The St. Louis Blues have acquired veteran defenseman Cam Fowler in a commerce with the Anaheim Ducks.
The Blues announced Saturday that they’re sending defensive prospect Jeremie Biakabutuka and a second-round choose in 2027 to the Ducks, and receiving Fowler and a fourth-round draft choose in 2027.
Anaheim may even retain $2.5 million of Fowler’s wage. He’s within the seventh 12 months of an eight-year, $52 million deal ($6.5 million common annual worth), making his cap hit $4 million for the Blues.
Fowler, 33, is in his fifteenth NHL season and has performed all of his 991 video games for the Ducks. He has 96 targets and 457 factors, together with 38 power-play targets and 174 power-play factors.
“This was a tough commerce to make contemplating what Cam has meant to this group,” Ducks common supervisor Pat Verbeek stated in an announcement. “He has been a helpful and revered member of our workforce for 15 seasons, representing the Ducks with final class. His character and contributions on and off the ice have and can proceed to depart a optimistic impression on our followers and group.
“After assembly with Cam a number of occasions over the previous few months, it turned clear to each of us it might be time for a change. As ordinary, Cam dealt with the method with professionalism and remained dedicated to the Ducks. Cam and his household deserve nothing however the very best going ahead, and we want them the very best of luck.”
In 17 video games this season, Fowler has no targets and 4 assists. He’s a left-shot defenseman who has been taking part in in Anaheim’s prime pair and logging probably the most ice time on the workforce at 21:04 per sport.
Biakabutuka (6-foot-4, 203 kilos), an undrafted 22-year-old, has performed two video games with the Blues’ AHL affiliate in Springfield and 76 video games within the ECHL over the previous two seasons.
The Blues are additionally assigning defenseman Matthew Kessel to AHL Springfield.
What does this imply for the Blues?
My fast response is that the Blues should know that Nick Leddy won’t be returning quickly from his damage. Leddy has performed simply 4 video games this season, and after it appeared like he can be again quickly, his damage “flared up” once more and he got here again dwelling early from the workforce’s Western Canadian street journey. While there’s no affirmation that Leddy might be out even longer, it seems that approach.
Fowler gives the Blues with expertise and a few choices for the highest 4. They might put Philip Broberg within the No. 1 pair with Colton Parayko, then play Fowler with Justin Faulk and drop Ryan Suter to the third pair. P.O. Joseph, Scott Perunovich and Kessel have been serviceable, however taking part in one in every of them as a substitute of two can be higher.
What does this imply for the Ducks?
This commerce needed to occur for each Fowler and the Ducks, however neither facet could also be getting all that they had hoped to get. Fowler was itching to be on a playoff workforce as soon as once more after going six years with out seeing the postseason, and whereas the Blues are nearer to being that than the Ducks are, they usually seem re-energized beneath coach Jim Montgomery, they’ve nonetheless bought an uphill climb within the robust Central Division.
As for the Ducks, the return isn’t almost what you’ll have as soon as imagined for a defenseman who had been so very important to them for years. While Fowler and the workforce have been very cordial about one another’s needs, it turned a foregone conclusion he’d be dealt. And his presence was changing into an issue, in that his return from damage and this month’s commerce for Jacob Trouba have been pushing both Pavel Mintyukov, Jackson LaCombe or Olen Zellweger out the lineup. All of these gamers are youthful and higher than Fowler at this level.
Verbeek bought one thing, however the second-round choose, which is the very best a part of this deal, is off within the distance. And with the Ducks retaining some wage — and sending a draft choose again to the Blues — this can be a commerce that Verbeek didn’t come near maximizing, though Fowler was changing into a diminishing asset. But the Ducks can transfer ahead with the way forward for their protection all within the lineup each night time.
What would possibly Fowler carry to the Blues?
Fowler ended up 9 video games wanting reaching 1,000 NHL video games in an Anaheim sweater, after setting a number of workforce data for a defenseman. But Fowler was additionally searching for a change. He was shedding ice time, significantly his spot on both power-play unit. The 5 video games he performed after getting back from an upper-body damage have been designed to showcase him.
What does Fowler provide at this level of his profession? Well, he can nonetheless skate and transfer the puck, which has been his calling card since Anaheim drafted him with the No. 12 choose in 2010. He’ll eat minutes, as he has all the time. Just how a lot the Blues will get when it comes to the standard of these minutes is a query. He’s by no means been a naturally bodily presence in entrance of the online, preferring to defend together with his stick and physique positioning. He can work on the penalty kill however that’s not a serious energy, and the Ducks have struggled badly there in recent times.
There can be the query of his offense. Fowler can nonetheless transport the puck and make an efficient first move. He can assist the Blues with their transition sport, which Montgomery will recognize. But his ice time on that facet of the puck was being usurped by the kids in Anaheim. He additionally had a number of tough moments after his return from damage. If the Blues don’t ask Fowler to do every part — which regularly was the case with the Ducks — and draw out a clearly-lined function for him, it’s doable they’ll nonetheless get a really usable piece for a scant value.
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(Photo: Kelvin Kuo / USA Today)
