Ducks Make a Number of Moves Leading into NHL Trade Deadline

The past several days have been a whirlwind for the Ducks organization leading into Monday's NHL Trade Deadline. Anaheim GM Pat Verbeek made a flurry of moves dedicated to the franchise's objective of building for the future and thus parting ways with some pending free agents.

"You have to evaluate the situation you're in and where you are in your process," Verbeek said when all of the deals were complete. "Where we are, this is the decision that the organization made, and we proceeded to try and get draft picks and younger players. There is opportunity for the players to fight for jobs for next year, to make impressions on not only me but the coaching staff. There can't be a better situation for our players for next year."
When all was said and done, the Ducks acquired seven picks in the first three rounds of the next three drafts along with a number of promising prospects. Anaheim now has nine selections in the first two rounds of the next two NHL Drafts along with a number of promising prospects.
Verbeek was named G.M. of the Ducks on February 3 with the objective of guiding the franchise through a rebuilding process. "I was hired to try and make this team better," he said Monday, "and we're gonna go down a different path and try and build this team to give it a real chance to get to a level I want to get to."
The first domino to fall came nine days ago, when Anaheim acquired defenseman Drew Helleson and a second-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft from Colorado for defenseman Josh Manson.
"We thank Josh Manson and wish him the absolute best. He is a character person and player, and will help Colorado down the stretch," Verbeek said. "We're excited to welcome Drew Helleson to the organization. He is a top defenseman in his age group, and has played in big situations on the international stage at the Olympics and recently won a gold medal at the World Junior Championship."
The 20-year-old Helleson represented Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, recording one assist in three tournament contests. He recorded 4-21=25 points and 30 penalty minutes (PIM) in 32 games as a junior this season with Boston College (Hockey East). The 6-3, 204-pound defenseman collected 19-37=46 points with a +26 rating in 82 career NCAA games with Boston College. He was named to the NCAA Second All-American Team, a Hockey East First Team All-Star and the Best Defensive Defenseman in 2021 after scoring 4-11=15 points with a +23 rating in 22 games. He also ranked third among all NCAA skaters in plus/minus.
Over the weekend, the Ducks got a third-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft from Minnesota in exchange for left wing Nicolas Deslauriers and then made a major deal involving longtime defenseman Hampus Lindholm. Anaheim acquired defensemen Urho Vaakanainen and John Moore, a first-round selection in 2022, and second-round selections in 2023 and 2024 from Boston for Lindholm and Kodie Curran (who was playing with AHL San Diego).
The 23-year-old Vaakanainen has six points (0-6=6) in 31 career NHL games with Boston. The 6-2, 200-pound defensemen collected four assists (0-4=4) in 15 games with Boston this season and added 1-7=8 points in 23 games with the Providence Bruins of the AHL. Vaakanainen represented Finland at three consecutive World Junior Championships, winning gold in 2019.
Moore, 31, has appeared in 544 career NHL games with Boston (2018-22), New Jersey (2015-18), Arizona (2014-15), New York Rangers (2012-15) and Columbus (2010-13), registering 38-80=118 points and 227 PIM. He has also appeared in 49 career Stanley Cup Playoff contests, earning four assists and 30 PIM.
"First and foremost, I want to thank both Hampus and Nic," Verbeek said. "Both are character individuals who will help their respective teams down the stretch. Hampus has been a fixture with the Ducks for years, which we value and respect. That said, we are very pleased with our return. As I've stated since arriving in Anaheim, our goal is to continue building a team that can compete for the Stanley Cup for the long haul. Adding players and assets that fit in the age group of our existing younger talent sets us up well for the future."
Anaheim made another deal just before the noon PT deadline on Monday, sending Rickard Rakell to the Penguins in exchange for forwards Zach Aston-Reese and Dominik Simon, goalie prospect Calle Clang and a second-round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Aston-Reese, 27, scored 29-33=62 points with a +38 rating in 213 career NHL games with Pittsburgh from 2017-22. The 6-0, 204-pound forward has earned 2-9=11 points with a +8 rating and 22 PIM in 52 games with the Penguins this season.
The 27-year-old Simon has 22-51=73 points in 239 career games with Pittsburgh and Calgary, setting career highs in points (8-20=28), goals and assists in 2018-19. He has earned 3-6=9 points in 55 games with the Penguins this season.
Clang, 20, has gone 10-5-0 with a 2.28 goals-against average (GAA) and .915 save percentage (SV%) in 17 games with Rogle of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) as a rookie this season.
The Ducks ultimately acquired veteran winger Evgenii Dadonov from the Vegas Golden Knights and a second round draft pick in 2023 in exchange for the contract of Ryan Kesler, who hasn't played since 2019. However, the NHL invalidated the trade two days later, stating that it "could not be concluded because Dadonov's contract includes a limited no-trade clause, which has not been complied with."
TRADE DEADLINE RECAP
Players Acquired
Draft Picks Acquired
Traded Pending Free Agents