Fowler 'prepared' to be traded by Ducks: report

Defenseman Cam Fowler is surprised he hasn't been traded by the Anaheim Ducks, ESPN reported Wednesday.
"I was 100 percent prepared for something to happen (at the 2016 NHL Draft) and was honestly pretty surprised when it didn't," Fowler told reporter Pierre LeBrun this week. "It's one of those things where I want to be prepared for it to happen; obviously I love playing in Anaheim and being a Duck, I feel like I have a great relationship with [general manager] Bob [Murray]. I just know that his hands are tied a little bit with what he needs to do. I just have to sit and be patient and see what happens."

Fowler, 24, has two seasons remaining on his contract with an NHL salary-cap charge of $4 million, according to General Fanager. The Ducks this month signed defenseman Sami Vatanen (25) to a four-year contract and have Hampus Lindholm (22) and Simon Despres (24) on the roster.
TSN reported the Montreal Canadiens were interested in Fowler. It is unknown if their trade Wednesday of defenseman P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators for defenseman Shea Weber has changed that.
The Edmonton Oilers traded for defenseman Adam Larsson and the Buffalo Sabres acquired defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, likely taking them out of the market for Fowler.
"You hear your name tossed out there," Fowler said. "I've heard that before even at recent trade deadlines, but this time with the position the Ducks are in and some of the salaries, it just seemed like it was pretty real."