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Dudas Shocked: Ducks Trade Him to Panthers for Greer in Stunning Move
NHL Trade Roundup: Your Simple Guide to Recent Hockey Moves
What’s Going On?
The NHL (National Hockey League) is like a giant game of chess. Teams are always trying to get better by swapping players and future picks (think of picks as "IOUs" for future players). Let’s break down some recent trades in the simplest way possible!
The Big Trades Explained
1. Garnet Hathaway Heads to the Panthers
Here’s what happened:
- The Philadelphia Flyers sent forward Garnet Hathaway and a 6th-round pick in the 2026 draft to the Florida Panthers.
- In return, the Flyers got a 5th-round pick in 2026 and a 4th-round pick in 2027.
What does this mean? Think of it like trading a toy now for two (slightly better) toys later. The Flyers decided they’d rather have future chances at new players than keep Hathaway on their team.
2. Mackie Samoskevich Goes to Seattle
- The Florida Panthers traded forward Mackie Samoskevich to the Seattle Kraken on June 21.
- In return, Florida received a 1st-round pick in 2026 and a conditional 2nd-round pick in 2027.
Why is this a big deal? A 1st-round pick is like getting first dibs on the best new player available. That’s a really valuable prize!
Players Who Might Be on the Move Soon
A.J. Greer — A Hot Name Right Now
A.J. Greer is a 29-year-old forward who might become a UFA (Unrestricted Free Agent). Let’s break that down:
- UFA means a player who can sign with any team they want — like being free to pick any seat in the classroom!
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This past season, Greer had the best year of his career:
- 17 goals (his personal best!)
- 15 assists (also a personal best!)
- 32 total points (yep, another personal best!)
- All of this in 78 regular-season games
- He also won the Stanley Cup with the Panthers in 2025 — that’s the biggest prize in hockey!
- Over his entire career (playing for the Colorado Avalanche, New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, and Florida), he has:
- 81 points (36 goals + 45 assists) in 326 regular-season games
- 3 points (2 goals + 1 assist) in 16 playoff games
The Panthers’ manager, Verbeek, said:
"We hope to sign A.J. to a contract and look forward to what he can bring to our club."
Translation: The Panthers really like Greer and want to keep him on their team!
Other Trades You Should Know About
Here’s a quick list of more moves that happened around the same time:
| Date | What Happened |
|---|---|
| June 26 | The Anaheim Ducks traded defenseman Olen Zellweger to the Buffalo Sabres |
| June 26 | The Ducks also traded forward Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues |
| June 27 | The Ducks traded the rights to defenseman John Carlson to the Carolina Hurricanes |
"Traded the rights to" means the team traded their ability to have that player on their team — kind of like trading a concert ticket before you even use it.
How Did the Anaheim Ducks Do This Season?
The Ducks had a pretty exciting year:
- They went 43 wins, 33 losses, 6 ties (written as 43-33-6)
- They made the playoffs for the first time since 2018 — that’s a 7-year wait!
- They advanced to the Western Conference Second Round
- They lost in six games to the Vegas Golden Knights
Making the playoffs is a big deal — it means you’re one of the best teams in the league that year!
Summary
Here’s the big picture:
- Garnet Hathaway was traded to the Panthers for future draft picks.
- Mackie Samoskevich was traded to the Seattle Kraken for a valuable 1st-round pick.
- A.J. Greer had a career-best season and won a Stanley Cup — and the Panthers want to keep him.
- The Anaheim Ducks made several trades and had a strong season, making the playoffs after years of waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is a "draft pick"?
A draft pick is like a team’s chance to choose a new young player to join their organization. Teams can trade these picks to each other.
2. What does "UFA" mean?
UFA stands for Unrestricted Free Agent. It means the player is free to sign with any team they choose — no strings attached!
3. Why would a team trade a good player for draft picks?
Teams sometimes trade players they don’t think they can keep in order to get future talent. It’s like trading a snack now for a whole meal later!
4. What is the Stanley Cup?
The Stanley Cup is the biggest trophy in professional hockey. Winning it is the ultimate goal for every NHL team and player.
5. Why did the Anaheim Ducks trade so many players?
Teams often trade players to rebuild their roster, get younger talent, or collect future draft picks. It’s all part of a long-term strategy to build a stronger team over time.
