Anaheim Ducks Trade Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion

The Anaheim Ducks traded veteran defenceman Brian Dumoulin ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7th.  This comes as no surprise, as Dumoulin was expected to be on the move. The 32-year-old blueliner, whom Anaheim traded for in the offseason, was dealt to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick and prospect Herman Traff as the Ducks continue to accumulate assets for the future. The Ducks retained 50% of Dumoulin’s $3.15 million cap hit.

What Dumoulin Brings

Brian Dumoulin, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins, brought experience and defensive stability to Anaheim’s young roster. In 61 games this season, he registered 16 points and averaged 19:48 minutes of ice time per game. Dumoulin also played key minutes on the penalty kill. Not appearing on the stat sheet, but Dumoulin is as calm of a presence with the puck as you will see in the league. In fact, his skating and turns away from pressure seem to become smoother with the puck on his stick. Dumoulin is a big, mobile defender and is an effective puck-moving rearguard. He doesn’t go looking for the toughness, but won’t back down from it either. However, with the Ducks outside the playoff picture, general manager Pat Verbeek opted to move the veteran defenceman on an expiring contract.

New Jersey Gets Cup Champion and Steady Presence

The trade provides Dumoulin with an opportunity to contribute to a playoff-bound team. While not a top-pair defenceman, he will add depth to New Jersey Devils’ defensive corps. Known for his shutdown ability, strong positioning, and penalty-killing prowess, Dumoulin is exactly the type of depth defender teams need for a playoff run.

What Trade Means for Anaheim Ducks

For Anaheim, this move aligns with their long-term strategy of building around a young core. That core currently features Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish, and Leo Carlsson at forward. On the back end, the Ducks will look to Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov, and Jackson LaCombe to step into more prominent roles. Acquiring a second-round pick  gives along with Traff gives them additional flexibility heading into the offseason as they look to accelerate their rebuild.