially with a team that’s trying to reload or retool their forward group. It’s high risk, but it feels like exactly that aggressive pivot you’d need if you want Anaheim to climb into the next tier.
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