Anaheim Ducks Trade News: John Klingberg and Dmitry Kulikov out of lineup for trade-related reasons

The Anaheim Ducks have decided to bench defensemen John Klingberg and Dmitry Kulikov in their upcoming game against the Washington Capitals.

That has prompted speculation that the team is actively exploring trade options ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Both players feature on TSN's Trade Bait board and could provide a boost to any team in need of defensive depth heading into the playoffs.

Kulikov, who's ranked No. 20 on the board, has recorded three goals and 15 points in 61 games this season, averaging 17:25 minutes of ice time per outing. The 32-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent and carries a cap hit of $2.25 million.

Klingberg, who's ranked just behind Kulikov on the Trade Bait board, has had 24 points in 50 games this season, averaging 21:06 minutes of ice time per outing. The 30-year-old is also a pending, unrestricted free agent and carries a cap hit of $7 million on the one-year deal he signed with Anaheim last summer.

Anaheim's decision to hold out both players suggests that the team is actively exploring trade options ahead of the NHL trade deadline. The Ducks are just one point above last place in the league and have not made the postseason since 2018.

As the trade deadline (Mar. 3) approaches, all eyes will be on the Anaheim Ducks to see how they navigate the market and if they make moves to improve their roster. It will be interesting to see which teams could be interested in Klingberg and Kulikov and whether the Ducks can make any significant moves to improve their team in the long run.

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Anaheim Ducks having another disappointing season

The Anaheim Ducks are having a disappointing NHL season, with a record of 20 wins, 34 losses and seven overtime losses, placing them bottom of the Western Conference. That follows a trend of underwhelming performances in the last few seasons, leaving fans and analysts wondering what has gone wrong for the team.

In the last few seasons, the Ducks have struggled for consistency. In the 2018-19 season, they finished with a record of 35 wins, 37 losses and ten overtime losses for a total of 80 points. That earned them a spot in the playoffs where they were swept by the San Jose Sharks.

The 2019-20 season saw a further decline in performance from the Ducks. They had just 29 wins, 33 losses and nine overtime losses for a total of 67 points, marking the first time since 2011-12 that they failed to make the playoffs.

The Anaheim Ducks' aging core of players has contributed to their struggles. Superstar forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry are in the twilight of their career, but the team is yet to find suitable replacements for their production. Additionally, the team's lack of offensive firepower has made it difficult to win games and compete with the top teams.

While there's still time for the Anaheim Ducks to turn things around, it will require a concerted effort from players, coaches and management to get the franchise back on track and compete for championships once again.