While Steven Stamkos may be the most popular unrestricted free agent name for Sabres fans to speculate about, Cam Fowler is one of the most popular trade targets for many Sabre fans. He would fill the void for the coveted top pair, left handed defenseman that will be on everyone's mind's this summer, and even though they may have wrecked their draft status with a strong finish, Cam Fowler, the left handed Anaheim Ducks defenseman, remains a popular option for Sabre fans.



The tricky part is the cost. The Anaheim Ducks will not give Cam Fowler away, and there is also no urgency to trade him. They also have a great cap situation, even with their internal cap.



When we're evaluating the cost of any trade, as a rule of thumb, I always think it's best to view it from the other GM's perspective. In other words, if I'm Bob Murray, and I'm talking to Tim Murray, what am I asking GMTM to give up?



I will write a good portion of this from the Ducks perspective as their mock General Manager.



The Ducks are actually in amazing shape cap wise. They have Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Ryan Kesler locked up on deals that run through '20-21, and '21-22, that in today's NHL look like bargains. In terms of key supporting cast members, Jakob Silfverberg is signed at 3.7 million per season for the next three years, and Andrew Cogliano is signed at 3 million for two more seasons. David Perron, and Jamie McGinn are UFA's, and if the Ducks absolutely need to let them walk they can. Center Richard Rakell, who is only 22, and just had the best season yet as a pro will likely be the highest priority in terms of forwards.



Looking at their blueline, both Hampus Lindhom and Sami Vatanen are due for hefty raises as RFA's. Both are well deserving of one, and both could get north of 6 million per season. Cam Fowler's contract is a less of an immediate issue as he is signed through the next two seasons. That's long enough for the Anaheim Ducks Stanley Cup run. Cam Fowler is also signed to a bargain, 4 million per season contract which makes him even more appealing to contending teams. The aging, but savvy veteran of the group, Kevin Bieksa is also signed to a 4 million per season contract, and has a no movement clause with two years remaining. Simon Despres is beginning his new 5 year, 18 million dollar contract next season which is more than affordable for a hard hitting, second pair defenseman, when healthy of course. However, he has been having concussion issues this year and down the road, that contract may hurt them if he sustains another concussion. Josh Manson's contract is on his entry level deal through '18-19. Manson is an incredibly underrated defenseman for the Ducks, and has spent most of the season paired with Hampus Lindholm. He doesn't play a flashy game, but he's been the big physical presence on their blue line while Despres missed time.



The Ducks have given up the fewest goals in the NHL thanks to their deep defense group. They've given up 2.29 ga/gp, and their powerplay monster led by Fowler, and Vatanen led Anaheim to a league best 23.1% conversion rate on powerplays. The Ducks also have by far, the best penalty killing unit in the NHL at 87.2%. This is an improvement from last year when they were 15th and 28th in the NHL on the PP and PK. Although a lot of their special teams improvement could be attributed to the additions of Ryan Kesler, who is an animal on special teams, and the addition of a coach who looks like a literal animal in Paul MacClean. MacClean helped bring Erik Karlsson along in Ottawa, and Niklas Kronwall in Detroit. He clearly knows a thing or two about bringing defenseman along, and knows a thing or two about special teams. The Ducks have six defenseman who see more than two minutes per game on the penalty kill, which is the most of any team in the NHL. Clayton Stoner, a bottom pair defenseman for the Ducks, also sees significant time on the penalty kill.



The bottom line on the Ducks defense: they're a deep group, and if I'm the Ducks GM, I have a lot of trade assets. Kudos to the Ducks scouting staff and Bob Murray for assembling such a group.



We haven't even talked about the Anaheim Ducks goaltenders yet. The X-factor for the Anaheim Ducks is the goaltenders. They have John Gibson, and Frederick Andersen rotating between the pipes. John Gibson is signed to a bargain contract 2.3 million per season for three more years, but Frederick Andersen is an RFA. Anton Khubodin is the third goaltender, and is ironically making more than Andersen and Gibson combined. Khubodin is making top backup money, and is an unrestricted free agent after this season. What I mean by "X-Factor" is the Ducks do not have to pay huge money to a goaltender for a few more years if they don't want to. Many good teams are paying a Corey Crawford or Johnathan Quick big money in goal, and it may or may not always be worth it. Eventually they are going to have to pick between Andersen and Gibson. They may opt for John Gibson for immediate cap reasons if they find themselves in a pinch, or they can sign Andersen long term and trade Gibson. Signing Andersen will be a priority, but if they find they can't keep him, they can move him, keep John Gibson, and re-sign Anton Khubodin. Moving Frederick Andersen would be an option of mine if I need to shed salary, but I would try to refrain from doing so.



What does all this mean?



The Ducks currently have around 52 million dollars committed to next years cap, before they have to re-sign their top RFA's: Frederick Andersen, Hampus Lindholm, Sami Vatanen, and Richard Rakell. You can give Rakell and Andersen 4 to 5 million each, and Lindholm and Vatanen 6 million each, and they could still find a reasonable way to be under the Salary Cap for next season if they made some roster moves. The worst case scenario here, is they may not be able to keep Andersen, and therefore are forced to move his rights. The Ducks are in win-now mode and are in good position with Cam Fowler and his 4 million dollar cap hit for the next two years.



In other words, the Ducks do not need to move Cam Fowler anytime soon. That does not mean they wouldn't move him. The Ducks are a team contending right now, and are in a window of opportunity to win a Stanley Cup. They have solid goaltenders, a young and deep defense, and their faces of the franchise, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, are both at the peaks of their careers at age 30. I'd say they have two to three more seasons to be contenders after this years playoffs. They've managed their salary cap extremely well, and you have to give the Ducks credit for that. They do have an internal budget, but with the current contracts on the roster, they still have flexibility.



Why would Anaheim trade Cam Fowler if they didn't need to? What would they be looking for from the Sabres?



The Ducks are not building for the future, and that needs to be taken into consideration when asking about Cam Fowler. Moving Cam Fowler has to make them a better team immediately if they do so. That's important when gauging his value to Anaheim. Trading Cam Fowler for a combination of a second round pick, Jake McCabe, Zemgus Girgensens, or Tyler Ennis, does not make Anaheim a better team. You can trade Fowler for all of that combined, and it would still not make Anaheim a better team. Anaheim likely values Cam Fowler almost in the same light as the Sabres value Rasmus Ristolainen. He is their best defenseman, and his only 24 years old. Even though they have Lindholm, Vatanen, and prospect Shea Theodore, that doesn't mean his cost will be any less.



If I am the GM of the Ducks, and I trade Cam Fowler, I have to get better offensively as a hockey team, and if the Ducks come up short in the playoffs again this year, they may be more tempted to move Fowler to obtain that offensive help. Only the Red Wings, Wild, and Flyers are coming into this years playoffs with fewer goals scored. I may not have to trade Fowler to do that, but if I am seeking a legit top line forward in return, I may need to part ways with a defenseman. Sami Vatanen will probably be the option the Ducks consider trading first as he is an RFA.



I can look to the trade market for a more modest option where I don't need to give up a defenseman. I can call Columbus about Scott Hartnell who will be 34, and is still one of the better power forwards in the game. He's also on an affordable contract. I would not have to give up Fowler to make a move. But Scott Hartnell has some drawbacks. He's a better fit as a second or third liner at even strength, and at this stage of his career, he is a powerplay specialist first. A little under half of his points came on the powerplay, he's not as effective in 5 on 5 situations as he was the year before. He might not be the best option to put on the left wing of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, but you could do worse. But as mock GM, I am seeking someone younger and more effective who can play with Getzlaf and Perry. If I am looking for a little more scoring, Hartnell could still help the Ducks in some capacity, and being that he's a big winger, he will fit right into what Bob Murray would be looking for.



In free agency, I have cap room, but don't really have enough to sign Steven Stamkos straight up and keep all my RFA's. Especially with the Duck's internal budget unless ownership signs off on more money for payroll. He is rumored to want to be closer to Toronto which rules the Ducks out instantly anyways. Even if I some could do that, where exactly does he play? Ideally, I'd want someone to play with Getzlaf and Perry, and he can only play center and right wing, the two positions they currently occupy. So that's not even a consideration for multiple reasons. Other top UFA scoring options such as Jaromir Jagr, Loui Eriksson, Kyle Okposo also may not fit as they are right wingers. David Backes could be an option for many teams, but again he is a right shooting center/ right wing. It's a buyers market if you're looking for a right wing this offseason. But there are a couple high quality options available for the Ducks.



Before I entertain trading Cam Fowler ( or any defenseman), I would likely attempt to inquire on Milan Lucic, or Andrew Ladd. They do have an internal budget, but I could get creative and look to shed salary to make it work. For example, trading Kevin Bieksa, and/or Clayton Stoner could make my pursuit of one of them easier. I might also have to let Frederick Andersen walk, and use Gibson full time in goal. Both players are at their peak, both have Stanley Cup rings, and both fit my team's style of play. The Ducks were rumored to be interested in Ladd at the trade deadline. Instead, they walked away with Jamie McGinn to help with depth, and provide another front net presence. Chicago might want to keep Andrew Ladd when the season ends, and Ladd has expressed interest in staying there. If I lose out on Lucic, or Ladd, or figure I can't afford them, then I would attempt to work the trade market to acquire someone.



What are Anaheim's needs?



Looking at my team's current needs, I have an a lot of right handed shots, and they're solid at center, right wing, and goaltender. I need a top line left winger to play with Getzlaf, and Perry. Overall, I need a good high quality left handed shot to go in my top six. The Anaheim Ducks were also rumored to covet size at the last deadline, which makes Tyler Ennis definetly not an option even if his value was higher. Someone like Mikkel Boedker might interest them more than Ennis just because of his size.



I am also loaded on defense in my farm system with Shea Theodore, rated by Hockey's Future as one of the top 20 prospects in the NHL. I have Brandon Montour, and 2015 first round selection Jacob Larsson. Defense is not going to be a need in Anaheim for a long time, and Bob Murray has done an excellent job of stocking the Ducks blueline. Nick Ritchie could be the long term answer for the Ducks at left wing. He's the former tenth overall selection from 2014. He's still a year or two away from really contributing in an impactful way.



Anaheim does need to address the following farm system needs:



-Goaltending depth

-Depth on the wings

-Depth at center



If I get a phone call from Sabres General Manager Tim Murray calling about Cam Fowler, what am I asking for in return?



Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Ryan O'Reilly are about as close to untouchable as they come. It would make zero sense for the Ducks to ask for any defenseman in return. If I am the Ducks GM, my defense group is probably among the deepest in the NHL. There are great young defenseman in the Sabres organization, but I don't believe I would be getting better by asking for Jake McCabe or Mark Pysyk as a throw in. Many people have done this in mock trades. Tyler Ennis would not interest, as his value is at a low point coming off an injury plagued season. And even when Tyler Ennis was at his best, I still wouldn't consider him enough all by himself to land Cam Fowler.



Zemgus Girgensens would slightly interest me, but I need someone who can play a bigger role and provide more offense. Sure you can say he has potential to do this and that, but I need certainty as a contending team. I would look very foolish trading a legit #1 or #2 defenseman in a package for a guy who could come in and score 10 goals for me, never reaching his potential.



The Sabres do also own a lottery draft pick.



I think many people would do Cam Fowler for their lottery pick straight up if they were drafting between 8-12, but i'm not so sure Anaheim would. A top ten lottery pick would not help Anaheim much next season. But, it would help them long term, and they could use it to draft an eventual replacement for Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. I could also hoard another defenseman and take Mikhail Sergachev or Olli Joulevi. As Ducks GM, with my goal being Stanley Cup contention again for next year, I need someone who can make an immediate contribution to the top line, otherwise i'm better off just holding on to Cam Fowler and waiting for the right deal to come along. Hell I'd be better off re-signing Jamie McGinn.



From a Ducks perspective, if the Sabres win a top three, non-Auston Matthews lottery pick for one of the Finland wingers, then I would certainly be interested in moving Fowler. I highly doubt many Sabre fans, or Tim Murray would even consider it. Patrik Laine, or Jesse Puljujarvi would easily be held in higher value than Fowler. Either one could play in the NHL next year. Laine has elite sniper potential. There's no way Buffalo, or anyone would move a top 3 pick, for Cam Fowler.



Realistically the only trade that could work for Cam Fowler to Buffalo would have to be centered around Evander Kane, and If I was Bob Murray, it would be the only player not named Eichel, Ristolainen, O'Reilly, or Reinhart I'd be interested in.



Evander Kane is a fit for Anaheim on multiple levels. For starters, he's a top line left wing, and a tough power forward. He scored 20 goals in 65 games last season, and was on a 25 goal pace. A key point to remember about Evander is how valuable he is to Buffalo. No Sabre forward logged in more even strength minutes than Kane. Kane also logged time on the penalty kill, and is one of the teams top poweplay guys. Only Ryan O'Reilly logged in more total time on ice. He does the dirty work, and provides the physicality and grit. In Anaheim, on a line with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, it would be a match made in heaven. Even for Kane's lifestyle, it would be a fit for someone like him to be in Southern California.



Like Cam Fowler, Evander Kane also has a contract of similar term. Both players expire in 2018-19, both are 24 years old. Both will get raises when their contracts are up. Fowler is making 4 million per season, and Kane is making 5.2 million. The additional 1.2 million is no issue for Anaheim to take on for a two year run at the Stanley Cup. Anaheim still has a defense group of Lindholm, Vatanen, Bieksa, Manson, Despres, and Theodore. Theodore would probably be the defenseman to fill the void for Fowler. But on the other end, Buffalo does not have a similar answer in waiting to replace Evander Kane. Justin Bailey and Hudson Fasching may be able to replace that style of hockey, but neither guy might not be able to do it right away.



This is a trade that is fair for both sides, but for Buffalo, they are losing more than Anaheim here because they do not have a player who can replace what Kane brings on the left wing in a way that Anaheim can replace Fowler. with a guy like Theodore, and a plethora of good quality defenseman. Power Forwards who can play in almost any situation and provide grit, physicality, and attitude do no grow on trees. The Sabres have needed a player like this for decades, and it would be disappointing to trade him away, even though it addresses a need on defense.



The only way Fowler for Kane would work for Buffalo is if the Sabres won the #2 pick and selected Patrik Laine. Laine might be able to make an impact right away for Buffalo next year, and replace some of his physicality he brought to the table. Then Kane would be more expendable. If the Sabres also landed a top forward in free agency like Kyle Okposo David Backes, or Andrew Ladd, then I might be more comfortable at that idea. I would use their top pick to select a big another physical forward like Max Jones, Kieffer Bellows, Pierre Luc Dubois, or my personal favorite 6'6 Logan Brown. I would of said I would be interested in the Sabres signing Milan Lucic, but I will refrain from making Sabre fans have heart attacks.



My final proposal from the Ducks perspective for Fowler would be :



To Anaheim: LW, Evander Kane, G Linus Ullmark, and LW William Carrier.



To Buffalo: D, Cam Fowler, D Marcus Petterson C Michael Sgarbossa RFA rights (move to help Rochester).



In this deal, Anaheim lands Evander Kane, and gets a goaltending prospect in Ullmark they could use for their farm. They also land 21 year old William Carrier for the left wing spot in their system. He seems to fit what Anaheim would like to do quite well.

Buffalo receives Cam Fowler, and also gets another good defense prospect in Marcus Petterson whom Anaheim drafted in the second round last year. He's a tall lanky left handed defenseman at 6'4, 180 pounds, and is very intelligent. He could be a good top four defenseman in the NHL someday, but will have a tough time cracking their lineup with their deep blueline. The Sabres also get center Michael Sgarbossa in a move to help Rochester's top six.

In conclusion, If Evander Kane is what it takes to land Cam Fowler from Anaheim, I probably pass, because I covet what Evander Kane brings to the table more than what Cam Fowler brings, at least as the Sabres roster stands right now. I have wanted a player like Evander Kane for years, and we just acquired him last year in a deal for our top defenseman Tyler Myers. It would be foolish to trade Kane right now. If there was someone who I felt like could move up into his top line spot and play a power forward's game, I would do a trade like this. If the Sabres were active in free agency and signed Kyle Okposo, Andrew Ladd, or won the 2nd overall pick and moved up to take Laine, I would have no issue doing such a deal. But right now, the Sabres lose more with Kane, than the Ducks lose with Fowler as the Ducks are capable of replacing Fowler.



Things can change if Fowler is with the Ducks at next years deadline, and the Sabres are making a playoff push. They may decide they need a defenseman like Fowler at the deadline if he is still there. If Zemgus Girgensens took huge steps offensively, and Justin Bailey cracked the NHL roster and one of them played consistently well and on a 20 goal pace, I would be more comfortable with a deal like this.



As of today, I'm not sure the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks are not good trading partners for Cam Fowler, and almost any deal may have to involve Evander Kane. In the end, the Sabres might just be better off trying to find a more two or three year solution like Brian Campbell, and drafting a player like Olli Juolevi or Mikhail Sergachev.

And of course, we are not the only team interested. God knows Edmonton Oilers might want to move one of their many forwards for Fowler, as well as a dozen other teams. If Tim Murray is not ready to part with Evander Kane to make it happen, then another team may eventually budge on the very high asking price. Im not sure what Ducks fans think of a package around Kane? Honestly if I had to guess, I'd say a ton of them would say heck no, and would rather keep Fowler, and many Sabre Fans would feel the same about Kane. In terms of trading for Fowler, Kane is probably the best the Sabres can offer. Some Ducks fans would likely say they can do better and should talk to another team. Some believe Fowler should be moved for a player on the level of Jamie Benn or Phil Kessel.



So If I am Anaheim, I am only giving up Cam Fowler in one of the following situations:



Fowler, would have to fetch me a top line forward to put with Getzlaf and Perry. Most Ducks fans would probably look to trade Sami Vatanen first if they were to move a defenseman, since Fowler and Lindholm are probably their best two defenseman. If they get anything in return for a defenseman, it's got to be something that could help Anaheim next season as they are in contention right now. Some people would also think it could be best to trade Vatanen and re-sign Fowler long term in two years, and if the Ducks took on any extra salary in a trade, they could move out Kevin Bieksa and/or Clayton Stoner. If they found takers, they could save around 7 million right there. Bob Murray has also stated, that he would have to recieve a huge offer from an Eastern Conference team to trade his best defenseman in Fowler.



The Sabres also may not be the best trade partners for the Ducks, because they may not have the assets to make it work. But a team like the Tampa Bay Lightning with Johnathan Drouin for example, might be a better trade parter, and there will be numerous suitors for any of the Ducks young defenseman. Detroit could be another example to acquire Sami Vatanen, allowing the Ducks to keep Fowler. If they were to offer a player like Tomas Tatar, the Ducks might be intrigued.

I guess the rule of thumb for trades is, if both teams balk at the prospect of trading a player, then it must be a pretty fair trade, perhaps too fair because someone always wants to fleece someone. When you're trading Daniel Briere for Chris Gratton, of course we want to be on the Danny Briere side don't we?