Are the Ducks' Primed To Move Former 30-goal Scorer Frank Vatrano?

 

The Anaheim Ducks Frank Vatrano made the best of his opportunity in Orange County to become an All-Star during the 2023-24 NHL season. 

He'd set himself apart from a team that was struggling in the beginning of its rebuild, scoring 37 goals and 60 points playing a full 82-game season. 

It wasn't long before the Ducks found themselves relying on his veteran presence in the lineup for secondary scoring as young talent poured into the lineup, including Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier. 

Now having achieved their first playoff run under head coach Joel Quenneville, general manager Pat Verbeek will have to consider his next steps with a player who has two years left on his contract. 

In 2024, he was linked to his former club, the New York Rangers, but no trade occurred.

Vatrano has played 695 NHL games during his career and scored 325 points (186-139). He was an undrafted forward who began his career in the league with the Boston Bruins in 2015-16. 

As a player who was once thought only to be a depth piece, he has found himself in a position where he could benefit from a chance of scenery. 

He was benched during the playoffs and near the end of the regular season. He played an ATOI of 11:49 and scored 9 points (4 goals, 5 assists) in 50 games. 

He played very little down the stretch of the regular season, often serving as a healthy scratch, in a greatly limited role, and finished with nine points (5-4=9) in 50 games. Vatrano is in the first year of a three-year, $18 million contract extension that, due to deferred salary, carries an AAV of $4.57 million.

Suffice to say, being unable to crack the lineup during a key playoff run, as a team that has aspirations of becoming a Stanley Cup contender, is an issue. 

He also dealt with a shoulder injury and took some time away for personal reasons in December. The former 30-goal scorer paid for it by playing only fifty games and becoming a healthy scratch during the playoffs.

The one-time All-Star, who has two years left of his $4.57 million average annual value cap hit, may find himself as a depth option elsewhere in the league. 

The only question is where? 

Buying him out isn't an option, given the penalty they'd incur: 

 If Vatrano’s contract is bought out, his cap hit will decrease to $571,189 for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons. They will also incur a $2 million cap hit for the 2028-29 and 2029-30 seasons. 

GM Pat Verbeek could stay his hand and give him a chance to find his lethal shot again, and give him a spot in the top nine. However, at such a sizeable cap hit, it's difficult to discern what's next for Vatrano.

Perhaps in July, we'll see the true market for a former top-six winger like Vatrano; anything further is speculation at this point. 

Rob Gray-Imagn Images