The Florida Panthers traded the signing rights to A.J. Greer to the Anaheim Ducks today in exchange for the rights to defenseman Radko Gudas, completing a rights swap between the two teams.
According to insider Frank Seravalli, unless a deal is reached before then, both players become unrestricted free agents at noon ET on Wednesday.
The whole tale is that deadline. Without a contract, there are no rights.
Greer, 29, was one of Florida’s quiet value players this season, scoring 17 goals and 15 assists in 78 games on an $850,000 cap hit.
Over the final 10 games of the regular season, he had a genuinely hot streak, scoring 4-4-8 with a +9 rating and finishing the year at +14.
That profile is ideal for Anaheim. The Joel Quenneville-coached Ducks went 43-33-6 this year, placing 17th overall, and they could use a physically fit, fruitful winger in that bottom-six role without breaking the bank.
Florida pursues a skilled shutdown defensive lineman with a $4 million cap charge.
Gudas is a completely other creature. In 56 games with Anaheim this season, the 36-year-old blueliner recorded 2 goals and 11 assists at a cap hit of $4,000,000.
Florida doesn’t want him because his numbers were low at the end of the season, scoring zero in his final five contests.
Gudas is a physical, playoff-experienced enforcer. That profile on his blue line has always been valued by Paul Maurice.
Their defensive depth was revealed throughout the season when they allowed 276 goals against and finished 25th overall with a 40-38-4 record.
Bill Zito was searching for a depth acquisition in the form of a right-shot defender who skates on the periphery and is not afraid to utilize his physique.
The difference in cap hits is remarkable. Greer spent $850,000. The cost of Gudas is $4,000,000. Florida is investing in the expertise of veterans.
The real question now is whether either side gets ink on paper before Wednesday noon. Greer’s production at that price point means he has real leverage on the open market.
If Anaheim can’t agree terms before free agency opens, he walks. And this deal becomes a very expensive nothingburger for Florida.
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