Ducks Predicted to Trade Goalie to Oilers

As the Anaheim Ducks get ready for the upcoming season, the roster still has a few questions on it. The team let go of veteran goalie John Gibson this summer, trading him to the Detroit Red Wings.

Anaheim is now expected to move forward with Lukáš Dostál and Petr Mrazek as the goalie tandem. But it seems that the Ducks have also discussed different deals around the league to potentially add more depth across the roster.

One team that the Ducks have spoken to about a potential goalie trade is the Edmonton Oilers. Anaheim reportedly discussed a Gibson trade last year with the team, and the two sides could come back to discuss another deal.

With the Oilers needing a goalie, the Ducks could be a solid option for them as trade partners. NHL writer Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report is predicting that Anaheim will trade Mrazek to the Oilers at the trade deadline next season.

"Mrázek is a free agent next July and could become available if the Ducks are out of contention or if Ville Husso outplays him for the backup job behind Lukáš Dostál. He would likely only cost a draft pick to acquire, and the Ducks could retain part of his $4.3 million cap hit," Richardson wrote.

Trading with a division rival is always a risky move for a team, but Anaheim may not want to hold onto Mrazek long-term. With him being a free agent at the end of the year, the Ducks may want to net a draft pick in return.

Dostál is the future in Anaheim, with Mrazek being a placeholder as the backup. The Ducks have been all about building toward the future, and getting a future pick is exactly what the front office has been executing.

This could help the Ducks with a bigger deal down the line, while the Oilers would get a nice goalie option to use for the playoffs. The two teams seem like decent trade partners, and a deal could be executed at some point.