Anaheim Ducks' Overpopulous Defense: Who Are the Most Expendable Players?

With this morning's trade bringing Francois Beauchemin in order to Anaheim, the Ducks are currently carrying nine defenders using them. For a team by incorporating outstanding blueliners like Lubomir Visnovsky, Toni Lydman, young Cam Fowler and now Francois Beauchemin, what defender is the best a single for GM Bob Murray to trade away?

1. Andy Sutton

The actual monster known as Andy Sutton, who was signed to Anaheim through the offseason, has been any disappointment over this period after missing 21 video games with a broken usb at the beginning with the season. Since that return, Sutton has clearly clashed with the some other defenders on Anaheim's roll. Sutton has been clumsy with the puck in Anaheim's zone, allowing unpredicted turnovers causing several objectives against. On top of the, his Pronger-like size has started to prevent him with many undesirable minor penalties forcing the particular Ducks to kill fines two minutes at a period.

2. Andreas Lilja

Lilja was a blueliner who was agreed upon after Sutton went lower back at the start of the season in October. Andreas has been a key penalty-killer and photo-blocker, being ranked 2nd on the team inside blocked shots. So even though he is expendable, I might be sad to notice him go if Sutton stayed in Southern California. A departure regarding Lilja wouldn't destroy Anaheim, however keeping Sutton could be something which would hurt Anaheim in the long run. Lilja was ranked 10 on the Ducks inside average time on ice per game; however Beauchemin can help grab those minutes.

3. Paul Mara

Another offseason placing your signature to that has fizzled out there is that of John Mara. The New Jersey-native defenseman is not a big name, often being overshadowed by this kind of players as Fowler and also Lydman, and since Dolichotis patagonum hasn't had a lot of bad publicity, or excellent publicity for that issue, he is expendable. In the event that Mara is traded away, his exit would not make many changes due to the fact, aside from his period on the ice numbers, there isn't much he contributes.

Overall, out of the three, I'd love to find out Sutton get traded away because between his mutual exclusiveness and the fact he has the biggest contract of the three players, opening up some cap space can really benefit the Ducks come the offseason.

So with adding Frankie towards the blue-line roster, expect another move or a couple of sending defenders, possibly these three and hopefully Sutton, elsewhere. GM Frank Murray might look to take in a few a lot more depth forwards or defensively-minded forwards, or perhaps he could just try to snag a few write picks and open upward some more salary cover room.

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