Potential Commerce Locations for Geese Defenseman Cam Fowler

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Friday that the Anaheim Ducks and defenseman Cam Fowler are “engaged on what his future might seem like.”

Report: Ducks and Fowler ‘Working on What His Future Could Look Like’

Fowler (32) has two years left on his contract that carries an AAV of $6.5 million and features a no-trade clause limiting the variety of groups to 4 to which he can settle for a commerce.

“What I’ve heard is that Fowler has indicated a willingness to speak to extra groups than that and contemplate extra groups than that,” Friedman reported. “Fowler has a variety of respect across the league. There will probably be curiosity.”

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NHL coaching camps are set to get underway later this month and groups have their rosters largely set for opening evening in October. Important trades do not typically happen this near camp, however gamers with Fowler’s notoriety aren’t often made out there at the moment of 12 months.

Whereas it is unlikely he’ll be moved earlier than the season, accidents are inevitable and unpredictable. If Fowler have been to be traded this season, let’s check out some potential locations that would profit from including the veteran blueliner:

The Oilers are as “win-now” as an NHL workforce has ever been. They have been one aim away from a Stanley Cup and improved considerably early in July, however have been later hit with a pair of provide sheets for ahead Dylan Holloway and defenseman Philip Broberg.

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Within the aftermath of the provide sheets, the Oilers misplaced Broberg and fellow defenseman Cody Ceci, but managed to usher in younger defenseman Ty Emberson.

Their defensive depth chart nonetheless leaves rather a lot to be desired after their prime pair of Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm. Fowler would supply wanted puck-moving from a center pair function and add a layer of versatility the Oilers may benefit from because the lengthy 82-game common season schedule takes its toll.

Edmonton presently has slightly below $1 million in cap area with a 22-man roster however is anticipated to position ahead Evander Kane and his $5.125 million cap hit on long-term injured reserve.

A problem could possibly be value because the Oilers haven’t got a very deep or potent prospect pool. They possess 4 picks within the upcoming draft (rounds 2,3,6, and seven) in addition to all their picks within the 2026 draft.

If a deal could possibly be reached, the potential match for Fowler in Edmonton is simple.

The Canucks are coming off a playoff run through which they took the eventual Western Convention Champion Oilers to seven video games of their second-round matchup.

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Vancouver’s state of affairs in web is unsure as a result of damage considerations for each their rostered goaltenders, Thatcher Demko and Artus Silovs. Although there’s thriller round Demko’s damage, Friedman did report surgical procedure would not be the reply and he’ll need to be taught to play by it. Silovs missed Latvia’s Olympic qualifying event with the workforce saying a knee damage and even going so far as to say he’d be questionable for the beginning of the NHL season.

Silovs participated in a casual workforce skate in early Sept.

The Canucks misplaced defenseman Nikita Zadorov in free company to the Boston Bruins, leaving a gap on their center defensive pair subsequent to Tyler Myers. They’ve Derek Forbort and Carson Soucy below contract, however Soucy hasn’t performed top-four minutes in his profession and Forbort hasn’t in three years.

Vancouver is presently proper in opposition to the wage cap ceiling, so a possible Fowler commerce would seemingly contain full wage retention ($3.25 million) and cash heading again to Anaheim.

Vancouver could possibly be available in the market for a depth puck-moving choice behind Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes and a deeper defensive core in entrance of a crease brimming with uncertainty.

The Canucks maintain seven draft picks within the 2025 Draft, together with their very own first and second-round picks.

The Panthers are contemporary off their first Stanley Cup in franchise historical past and their contending window is seemingly extensive open.

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They misplaced one-third of their championship blueline within the 2024 offseason with the departures of Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Montour featured on their first energy play unit and averaged 23:27 TOI in 2023-24. Ekman-Larsson featured on the workforce’s second energy play unit and averaged 18:24 TOI.

In free company, the Panthers signed defensemen Nate Schmidt and Adam Boqvist.

The Panthers will try to be the third workforce in ten years to win back-to-back Stanley Cups, however past the 2024-25 season, they’re future turns into murky. Three vital items would require new contracts after this season, forwards Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe in addition to defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

If Florida intends to maximise their present core and push their chips in for a second-straight Stanley Cup, they will not be glad with second and third defensive pairs consisting of Niko Mikkola, Dmitry Kulikov, Nate Schmidt, and Adam Boqvist.

Cam Fowler might soften the blow of shedding two depth puck-movers on their blueline and supply stability to their backside pairs.

Florida, like Vancouver, is approaching the wage cap ceiling and can seemingly require most wage retention and to ship a reimbursement in a Fowler commerce.

They maintain six draft picks within the 2025 Draft, however zero within the first three rounds.

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Fowler’s future in Anaheim was as soon as considered as strong as they arrive. Together with his commerce limitations and vital cap hit, Friedman’s report got here as a shock to make certain.

The NHL panorama is unpredictable. With accidents all however sure and new groups surprisingly rising as contenders 12 months after 12 months, the checklist of groups who could want the companies of a participant like Fowler could enhance as time progresses.

What’s predictable is what Fowler gives on the ice and within the locker room. He is solely missed seven video games up to now three seasons. He makes use of his elite skating to evade strain and open up lanes to effectively transfer pucks up ice whereas offering a gradual, efficient but not imposing defensive presence.

Whereas the potential of Cam Fowler enjoying for an additional workforce could take some getting used to, it could be finest for all events concerned.

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