Anaheim adds Kevin Bieksa to the paddling

Neil Parker

2015-07-01

 

Kevin.Bieksa.6.30

 

 

Kevin Bieksa solidifies Anaheim’s blue line, but what about his fantasy stock?

 

 

 

The Anaheim Ducks dealt a second-round selection in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft to the Vancouver Canucks for Kevin Bieksa Tuesday, June 30.

 

The deal solidifies the Ducks’ blue line with Bieksa joining Cam Fowler, Clayton Stoner, Sami Vatanen, Simon Despres and Hampus Lindholm as an admirable starting point. Unrestricted free-agent Francois Beauchemin would appear to be relocating from Orange County due to the acquisition of Bieksa.

 

It is a logical move. Beauchemin would be looking for term and money, and Bieksa can fill the void for a season before Vatanen, Lindholm and Despres become restricted free agents and are after raises.

 

So before judging Anaheim to harshly for acquiring a declining 34-year-old defenseman, the upcoming contract extension details need to surface.

 

Bieksa has regressed statistically for three consecutive seasons, and his ice time, and more importantly, his power-play minutes have, too. His fantasy value is tied to his peripheral statistics, and he is far from a lock for 30 points, let alone 20.

 

Seriously, though, take a look at those stats, and the name value is far higher than the fantasy value. I don’t doubt his on-ice contributions, and I like Bieksa, but he isn’t a fantasy commodity worth pursuing aggressively.

 

The Vancouver media, and to a lesser extent the entire Canadian media, have skyrocketed his stock. He is a solid contributor in blocked shots, hits, penalty minutes, and now, his plus/minus rating will help, too. Anything in the point column should be considered bonus. He a late-round flier in the majority of formats.

 

In Vancouver, the deal opens a hole. Expect the Canucks to add a free agent or two. Adam Clendening should make the jump, but he is also the only in-house option who jumps off the page.

 

Alexander Edler, Dan Hamhuis, Christopher Tanev and Luca Sbisa are the only defensemen currently under contract with the Canucks with any substantial experience .

 

 

Leave A Comment

UPCOMING GAMES

Apr 22 - 19:04 BOS vs TOR
Apr 22 - 19:04 CAR vs NYI
Apr 22 - 21:04 DAL vs VGK
Apr 22 - 22:04 EDM vs L.A

Starting Goalies

Top Skater Views

  Players Team
MIKA ZIBANEJAD NYR
ALEXIS LAFRENIERE NYR
STEVEN STAMKOS T.B
KYLE CONNOR WPG
MATTHEW TKACHUK FLA

Top Goalie Profile Views

  Players Team
JUSTUS ANNUNEN COL
ANDREI VASILEVSKIY T.B
CHARLIE LINDGREN WSH
JACOB MARKSTROM CGY
ALEXANDAR GEORGIEV COL

LINE COMBOS

  Frequency DAL Players
22.6 JASON ROBERTSON JOE PAVELSKI ROOPE HINTZ
22.0 LOGAN STANKOVEN WYATT JOHNSTON JAMIE BENN
21.6 TYLER SEGUIN MASON MARCHMENT MATT DUCHENE

DobberHockey Podcasts

FIND US ON FACEBOOK