The Anaheim Ducks have acquired forward Alexander Volkov from the Tampa Bay Lighting in exchange for F Antoine Morand and a 2023 conditional seventh round draft pick. The pick can transfer to a 2024 7th rounder depending on conditions from a draft day 2020 trade with Columbus.
This is the first trade of the trade deadline season, and it is certainly not a blockbuster. Volkov is a decent prospect who just fell out of favor after Ross Colton impressed the Lightning with four points in his past seven games. Drafted in the second round (48th overall) in 2017, Volkov had 30 points in 46 AHL games last year, and scored exactly 23 goals for the Syracuse Crunch in both 2017-18 and 2018-19. He made his NHL debut last year, and he also played in one playoff game. That one playoff game happened to be Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, and Volkov drew a tripping penalty that led to the Cup-winning goal. Anaheim gets a young player who can fit into their bottom-six if given a chance. It is probably worth it for them, as the Ducks are 9-19-6, with minimal production from their bottom-six.
Volkov, 23, has scored three goals with two assists for five points in 19 games for Tampa Bay this year. In his two year NHL career, he has three goals with three assists in 28 games.
The Lightning clear up an NHL roster spot here, and they get some value back. Morand was drafted just 12 spots after Volkov in 2017, but his career has not progressed like Volkov\’s. After posting 70 points in 62 QMJHL games in 2018-19, Morand went to the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, where he has really fallen off. Still, Morand is young, albeit undersized. The seventh round pick is just some additional value for the Bolts.
Morand, 22, has scored one goal with five assists for six points in 21 games for the Gulls in 2020-21. In his AHL career, Morand has scored six goals with 16 assists for 22 points in 75 games.
CarterHud 