This sudden turn-around of their season has been partially drawn from the biggest trade made by GM Bob Murray this season. On the morning of January 16 he acquired forward David Perron from Pittsburgh, sending forward Carl Hagelin the other way. Perron, who was struggling to get his goal-scoring ability going, instantly meshed with club and found the spark to get himself going. Since coming over to Anaheim, he has 6 goals and 8 assists, already more than he had scored with Pittsburgh all season. The newfound chemistry between Perron and Ryan Getzlaf has been yielding enough offensive production that everyone has accepted the fact that Getzlaf and longtime line-mate Corey Perry are not consistently playing on a line together anymore. All part of the magic of Bob Murray.
With virtually no holes he necessarily has to fill, the Ducks GM is content with the roster he has compiled.
Murray commented on the current situation and approaching deadline by saying, "Guys are accepting roles on this team - and that's important. You don't want to fool around with [chemistry] too much.
Now, that does not mean that Murray has shelved his magical scrolls of trading secrets until summer. Murray seems to be willing to make a deal if he receives a deal for the right player and at a good price.
In a tweet posted by LA Times columnist, Helene Elliot, Murray said that, "There are a few guys that if the price is reasonable, could help in certain areas."
The most obvious role he is looking for is a solid top 6 winger to either slide in alongside Ryan Kesler and Jakob Silfverberg or with Getzlaf and Perron. Many speculated that power-forward Andrew Ladd would be a hot item on Murray's list, but those hopes of Ladd coming to the Ducks were ruined yesterday when Winnipeg dealt him to Chicago. Many also believed Boston winger and long time Duck-killer Loui Eriksson would be a player that the Ducks had a possibility of acquiring, but with the recent news coming out that Eriksson and the Bruins to signing an extension, those proposals have started to go down the drain as well.
Now, the Ducks are left with a few options for a winger that they could still go after.
JAMIE MCGINN
McGinn
According to Elliot Friedman, the Ducks are talking about a rental forward. He believes one of the guys on the list is Buffalo's Jamie McGinn, a hard-nosed and high-pace forward who is willing to drop the gloves.
The book on McGinn is that if you throw him on a scoring line or a line who cycles other teams to death, you will find success with him and he can score. He is not too good at creating his own space for his shot, but that is where the cycling comes in for that. A fit for a line of Getzlaf. Cycle-heavy, McGinn's specialty. He is average from a defensive standpoint, but he would not be called upon for any penalty killing roles and would not be the main defensive player on whichever line he plays on.
McGinn sits at 14 goals and 13 assists on the year, a total of 27 points. A player like McGinn could benefit the Ducks scoring already high-powered scoring output while still retaining the high-intensity play and physicality that Ducks forwards are known for having.
Buffalo is looking for help on the back-end, so with McGinn's probable cost of a roster player and a prospect, one of those two would have to be a defenseman. We could be looking at Brandon Montour going the other way. If Murray is willing to part ways with a defensive prospect like Montour, he should have no problem getting this deal done.
MIKKEL BOEDKER
Boedker
Mikkel Boedker is a player that has been in trade rumor mills for the last few months and has been linked with Anaheim as a possible landing spot for him. Slumping hard of late and being one of Arizona's most expendable forwards, Boedker is a player that the Ducks could make a play for.
A decent playmaker type, Boedker's biggest asset in his play is his great speed and acceleration he uses to burn defenders and get around them. People have always said they want him to shoot the puck more, because he does have a very good wrist shot and its very affective.
Boedker plays a pretty defensively responsible game, so he does have some decent two-way ability to go with his speed he can use to catch up to puck-carriers. A perfect fit in the left wing slot on a line with Kesler and Silfverberg. A player with good two-way ability to play with probably the best two-way forwards on the team is a match made in heaven. Dealing with his current hard slump should not be an issue. Anaheim has seemed to be a place where slumping players come to rejuvenate themselves, just ask David Perron. It would be hopeful that Boedker could find some of the same gelling magic that Perron got if he were to become a Duck.
Cost wise, Boedker would possibly require a roster player, an okay prospect and a mid-draft pick or even one of Anaheim's goalies if more players were to be added and a Boedker trade becomes a trade that is not centered around just him. Not quite sure who it is that Boedker would get back for the Coyotes, but it could be any number of options from Anaheim's end.
VALERI NICHUSHKIN
Nichushkin
Bill Whitehead (@BillWhiteheadFL) tweeted on the 23rd that Val Nichushkin is reportedly on the trading block. No real surprise there, given the number of high-skilled forwards the Stars possess and their current needs and holes to fill.
Nichushkin is a big-bodied power-forward with some good upside to him. He had a great rookie year in 2013, missed virtually all of the 14-15 season with a hip injury, and so far this season has been very up and down when it comes to production. The up and down production from him is more so a reason as to why he is one of the Stars forwards being thrown into the trading fire.
Nichushkin stands at an imposing 6'4" and 205 pounds. He utilizes his strong frame to drive through defenders and force his way through defensive blockades. This also makes him a good option for a line with good cycling tendencies, like Ryan Getzlaf's. A natural left-handed RW, Nichushkin could fit alongside Getzlaf and Perron. This would give Getzlaf a sniper in Perron on his left side, and a goal-scoring power-forward on his right side who could handle the cycle game Getzlaf plays with ease.
With 7 goals and 16 assists on the year, it is easy to say that Nichushkin has the potential to put up higher numbers. With his great shot and big body, he can force his way to the crease and out-body other players. He just needs to be put alongside the right players. Getzlaf can dish it wit the best of them, which is the exact kind of thing Nichushkin needs: a player who can find him and spring him for scoring chances.
Now, while this is probably the most unlikely deal of the three listed, it would be could investment in the eyes of this writer. A line of Perron-Getzlaf-Nichushkin would provide balance and flexibility in play styles that could form a strong line.
Nichushkin could be a cheap pickup, costing a roster player and maybe a mid-range prospect or a high draft pick. If Bob Murray wants to invest in a player of this type, Nichushkin is his best bet.
It remains to be seen what will spring out of the marvellous mind of Bob Murray. Whichever way he decides to go with his team, you can best bet that it will be a smart move and good hockey trade.
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