ANA/NYR Trade Idea

As a Ducks fan, I admit that there is reason for some concern over a possible lack of production up front following the loss of the both Selanne(maybe) and Penner. Many believe that this void may be filled by young Bobby Ryan, but in my opinion it is in the best interest of both Ryan and the Ducks to have him spend atleast a good portion of this season in the AHL. Thus, I began searching through other team's depth charts for a winger who could play in the Ducks top 6 along with Mcdonald, Perry, Getzlaf, Bertuzzi and Kunitz. One name that jumped out to me was Petr Prucha of the Rangers. Prucha scored 30 goals in 68 games as a rookie and 22 goals this past season. Despite these numbers, Prucha likely wont find a place in the Rangers top 6, which right now will probably be some combination of Jagr, Straka, Shanahan, Drury, Gomez and Avery. At $1.6m per for the next two seasons, he is quite affordable for a potential 30-40 goal scorer. Before posting a proposal on the Trade Rumors Board I wanted to see how Ducks fans felt about this idea, and how much they would be willing to give up. If I'm not mistaken, New York was looking to free up cap space as they are pretty close to the ceiling, so maybe prospects and/or picks would be sufficient.

My proposal:
To Anaheim:
RW Petr Prucha
3rd Round Pick

To NYR:
D Brendan Mikkelson
RW Bryce Swan
2nd Rounder

I dunno, its Unlikely the Rangers could find another 25 goal scorer for only 1.6 mill. Rangers fans are convinced they have a good enough team now to win the Stanley Cup (I think otherwise) so I doubt youll get alot of positive feedback from their side... If NYR do think they can compete for the cup, I dont see them trading established roster players for picks/prospects.

I dunno, its Unlikely the Rangers could find another 25 goal scorer for only 1.6 mill. Rangers fans are convinced they have a good enough team now to win the Stanley Cup (I think otherwise) so I doubt youll get alot of positive feedback from their side... If NYR do think they can compete for the cup, I dont see them trading established roster players for picks/prospects.
Understandable, but as an offensive player is Prucha a good fit in New York as a third liner? I think for the right offer New York would take the cap space and fill that role with a more suitable player.

I dunno, its Unlikely the Rangers could find another 25 goal scorer for only 1.6 mill. Rangers fans are convinced they have a good enough team now to win the Stanley Cup (I think otherwise) so I doubt youll get alot of positive feedback from their side... If NYR do think they can compete for the cup, I dont see them trading established roster players for picks/prospects.

As mentioned, we are definitely making a cup run this year. With that said I think the offer is pretty fair. Here is where it wouldn't work out, however. As previously mentioned, it will be hard to find a goal scorer to help us out for so cheap. Also, the swinging point of the deal is Mikkelson, but if we're going to trade a young forward that is NHL ready and will greatly help us, we will want to improve. While I would more than love to have Mikkelson, defense is by far the strongest area of our farm system. I would love to see how Prucha would do in the West, however, because I truely think he could score 40 goals if given a good playmaking center and given the time to play. Definitely one of the better proposals i've seen, but as previously stated, not beneficial enough to us to pull the trigger.

As mentioned, we are definitely making a cup run this year. With that said I think the offer is pretty fair. Here is where it wouldn't work out, however. As previously mentioned, it will be hard to find a goal scorer to help us out for so cheap. Also, the swinging point of the deal is Mikkelson, but if we're going to trade a young forward that is NHL ready and will greatly help us, we will want to improve. While I would more than love to have Mikkelson, defense is by far the strongest area of our farm system. I would love to see how Prucha would do in the West, however, because I truely think he could score 40 goals if given a good playmaking center and given the time to play. Definitely one of the better proposals i've seen, but as previously stated, not beneficial enough to us to pull the trigger.

well considering 8/10 of the top defenses in the league play in the west, I dont know that his scoring numbers would go up ;D
I think the east is definetly the place for young talented scorers. ^^

well considering 8/10 of the top defenses in the league play in the west, I dont know that his scoring numbers would go up ;D
I think the east is definetly the place for young talented scorers. ^^

I guess. It just seems like the Europeans excel in the West.

As for the 3rd line comment, it is very likely Prucha will get 2nd line duties this year along with 1st line of the PP.

I guess. It just seems like the Europeans excel in the West.

As for the 3rd line comment, it is very likely Prucha will get 2nd line duties this year along with 1st line of the PP.
I figured Prucha would see some PP time, but if he is on the 2nd line, who gets bumped down out of the 6 that I mentioned (Jagr Straka Shanahan Avery Gomez Drury)?

I figured Prucha would see some PP time, but if he is on the 2nd line, who gets bumped down out of the 6 that I mentioned (Jagr Straka Shanahan Avery Gomez Drury)?

It will definitely change around a lot. Avery and Prucha will probably be changign around, but i give the edge to Prucha. Prucha could probably do wonders with Drury, whereas Avery is more of an offensive force by himself when crashing the net. Prucha's a sniper and needs to be fed the puck to score, whereas Avery's offense comes from his rediculous speed and ability to crash the net. Because of this he doesn't really need help offensively. Prucha needs a good playmaker like a Drury or Shanny for him to fulfill his offensive potential, whereas for Avery it doesn't matter if he's getting Jaromir Jagr's rebound or Colton Orr's rebound. Avery also might be the one filling in the 3rd line center duties if the coaches don't feel Brandon Dubinsky is ready for that this year. Prucha scored maybe 8 goals the first 55 games of last season, but once he got consistant time on the PP and played 2nd line minutes he got it up to 20 goals within the last 25 games. Ultimately it's going to come down to chemistry, and if Drury or Shanny has uncanny chemistry with Avery, he will be on the 2nd line.

I don't see the Rangers winning anything with that D core. If they trade Prucha they'll probably want a top pairing defensemen, which he isn't worth.

I don't see the Rangers winning anything with that D core. If they trade Prucha they'll probably want a top pairing defensemen, which he isn't worth.

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead: :banghead::banghead:


Rangers were 9th in the NHL last year in GAA. The only team in the East with a lower one was the Devils. This is the same exact, I repeat, literally the same exact defense and goalie as last season. I'm pretty sure our D core can win....

He isn't very good defensively...doesn't sound like a Burke-player...maybe though.

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead: :banghead::banghead:


Rangers were 9th in the NHL last year in GAA. The only team in the East with a lower one was the Devils. This is the same exact, I repeat, literally the same exact defense and goalie as last season. I'm pretty sure our D core can win....

They're slow and immobile and make poor decisions with the puck. Malik turnover Game 2, Tyutin icing the puck Game 5, ect.

Hmmm...I don't think that would do it. We might have to throw in Husky :(, which I would not do.

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead: :banghead::banghead:


Rangers were 9th in the NHL last year in GAA. The only team in the East with a lower one was the Devils. This is the same exact, I repeat, literally the same exact defense and goalie as last season. I'm pretty sure our D core can win....

Maybe in the regular season, but I wouldn't count on it in the playoffs. In fact, every team in the West except Calgary was ranked higher. So, should we expect to see the Rangers as the "also ran" in the Stanley Cup Finals?

Hmmm...I don't think that would do it. We might have to throw in Husky :(, which I would not do.

It would be really stupid to trade Husky, UNLESS Nieds comes back, then I'd do it.

Maybe in the regular season, but I wouldn't count on it in the playoffs. In fact, every team in the West except Calgary was ranked higher. So, should we expect to see the Rangers as the "also ran" in the Stanley Cup Finals?

This is true, but also remember that the guy with the most ****ups that whole postseason on defense was Karel Rachunek, now a member of the Devils.

I'm not going to sit here and pretend we have the best defensive core in the league, or even top 10. As a unit though, they play well enough together that with the big guy in goal, and the stacked forwards, we will go places. I know out West it's hard to get a feel for an Eastern team, just like it would be hard for me to judge the Ducks defense, but the Rangers defense plays a lot better together that they each individually are worth, and Lundqvist can win games by himself if need be.

I'm not going to sit here and pretend we have the best defensive core in the league, or even top 10. As a unit though, they play well enough together that with the big guy in goal, and the stacked forwards, we will go places.

I think so too. They stand a real good chance of representing the east.

OTOH, as you pointed out, Lundqvist can win games almost by himself ... but would anyone be saying it if he hadn't proven it by often being asked to do it behind a fairly pedestrian defense? They didn't suck defensively last year, but they also weren't anything more than adequate, IMO. A disproportionate amount of that GAA ranking was due to Lundqvist, which is why he's so highly regarded around these boards.

Same thing can be said about Vancouver's defense corps IMO. They're being overrated due to Luongo's brilliance.

I thought they were frankly horrific in the games I saw, and certainly during the second round series we all saw in depth. Vancouver and the Rangers are in the same boat - an injury to their starters derails their seasons entirely, because without them, they're bad.

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead: :banghead::banghead:

Rangers were 9th in the NHL last year in GAA. The only team in the East with a lower one was the Devils. This is the same exact, I repeat, literally the same exact defense and goalie as last season. I'm pretty sure our D core can win....

Sharks were #3 in the league in GAA and even their own fans will tell you that they need to improve defense to really challenge for the cup.

Two things:

1) GAA is a team stat which also factors in goaltending and defensive play of forwards

2) Defense also has to support the forwards offensively so defending is not their only job

As for the original proposal. It it isn't enough going back to NY they wouldn't bite.