With or without another deal, Ducks know they have to improve

Recent days have seen the NHL trade market open for business and brimming with activity, with Ducks general manager Bob Murray credited with shaking it loose from its doldrums.As Wednesday’s noon deadline approaches, Murray put out the open sign Friday...

With or without another deal, Ducks know they have to improve

Recent days have seen the NHL trade market open for business and brimming with activity, with Ducks general manager Bob Murray credited with shaking it loose from its doldrums.

As Wednesday’s noon deadline approaches, Murray put out the open sign Friday by getting 21-goal scorer Patrick Eaves from Dallas for what could be a first-round pick if the Ducks get to the Stanley Cup playoffs and win a couple rounds. That’s how the Ducks would like it to play out.

But is Murray done?

At previous deadlines, the longtime GM has operated with a lot of salary cap space but that is nonexistent now. Only Eaves’s cheap $1 million salary this season made his acquisition possible. But that doesn’t mean the Ducks have shut their doors, as Murray has shown he isn’t one to sit these things out.

But the most significant move will have to come from within. The Ducks need Ryan Kesler to return to his All-Star first-half form, Ryan Getzlaf to take more of the load off his teammate and Corey Perry to be something closer to the star that filled nets duing his first 11 seasons.

Those three make the most money and eat up the most cap space. The team will go nowhere if they don’t lead the way. As the Ducks went into their bye week, Murray simply said, “We have some players that have just not had good years.” He didn’t name names, but he didn’t need to.

“We have time to turn those things around,” Murray added. “Hopefully our players understand that for some of them time is running out in more chances to win. You hope they get that, but you don’t know how people think. I can’t think for other people.”

Here’s how it looks for the Ducks:

ASSETS

There is a reason Murray is receiving as many calls on his cell phone as he is making them. The Ducks are flush with attractive defensemen and those that may be NHL regulars sooner than later.

Hampus Lindholm is now a long-term cornerstone and Cam Fowler has played too well to consider moving. Sami Vatanen has struggled this season and could be expendable. But he is also signed to an affordable four-year extension and leaves only if a young, core future piece is the return.

And the Eaves deal Friday reflects Murray’s thoughts on the high-end prospect trio of Brandon Montour, Shea Theodore and Jacob Larsson. None will go for a rental player they’ll have for two or three months. There are no extra draft picks to peddle and they’re not moving the first-round selection.

Forward Sam Steel is having a massive season in the Western Hockey League but he is part of the young talent the Ducks need to work in up front as the big three of Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler and Corey Perry further age. Not going anywhere.

NEEDS

Can use another scoring winger. A depth upgrade on defense is possible but far down the list.

CAP ROOM

Capfriendly.com does not have the Ducks with any cap space, but having Simon Despres ($3.7 million) and Clayton Stoner ($3.25 million) on long-term injured reserve has given them flexibility.

TARGETS

Rumors have linked them to Vancouver’s Jannik Hansen and Ryan Miller. Neither seems realistic unless the Canucks took a significant contract the Ducks would want to shed in return.

ISSUES

The Ducks offense is 20th in the league (2.54 goals per game) and their power play has fallen to 15th with their current 1-for-32 streak. Rickard Rakell has 24 goals but Getzlaf and Perry each have 11 – three fewer than Andrew Cogliano.

HISTORY

During their current run of playoff appearances, Murray has been active on deadline day. His 2013 work was minimal as Brandon McMillan was dealt for Matthew Lombardi. Lombardi played seven forgettable games and was out of the league, but so was McMillan two years later.

A minor Alex Grant-for-Andre Pettersson deal was made in 2014, but Murray was busy in the days before, sending winger Dustin Penner to Washington and goalie Viktor Fasth to Edmonton. The big pickup, defenseman Stephane Robidas, broke his leg for a second time in Game 3 of a first-round series against his old team, Dallas.

With his team second in the West in 2015, Murray went berserk and had mixed results at best. James Wisniewski was not needed and never played. So was Korbinian Holzer, although he has remained an effective extra on the blue line. Depth center Michael Sgarbossa has been turned into lineup regular Logan Shaw.

Despres made the most notable impact, playing very well alongside Fowler and turning that into a five-year contract extension that fall. That contract, ironically, is looking like a major albatross if he isn’t able to recover from his significant concussion issues.

In 2016, Murray swapped Carl Hagelin for David Perron in January before his deadline wheeling and dealing. Patrick Maroon was shipped out, Jamie McGinn was brought in. Brandon Pirri was a flier coming off injury but he suffered a concussion. Not only did Perron and McGinn leave as free agents but Maroon has a career-high 20 goals, playing with Connor McDavid.

ODDS

Slimmer now that they’ve already added Eaves. The Ducks can use someone else who can finish around the net. An upgrade on the fourth line can make them deeper. It also never hurts to have another NHL-quality defenseman, especially with Despres and Stoner injured and not realistic options.

But there’s the aforementioned cap problem. And don’t count on a star-for-star transaction, which largely happens only at the draft now.

Contact the writer: estephens@scng.com

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