5 Anaheim Ducks The New Jersey Devils Should Inquire About

Josh Manson

Manson is a rugged right-shot defenseman that many teams would absolutely covet. The Ducks were even dangling him at the trade deadline but instead opted to hold on to their big minute-eating blueliner. The Ducks defensive cupboard was once fully stocked, but the departures of players such as Shea Theodore, Sami Vatanen, and Brandon Montour have reduced the Ducks depth in that department. That said, they still have plenty of young talented d-men in the pipeline. It’s very clear Anaheim is heading towards a full youth movement and the 28-year-old Manson was squarely in the crosshairs of Murray’s veteran rant and he could be the next big piece to go.

The Devils need defense and not everybody on the roster should be under the legal drinking age. Manson would be an excellent addition to an improved back end. What would it take to get him? That’s the real question.  Fortunately, it might not take much. Anaheim has less than $3-million in cap space. Manson is slated to make $4.1 million over the next two seasons and the cap relief might be motivation enough for Murray to move on with little more than a pick and prospect going the other way.

Of course, Manson only makes sense as part of a domino scenario in which the Devils have already moved other pieces in other deals, but that’s a story for another day.