Anaheim Ducks trade Hampus Lindholm to the Bruins for a massive haul
The Belle of the ball for the trade deadline has been dealt. Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek made what should be the biggest move of this year’s deadline for the Ducks by dealing Hampus Lindholm to the Boston Bruins. He also sent Kodie Curran (RIP Big Boomin Shot) in the deal, and in return received a 2022 1st round pick, a 2023 2nd round pick, a 2024 2nd round pick, defenseman Urho Vaakanainen, and defenseman John Moore.
Lindholm, while being a mainstay for the Ducks’ blue line for the past 9 years, had seen his play decline slightly over the past few seasons, and Verbeek made the decision that extending him for a long-term deal was not something that would fit with the Ducks timeline. See below for his RAPM chart (from Evolving-Hockey), his player card (from Jfresh), and his microstat player card (from Corey Sznajder).
Lindholm is still a good player that makes any team better, but losing him might not make as big of an impact as many will think.
In assessing the Ducks’ return, Verbeek received a massive package for Lindholm at 50% salary retention which includes a 1st round pick in the upcoming draft, a 2nd round pick in the 2023 draft, a 2nd round pick in the 2024 draft, and defenseman Urho Vaakanainen. Additionally, Verbeek utilized the Ducks cap flexibility to take on John Moore’s $2.75 Million AAV for this season and next season. Without doing that, the Ducks surely would not have received the additional 2nd round pick.
We will have to wait and see who the draft picks will become, or if Verbeek decides to flip them for someone that fits the Ducks timeline (cough Chychrun cough), but those picks add significant value to the Ducks’ already loaded farm system.
In Vaakanainen, the Ducks are receiving a 23-year-old, left-shot defenseman that was taken in the 1st round, at 18th overall, in 2017. Vaakanainen has not been able to stick in the NHL yet, having only played 31 NHL games so far over the course of 4 seasons. Scott Wheeler of the Athletic said the following about him in January of 2021:
Evaluating Vaakanainen’s game comes with a caveat: The results and the look are sometimes at odds with one another. Vaakanainen’s game with the puck can look a little sloppy, like he’s just a touch off. The outcome can be mistimed passes, or a bobble under pressure. But the results, in terms of his ability to drive possession, to play big minutes (in the AHL and Liiga at least), and to be on the ice for more goals for and more chances for, than against, has always been there. He’s got decent four-way mobility, his stride is light and fluid, he effectively keeps play to the outside through his gaps, and his offensive mistakes are more about execution than about the way he’s processing the game and making his choice, so you won’t often see him get burned trying to do too much or make an ill-advised play. There is still room for players like that in the 2021 NHL, especially with what we know about what actually matters for defensemen now (which is less about counting stats and more about efficiency). While he only got into two Liiga games at the tail end of November before the league went on its pause, I thought he looked like he was in complete control in both games. He’s not going to be more than a third-pairing guy, but I think he’s capable of playing that role fine.
He should get an opportunity to jump right into the Ducks lineup and show what he can do.
With this trade, Pat Verbeek has decidedly changed the future for the Ducks and has reshaped the team drastically. He put out the following statement, which sums up exactly what all fans should want to hear! Bright days are ahead Ducks fans!