NHL Trade Rumors: 3 Potential Destinations Proposed for Cam Fowler

We heard over the weekend that the Anaheim Ducks are looking into trading 14-year veteran defenseman Cam Fowler. "I don't think anyone will be surprised if sometime this season Cam Fowler is elsewhere," reported insider Elliotte Friedman. "And from what I've been told, it is a positive working environment with him and the Ducks about getting this done and finding him a new place to play."

With two years remaining on his contract, with a $6.5 million cap hit, and loads of young talent ready to take over as the Ducks rebuild goes forward, his 24 minutes a night needs to be distributed around to help the youngsters grow.

The word is that Fowler is willing to look beyond the four-team trade list he currently has, and expand his potential destinations.

With that, Patrick Present of The Hockey News has come up with three potential trade destinations for Fowler that would be a good fit all around.

Edmonton Oilers

Now here's a team that needs a boost to their blueline going into the season as they look to make another run at a Stanley Cup. The Oilers this summer lost two of their likely top-six with the departures of Philip Broberg (offer sheet to St. Louis) and Cody Ceci (trade to San Jose). A respected veteran like Fowler could slot right into the Oilers' top-four.

From a cap perspective, the Oil could put Evander Kane and his $5.125 million cap hit on LTIR to have a shot at making this work, depending on how much the Ducks are willing to retain on Fowler's cap hit.

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks lost big d-man Nikita Zadorov to the Boston Bruins in free agency this summer, and Ian Cole moved on as well. Their defense is in flux, and has a hole in the top four, which none of Carson Soucy, Derek Forbort or Vincent Desharnais are really suited to fill. Fowler would be an excellent fit here as well. As with Edmonton, retention would be a crucial factor here.

Florida Panthers

Another team that took a big hit to its blueline this summer, the defending Cup champs lost Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson in free agency. That's 42 minutes per game to fill, and the additions of Nate Schmidt and Adam Boqvist leave them a bit exposed. Fowler would be a tremendous veteran addition.