Breaking: Ducks make a huge decision regarding their blue line

With the NHL’s Expansion Draft looming this summer and only three spots to protect four promising young defensemen, the Anaheim Ducks find themselves in a difficult position. However one NHL insider, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, has reported that the Ducks are in negotiations with one defender for a contract extension.

While it was a forgone conclusion that the Ducks would protect Hampus Lindholm and Kevin Bieksa, the former because of his immense value, the latter because of his no-movement clause, it’s been mostly a mystery as to how the Ducks would deal with Cam Fowler, Sami Vatanen and Josh Manson. News that the Ducks are interested in extending Fowler’s contract should put to rest any speculation that they’ll leave him unprotected or move him in advance of the Expansion Draft.

Fowler, for his part, had a stellar season in 2016-17 with the Ducks. In 80 games the 25 year-old blue liner produced 11 goals and 39 points. In the playoffs he was just as good with nine points in 13 games played.