Rangers trade rumors: Ducks reportedly wanted Cam Fowler included in Jacob Trouba trade

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The New York Rangers reportedly decided to take a pass on Cam Fowler for the second time, after his name was brough up in trade talks with the Anaheim Ducks recently.

Fowler was passed over by the Rangers in the 2010 NHL Draft. Sitting with the 10th overall pick in the first round, the Rangers selected hulking defenseman Dylan McIlrath instead of the highly-rated Fowler, who’s also a defenseman.

That move, of course, famously backfired. McIlrath played 38 games over four seasons with the Rangers and has totaled 85 NHL games with four teams in his career. Fowler, selected two picks after McIlrath at No. 12 overall, has 988 NHL games on his resume, each with the Ducks.

Given a second chance, though, at the 33-year-old, the Rangers reportedly passed when his name was brought up by the Ducks in trade talks. Instead the Rangers traded captain Jacob Trouba to the Ducks for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round draft pick.

“I heard that Anaheim wanted Fowler in this deal. I have no doubt Fowler wanted to be in this deal,” NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said on his 32 Thoughts podcast. “It’s been out there: he wants to be traded, he wants to play for a contender. I never heard [Frank] Vatrano’s name in it, but I did hear Fowler’s. At the end of the day, they couldn’t get it done. I think one of the reasons is New York wanted the flexibility for both this year and next.”

Like Trouba, Fowler is owed a significant salary through the 2025-26 season. One of the main reasons the Rangers wanted to part with the Trouba was to open up salary cap space by moving the entirety of his $8 million annual cap charge. Fowler is on the books for $6.5 million annually.

So, the Rangers would have added an older defenseman and saved just $1.5 million against the cap. Vaakanainen, who’s 25 and currently on IR with an upper-body injury, makes $1.1 million per season and is an RFA at season’s end.

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NHL Insider believes Rangers didn’t seek reunion with Frank Vatrano in talks with Ducks

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Frank Vatrano — Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images

Friedman mentioned Vatrano’s name because recent rumors suggested that the trade with the Ducks could have been expanded to include the forward. The Rangers sought a reunion with Vatrano ahead of last season’s trade deadline, but settled on winger Jack Roslovic instead.

Vatrano scored an NHL career-high 37 goals last season with Anaheim. Two seasons before, after New York picked him up ahead of the 2022 trade deadline, Vatrano was an excellent fit on Mika Zibanejad’s line with Chris Kreider. Vatrano had 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in 22 games and then added five goals and 13 points in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games, when he helped the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final.

Since he’s owed just $3.65 million this season, the final one before he becomes an unrestricted free agent, Vatrano’s name will be all over NHL trade rumors the rest of this season. The Rangers could have interest again, if they seek an upgrade over Reilly Smith in the top six, though the 33-year-old does have goals in consecutive games after a slump.

Vatrano has six goals and 12 points in 24 games for the Ducks, who are 10-12-3 and last in the Pacific Division.

Fowler has three assists in 14 games this season. He missed a month of action with an upper-body injury.

Jim Cerny is Executive Editor at Forever Blueshirts and Managing Editor at Sportsnaut, with more than 30 years of ... More about Jim Cerny
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