Ducks Trade Cam Fowler To The Blues
The Anaheim Ducks traded defenseman Cam Fowler and a 2027 fourth-round pick to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for minor league defenseman Jeremie Biakabutuka and a 2027 second-round pick.
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the Ducks retained 38.5 percent of Fowler’s $6.5 million average annual salary through 2025-26.
A mobile, all-around defenseman, the 33-year-old Fowler spent the past 14 seasons with the Ducks, netting 457 points in 991 games. He’s exceeded the 30-point plateau eight times, including three seasons with 40 or more points.
In September, Fowler spoke with management about his future, including a trade if the right opportunity came along. He had a four-team trade list but was willing to widen it to double-digits.
The rebuilding Ducks are transitioning toward younger defensemen like Olen Zellweger, Jackson LaCombe, and Pavel Mintyukov. That meant less playing time for Fowler over the remainder of his contract. Their recent addition of veteran Jacob Trouba also meant a potential shift among the blueline leadership. The return for Fowler isn’t much but the move removes over 60 percent of his cap hit from their books, giving them additional cap flexibility beyond this season.
Fowler was limited to four points in 17 games but recently returned from an 11-game absence with an upper-body injury. He should be a solid replacement for Torey Krug, who is out for the season after undergoing ankle surgery in September. His addition should also allow the Blues to give fewer minutes to aging blueliner Ryan Suter on the left side.
Another solid move by Armstrong getting a big mobile dman that plays the entire ice . I suspect something with Leddy will take place, LTIR or trade at some point and this does not bode well for Perinovich who hasn’t played since Broberg returned from his injury.
This also is another admission on Armstrong’s part that his experiment at trying to make the Blues defense faster and more offensive was a mistake, he sacrificed too much size on defense.
It was only a matter of time after the Trouba acquisition. But not much of a return for the former first rounder Fowler, especially considering the salary retention. Time will tell how Verbeek did with this one.
Totally agree underwhelming return for decent d man
Underwhelming especially considering the salary retained. When I told my son that the Ducks got only a 2nd, he replied that they traded him five years too late. Unfortunately his trade clause made it virtually impossible to trade him earlier.
Tough start to Verbeeks career.
Ducks retained 38% salary for 1.5 years
Got a 2nd pick, i think we may see lots of this Retaning salary, a 2nd picks for d/men trades
and young prospect if its going to a rebuilding team….
Blues have 9 d/men❗️ and 2 on IR….? I’m Surprized they went and got an other d/man……
i thought if anything it would be a forward
Krug’s career is likely over, Leddy probably headed to LTIR, Suter playing way too many minutes at his age, Kessel has lost his confidence and game and has been sent down so there was a need for a reliable veteran dman. Also move for next year if Krug and Leddy are done and Suter retires.