NHL Rumors: Ducks & Jets Emerging As Potential Trade Partners

The Anaheim Ducks have improved this season, but they are still not a playoff team at this point of the campaign. Because of this, they are likely to be sellers at the NHL trade deadline. One of their top trade candidates is pending unrestricted free agent Brian Dumoulin.

The Winnipeg Jets are in a different place, as they are at the top of the NHL standings and are going to be clear buyers at the deadline. One of their top goals should be to improve the left side of their defense, so they could be a team to watch when it comes to Dumoulin.

If the Jets acquired Dumoulin from the Ducks, he would provide them with a steady stay-at-home defenseman with plenty of playoff experience. When looking at their current group, he could slot nicely on their bottom pairing with Colin Miller. However, he can handle top-four minutes, so he also could be an option for their second pairing with Dylan Samberg. In addition, he would be an obvious choice for their penalty kill if acquired.

Dumoulin, 33, has appeared in 54 games this season with the Ducks, where he has one goal, 13 points, 55 hits, and 85 blocks. This was after the left-shot defenseman had six goals, 16 points, and a plus-3 rating in 80 games this past season with the Seattle Kraken.

Overall, Dumoulin would be a nice addition to a contender like the Jets to bring in. Let's see if they end up being the lucky club that acquires him by the deadline from here.