Anaheim Ducks defenseman exploring trade options and the Maple Leafs are a viable destination
With the Anaheim Ducks undergoing a full rebuild, veteran defenseman Cam Fowler is expected to be moved this season and the Maple Leafs could sure use him.
The Ducks have a strong core of young players and prospects that are expected to make a difference at the NHL-level in the next few years. However, for the time being, they are looking to unload veteran players on existing contracts to help accelerate their rebuild.
Goaltender John Gibson has been on the trade block for a few years now, and according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Fowler is expected to be on the move at some point this season with his contract expiring at the end of the 2025-26 season.
Friedman alludes to the idea that both sides are working amicably for greener pastures with Fowler having been a member of the Anaheim Ducks for his entire 14-year career. He currently has a 4-team trade list that he is open to expanding and a trade should be in the cards this year with the Ducks working diligently.
From what I've heard is that Fowler has indicated a willingness to talk to more teams than that and consider more teams than that. I think this will be a story worth watching over the next little while. Fowler has a lot of respect around the league. I think there will be interest.
I believe the Ducks are willing to talk about it, I believe the player is willing to talk about it. I don't think anyone will be surprised if sometime this season Cam Fowler is elsewhere and from what I've been told, it is a positive working environment with him and the Ducks about getting this done and finding him a new place to play."
Fowler was drafted with the 12th overall pick all the way back in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He immediately made his rookie debut in 2010-11 and has amassed 453 points in 974 games to go along with 1,334 blocked shots and 473 hits, all while averaging 23:15 TOI.
He is a smooth skating, shot-blocking, offensive-minded defenseman who can help any power play - either first or second unit - and has the leadership qualities you're looking for on the back-end. His experience would help the Maple Leafs immensely and despite the Ducks having not made the playoffs in quite some time, Fowler has 62 games of experience between 2010-11 and 2016-17.
He carries a $6.5 million dollar cap hit in 2024-25 and 2025-26 but the Ducks could look to retain some of salary, considering they're carrying almost $21 million in projected cap space as we speak and a trade would put them under the minimum cap floor.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are short on draft picks so they would have to get very creative in trying to strike a deal, but they could always use California native Nick Robertson as bait should they really have their eyes set on enlisting the services of the veteran defenseman.
Fowler, alongside Chris Tanev, Morgan Rielly, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Jake McCabe, would make for a solid defensive corps heading into the post-season.
Source for Elliotte Friedman's quotes: The Fourth Period
DUCKS WILL LOOK TO TRADE FOWLER THIS SEASON
Source for Cam Fowler's statistics: Hockey Reference
Cam Fowler
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 7 | 258 ANSWERS Anaheim Ducks defenseman exploring trade options and the Maple Leafs are a viable destination Should the Toronto Maple Leafs look to acquire Cam Fowler this year? | ||
| Yes, they need more top-4 options | 93 | 36 % |
| No, they already have enough defensemen | 42 | 16.3 % |
| Only if Anaheim retains half his salary | 123 | 47.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
