2 Anaheim Ducks Trade Candidates Linked to Cap Savings

The Anaheim Ducks are in a world of mess and now general manager Pat Verbeek is going to have to trade his way out of it.

The Ducks waited far too long to sign Leo Carlsson, and while he was on the restricted free-agent market, the Philadelphia Flyers signed him to a $18-million AAV contract, handcuffing the Ducks in a major way this summer. Verbeek loves getting Carlsson locked up, perhaps not at $18 million per season, but the main concern now becomes Cutter Gauthier. The restricted free-agent is without a contract, he's coming off a breakout season, scoring 41 goals and 69 points in 76 games.

So, now the question becomes who's being shipped out of Anaheim? The Ducks currently have $9 million in cap space, Gauthier is rumored to be asking for $15 million AAV on his contract, and doesn't have any intention of signing a break deal. Verbeek's going to have to make some tough decisions in this cap crunch of a mess he's in.

As far as trade candidates go, there's been a ton of speculation brewing about winger Chris Kreider. The 35-year-old winger has just one year left on his contract at $6.5 million cap hit, and owns a 15-team no-trade list. He's coming off a 22-goal, 50-point season, and there's certainly a number of teams who could use him. Kreider's been linked to the Montreal Canadiens a ton recently. 

Besides Kreider, don't be surprised to see Verbeek dangling another veteran winger in Alex Killorn. He also has one year left at $6.25 million AAV, and owns a 15-team no-trade clause. The only issue is all of the GM's know Verbeek has his hands tied, and aren't going to do him any favors. 

The Ducks are a mess, and it has to do with them being stubborn, and not paying up to Carlsson sooner.