The Anaheim Ducks have not been one of the teams heavily involved in trade rumors as Friday’s NHL trading deadline approaches.
That doesn’t mean they won’t be involved, though. They just might be a team that picks and chooses its spots a bit more deliberately.
One of those spots could involve Ryan Strome.
As the Ducks have uncovered other forwards to give key roles to, Strome has fallen a bit out of the leadership role he previously had in their attack.
Given his experience and talent, Strome could certainly work as a pickup for a contender.
The Athletic’s Chris Johnston explained those reasons and more in placing Strome on his latest trade board, which was unveiled Monday.
“The emergence of Anaheim’s higher-end forward talent has marginalized Strome’s impact on the lineup this season and he’s seen a significant reduction in minutes as a result,” Johnston wrote. “Even with his production dipping, the Ducks should be able to find a taker for a center who has consistently produced at a rate higher than 0.5 points per game throughout his NHL career. Strome is a smart player capable of playing a quick game and is under contract for one more season beyond this one.”
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Strome has that added benefit, mentioned by Johnston, of not being a free agent after this season.
A team trading for Strome knows it gets him for a playoff run this season, and for another playoff run next season.
It’s hard to have too many quality centers this time of year, so if Strome is indeed on the block, he should have some real suitors. The Ducks could get a younger asset in return in the hopes of continuing to grow their roster in a positive direction.
