Seravalli: Ryan Getzlaf could be a marquee name at the trade deadline
Now one month into the 2021 season, we’re starting to get a picture of who could be buyers and sellers come April’s trade deadline.
An interesting team to follow will be the Anaheim Ducks. They’re 6-6-3 and currently sit fourth in the West Division despite not being billed as a playoff contender coming into the season.
@Ryan Getzlaf, the team’s long-time captain, is a free agent at the end of the season and the Ducks might look to move on. If that’s the case, Getzlaf could be a big name come trade deadline time for a contender looking to add a veteran centre.
Frank Seravalli and Jason Gregor talked about Getzlaf’s future on Friday’s edition of the DFO Rundown…
Gregor: What are you hearing on Getzlaf? Do you think he would accept a mid-season trade? Or is this a guy who wants to wait it out and go in the off-season?
Seravalli: There’s no question that he’s going to be in demand. Whether it’s before the [trade] deadline whether it’s in the summer. This is a big man who has a skillset that’s unique and he’s a leader who’s well respected.
Does he want to uproot his family in the middle of the year? Is he able to get by for a few weeks on his own somewhere else in order to take a run at another Stanley Cup?
I can tell you this… I’m in the process of working on the first TSN Trade Bait Board of the season. It’s going to be launched on Monday. If Ryan Getzlaf is available, he would be right near the top of that list.
Getzlaf has one goal and six points through 13 games on the low-scoring Ducks. Despite his mediocre production, Getzlaf has very good underlying numbers (a 54.7 Corsi For percentage at even-strength) and plays a sound defensive game. He would be an excellent option for a team looking for a middle-six, veteran centre for a playoff run.
The podcast can be viewed here…