Team interested in trading for talented defenseman.

The Anaheim Ducks find themselves in a situation they would rather not be in.

The team is has struggled through the first five games of the season, going 1-3-1 on their opening road trip. The Ducks' offense has struggled mightily and the defense has been put in tough situations in every game.

However, one of the bright spots for the team has been defenseman Cam Fowler. The 24-year old, pending UFA, has 2 goals and 2 assists to start the season, and is currently averaging nearly 25 minutes per game in ice time.

Unfortunately, the Ducks are shopping Fowler due to the team’s salary cap situation in hopes of re-signing defenseman Hampus Lindholm. It is rumoured that Lindholm will be commanding north of $5 million annually on a new contract, and Fowler is unlikely to be re-signed at the end of this season. Fowler’s ability on the ice and his team-friendly $4 million makes him an attractive player to many teams.

Enter the Detroit Red Wings.

The Red Wings are in desperate need of help on defense, and could be willing to mortgage some future assets to acquire Fowler's services. According to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free-Press, the Red Wings could be interested in leveraging this year's draft pick along with a prospect for Fowler.

As always, the issue is price. Would it make sense for this year's 16th overall pick and a good prospect? Yes. But what if the price is this year's first-round pick and promising right-winger Anthony Mantha? That'd be a steep price, but high-end young defensemen are hard to come by, unless drafted and developed from within and the Wings don't have a Fowler within their system.

Whether the Wings would be willing to give up a prospect like Mantha is anyone's guess, one thing is certain. If the Wings feel that their defensive unit will continue to let them down, they might be willing to part with him.

 [pub]