Ducks Look To Keep Fowler Long-Term

By Michael Walters

According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Ducks are expected to talk about a contract extension with Cam Fowler some time next week. Fowler still has one year left on his current contract. If an extension is indeed agreed upon, then it can’t be officially signed until July 1st, 2017 when Fowler has exactly one year left on his current deal. Fowler had his best season since his rookie year with Anaheim. He registered 39 total points(11 goals + 28 assists), which was just one point shy of the 40 he had in the 2010-11 season. If a contract extension is worked out, then a lot of it will depend on what Bob Murray does with the rest of the defensive core especially with the expansion draft rapidly approaching.

Will Patrick Eaves and Jonathan Bernier return?

Whether Eaves and Bernier return to Anaheim will also depend on what the market brings in the summer they both said. Eaves expressed interest in coming back to the Ducks next season. It sounds like he would want a multi-year deal. Eaves had a career year with 51 total points(32 goals + 19 assists), which were all career highs for him. He should be one of the most sought after free agents this summer, which will drive his asking price up. It may be difficult for Bob Murray to keep Eaves given the Ducks already tight cap space situation.

Bernier did well in the regular season going 21-7-4 with a GAA of 2.50 and SV% of .915. He served as the back-up role for John Gibson throughout the season. Unfortunately, when Gibson couldn’t finish Game 5 or go in Game 6, Bernier wasn’t able to earn victories in either contest for Anaheim. Most noticeably was Game 6, where Bernier gave up four goals on 16 shots. That may have been his final performance with Anaheim depending on how much weight Murray places on it as compared to his overall season performance.

Exit Interviews took place today at Honda Center. Bob Murray and Randy Carlyle provided several injury updates.

1. Rickard Rakell has a high ankle sprain. He would have been available for the Stanley Cup Final.
2. Patrick Eaves has a high ankle sprain which involved a bone bruise. He also had a setback when he tried to skate on it.
3. Logan Shaw has a torn groin.
4. Kevin Bieksa played with a torn MCL.
5. Ryan Kesler had some type of aliment, which may be disclosed at a later time.
6. John Gibson sustained a hamstring injury in Game 5, which ended his postseason play.
7. Nate Thompson played with a hairline fracture in his ankle.
8. Jared Boll has back issues.
9. Hampus Lindholm will need shoulder surgery. Recovery time is estimated at about 4-5 months.
10. Sami Vatanen has a shoulder injury and will also need surgery. Bob Murray thinks the recovery time will be longer than Lindholm’s.

Murray was asked about Simon Despres, but declined to give an update. He did say “soon enough, everything will be clear.”

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May 25th, 2017

Filed under: Ducks News Tagged: Anaheim Ducks, cam fowler, Jonathan Bernier, patrick eaves