Ducks Lose Mahura to Waivers: Why it was best for both sides

Yesterday, it was announced that the Florida Panthers claimed left-handed shooting defenseman Josh Mahura off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks. At first reaction, many people may be upset at GM Pat Verbeek by citing a lack of asset management. While the Ducks did not receive anything in return for the loss of Mahura, the impact this will have on the Ducks is insignificant in the long-term outlook of the team.

Josh Mahura is 24 years old and entering his prime-production years. The Ducks are one to two years out of a timeline where they should start competing for a playoff position within their own division so his prime years don’t really align well with the Ducks, seeing that they (suddenly) have a log jam at the left side of their defense over the next few years. The Ducks’ left side of the defense that are signed beyond this season, including their prospects; are Cam Fowler, Simon Benoit, Colton White, Urho Vaakenainen, Pavel Mintyukov, Olen Zellweger, and Tyson Hinds. This list doesn’t even include unsigned college prospects, Jackson Lacombe or Henry Thrun. That list means there could be 7-9 players fighting for 3 roster spots, and if we are being honest it is really going to be seven players fighting for one roster spot next year, as I see Fowler and Zellweger as locks for the top four next season.

You might ask why just let Mahura walk for nothing. Yeah, assets are nice and all, but Mahura’s value is not high. Look no further than the team that claimed him. In order for the Panthers to have a chance to claim Josh, 30 other teams had to pass on him due to them winning the President’s trophy last season.

Let’s also not forget that the Ducks have nine picks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, four of which are in the first two rounds of the draft. The Ducks will not have an issue with depth over the next few years. The team also signed Nathan Beaulieu to a one-year deal and while it is true to say that Mahura is the better of the two players, Beaulieu is not likely to play that often and the real competition was between Mahura and Benoit.

Mahura has never been able to establish himself as an NHL regular. He has put together some good stretches for the Ducks, but he has never been able to put together extended periods of success. The Ducks simply chose to go with Simon Benoit for their bottom pairing on the left side, and as you can see below, he has been the better defenseman of the two over the past few years, albeit in a 3rd pairing role.

Simon Benoit is the exact type of player that Head Coach Dallas Eakins loves. He was an undrafted free agent signed by the Ducks on March 7th, 2019. This came after he earned a contract in San Diego via a tryout. It has been well documented that Benoit has had to fight and earn everything in regard to his NHL career. Dallas Eakins is all about earning your spot and in the end, which Benoit has done and in turn, left Mahura as the odd man out.

With the fact that there are so many players who are going to be fighting for a roster spot, the likelihood of Mahura earning that last spot would have been very low. In the end, losing him to waivers is probably the best outcome for Mahura as he can now try to earn an NHL spot on another team, as it seemed like the Ducks had moved on from him.