The Anaheim Ducks have acquired defenseman Haydn Fleury from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman Jani Hakanpaa and a 6th round draft pick.
Drafted 7th overall back in 2014, Fleury has not panned out for the Hurricanes. He has played a lot this year, but has failed to establish himself as a legitimate NHL player. He is not elite offensively or defensively, but just alright at both. Ice time has been an ice for Fleury, has he has played very protected minutes, averaging under 14 minutes a game. He is still young, and signed through next year with a $1.3 million cap hit. Even afterwards, Fleury will be an RFA. It is definitely worth a shot for the Ducks, who are rebuilding. Fleury will take the spot of Hakanpaa or the recently departed Ben Hutton on Anaheim\’s blue line.
Fleury, 24, has just one point, a goal, in 35 games for the Hurricanes this year. In his NHL career, all in Carolina, Fleury has scored five goals with 19 assists for 24 points in 167 games.
The Hurricanes are not a bad team; they are actually one of the league\’s best and are headed to the playoffs again this year. However, they do not need Fleury, so trying to give him a change of scenery makes sense. However, the value here is not great. Hakanpaa has been a pretty good defensive defenseman for the Ducks this year, but has less NHL experience than Fleury. A 2010 4th rounder by St. Louis, he spent most of his career in Finland, before coming to the NHL last year. He only played in five games, but had 13 points in 47 AHL games. The sixth is not a big push on the value scale.
Hakanpaa, 29, has one assist with 65 blocked shots and 168 hits in 42 games for the Ducks this year. In his NHL career, he has one additional goal with 15 hits and seven blocked shots in five games.
CarterHud 