Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
One thing is certain: to resolve this situation, Anaheim is forced to complete a trade. And possibly even multiple trades.
TVA Sports reignited the debate yesterday.
They are asking a question that has generated plenty of discussion:
“Will they be forced to trade Cutter Gauthier after he has yet to reach an agreement with the Anaheim Ducks?”
Because Anaheim has only $9 million in salary cap space remaining, and it is clear that Gauthier will command more than $9 million per year.
Gauthier is coming off a 41-goal, 69-point season at just 22 years old.
The young forward shows no signs of slowing down. Quite the opposite!
If TVA Sports is talking about a Cutter Gauthier trade, the conclusion is clear.
The Anaheim Ducks are being forced to make a trade.
It is very possible that they will not trade Gauthier, but they will clearly need to create cap space elsewhere.
Kent Hughes could target three Ducks as Anaheim looks to clear cap space
Will Kent Hughes look to take advantage of the Ducks’ situation?
They are truly in a difficult position right now. They are desperate to free up salary cap space, and someone is going to take advantage of that to pull off a steal.
According to most of the sources consulted, three names stand out.
Those are three players the Ducks may be forced to trade urgently, which is never a good position to be in during negotiations.
A good target for the Montreal Canadiens would be Chris Kreider.
He is a power winger who has scored 22 goals, 22 goals, and 39 goals over the past three seasons, and he carries a $6.5 million cap hit for just one more season.
If the Ducks were to give the Canadiens, for example, Kreider plus a second-round pick in exchange for future considerations, that could be very interesting.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
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Canadiens linked to three trade targets as Ducks are forced to clear cap space
Which one would you target for Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens?