NHL Trade Rumors: 4 teams who should trade for Cam Fowler

The Anaheim Ducks might be forced to trade defenseman Cam Fowler. Here are four fits for him.

It is well known the Anaheim Ducks are a budget team. They rarely spend to the salary cap ceiling. This year, they are spending to the cap ceiling, especially since they recently signed Hampus Lindholm. For the time being, they’re fine. Once Emerson Etem clears waivers and they send goaltender Dustin Tokarski down to the AHL, they’ll be just over the cap. Send down another cheap deal and they will be.

But once Simon Despres gets off the long-term injured reserve list, things are going to get complicated. They’ll likely have to trade one of their defensemen. Nobody wants Kevin Bieksa or Clayton Stoner, so the only other logical option is Cam Fowler.

Fowler is a very solid defensemen, so normally, a lot of teams would have interest in him. However, because of Anaheim’s salary cap situation, only teams that can take on his cap hit can trade for him. Considering everyone knows Fowler has to go, he could be had for a relatively cheap price. Here are the four most logical destinations for Cam Fowler, ranked from least likely to most likely.

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4. Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes have a plethora of young defensemen and probably have no long-term need for Cam Fowler. However, it still makes a little bit of sense for them to trade for him. There are two reasons why they should at least kick the tires on Fowler.

First of all, they have more than enough cap space. In fact, no NHL team has more cap space than the Hurricanes. With Ron Hainsey likely gone after this season, they need another left-handed defensemen. Fowler’s left-handed.

The second reason is far more significant. With next summer’s expansion draft, the Hurricanes are going to have to expose some of their young defensemen unless they get creative. Fowler would allow them to potentially keep an extra defenseman. And there’s a very good chance he will get taken if he is left unprotected.

It’s a long-shot but there’s a thread of logic in there.

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3. Winnipeg Jets

Much like the Carolina Hurricanes, the Winnipeg Jets have the cap space necessary to trade for Fowler without having to give away any. Their interest in Fowler makes a bit more sense for the Jets. First of all, the expansion draft logic makes sense for the Jets as well. Fowler gives them flexibility. He’s worth protecting, but if the Jets don’t want to expose some of their other defensemen, Fowler is a guy who definitely gets taken.

Cam Fowler could be a way for the Jets to buy another year of trying to figure out their goaltending. Fowler would likely get taken over whichever goaltender they leave exposed. Secondly, acquiring Fowler opens up the possibility of trading Jacob Trouba. Naturally, the Jets want a left-handed defenseman for Trouba. Acquiring Fowler allows them to entertain other offers and get potentially a much better return for him.

He would allow them to have a better blue line. Right now, they don’t have an overly strong left-handed option as far as puck movers. Fowler would give them one. Winnipeg’s interest in Fowler is likely fairly low, but it wouldn’t be surprising for them to take a chance on him. Especially if his price is low enough.

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2. Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins make a lot of sense for Cam Fowler. They desperately need left-handed defensemen, especially with Zdeno Chara approaching the end of his career. This might make a bit more sense in the offseason, but the Bruins might not have a choice. They can easily ask one of Torey Krug or Fowler to play on their offside. Both are talented enough to do so.

Another reason this could make sense for the Bruins is it gives them something which might help them get Jacob Trouba. Boston covets Trouba, a right-handed shot who is still extremely young. But since the Jets want a left-handed defenseman in any package for him, the Bruins are quite limited. Krug would be the only viable option and the Bruins need more players like Krug, not less. Fowler, however, makes a bit of sense.

Even if he doesn’t help the Bruins get Trouba, he gives them a left-handed defenseman to replace Chara. Fowler would also give the Bruins very solid depth on their blue line. At worst, it would be a lot better than it has been in recent years. Oh, and they have just enough cap space to squeeze in Fowler. The Bruins are definitely going to try to trade for Fowler. But there is a team far more desperate for defensemen than them.

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1. New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils desperately need to add a veteran defenseman. While Cam Fowler is a mere 24 years old, he already has over 400 NHL games on his resume. So he counts as a veteran, especially to a team with a relatively young blue line. Andy Greene has been terrific for them, but he won’t be around forever.

New Jersey is attempting to make the transition to being a more offense focused team. They don’t have the personnel to do so because they don’t have a strong puck mover. Cam Fowler won’t be winning any Norris Trophies anytime soon, but he’s still an above average puck mover. Fowler would help them make the transition smoothly.

They certainly have the cap space to get him, as they currently have over $9 million of cap space. Their need for him is quite obvious as well. New Jersey makes sense for Fowler as well. He’d get big minutes with the Devils, allowing him to potentially get a bigger deal once his current one is up.

Fowler certainly isn’t a hero. He won’t be the solution in New Jersey. But he’s good enough where he’s likely going to be a part of it.