The writing is on the wall in Anaheim, and frankly, it’s a good problem for the franchise to have. According to insider Elliotte Friedman, the Anaheim Ducks are fielding calls on veteran center Ryan Strome. The situation is fascinating: the Ducks are currently tied for first in the Pacific Division, and they are doing it largely without Strome, who has found himself a healthy scratch multiple times since mid-November.
Here is the reality of the situation: The Ducks got hot while Strome was injured. In the NHL, chemistry is sacred. When a team starts surging, coaches are terrified to disrupt the lineup, regardless of a player’s salary or past pedigree. Strome, a career middle-six center who has consistently provided double-digit goals, is currently the odd man out, averaging a career-low 12 minutes of ice time—sometimes dropping as low as eight minutes.
Ryan Strome’s Contract and Market Value
From an expert perspective, Strome still holds significant value across the league. As Friedman noted, “Centers are hard to find.” Strome has 167 goals and 485 points in 877 career games; he is a proven commodity who can stabilize a third line or jump into a top-six role when injuries strike.
The hurdle here is the cap hit. Strome carries a $5 million price tag through next season. However, for a contending team desperate for center depth, that is a manageable number, especially if Anaheim is willing to retain a small percentage of salary or take a bad contract back.
Ultimately, this isn’t an indictment of Strome’s talent; it’s a testament to the Ducks’ depth. He needs a fresh start, and the Ducks need to clear the logjam. Expect a trade sooner rather than later as GM Pat Verbeek looks to capitalize on Strome’s reputation before his lack of playing time diminishes his value further.
Latest Anaheim Ducks News, Fantasy Pool & TV Schedule
Don’t miss a moment of this exciting season. For the absolute latest Anaheim Ducks news and rumors, keep it locked to nhltraderumor.com. Think you know more than the experts? Join our Fantasy Hockey Pool for a chance to win cash prizes! You can also find out exactly how to watch the Ducks game on TV today on our website. Bookmark nhltraderumor.com now and never miss a beat.
The post Report: Anaheim Ducks Open to Trading Ryan Strome Amid Roster Crunch appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
