Cam Fowler’s 15-year career with the Anaheim Ducks has come to an end. The St. Louis Blues organization announced they’ve acquired Fowler (38.5% retained) and a 2027 fourth-round pick for defensive prospect Jeremie Biakabutuka and a 2027 second-round pick.
Once the trade call is finalized, the Ducks organization will have parted with their longest-tenured player. Fowler was only nine games away from reaching the 1000th of his career with Anaheim but will now accomplish the career mark as a member of the Blues.
Consistency has been the name of the game for Fowler throughout his career. Anaheim selected Fowler with the 12th overall pick of the 2010 NHL Draft and debuted a year later during the 2010-11 season. He finished his rookie campaign with 10 goals and 40 points in 76 contests finishing eighth in Calder Trophy voting.
He’s averaged approximately 38 points a season for the next 14 years and impressively averaged 23 minutes of ice time per game across that timeline. His career CorsiFor% of 49.7% and career on-ice save percentage in all situations of 90.2% show that the Ducks have leaned on Fowler’s two-way play and used him in nearly all situations. 
St. Louis is filling a clear need on the left side of their defense for less than expected. The Blues organization will owe Fowler just under $4MM a year for the remainder of this season and next and he has the experience to move up and down the lineup.
Key injuries to Torey Krug and Nick Leddy have left a sizeable hole in the lineup. Philip Broberg has been a bright spot in the top-four but the team can’t continue to utilize Ryan Suter or Pierre-Olivier Joseph as the other option.
The addition of Fowler isn’t expected to pull St. Louis up the standings but it shouldn’t hurt their chances either. The Blues are four points back of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference with one game in hand on their division rivals, the Colorado Avalanche.
At any rate, the acquisition of Fowler gives them cost certainty on their blue line for next season. Fowler makes seven St. Louis defensemen signed beyond this season and they’ll likely reprise their roles next year. The team could move out of Leddy’s contract as he’s also being paid $4MM by the Blues but their top-four is likely set.
Biakabutuka, from Longueuil, Quebec, is in his second full year with the Blues organization. He’s primarily spent time in the ECHL with the Orlando Solar Bears and Florida Everblades where he’s collected five goals and 22 points in 76 contests. It’s unlikely he’ll suit up for the Ducks in the AHL meaning he’ll suit up for their ECHL affiliate in Tulsa.
In the announcement from the Blues organization, the team also shared they’ve sent down defenseman Matthew Kessel to their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. St. Louis didn’t require eight defensemen on the active roster and Kessel was the only waiver exempt among them.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Friedman was the first to report the majority of the trade package.
Friedman was the first to report Biakabutuka was included in the deal.
I cannot accept someone named Fowler being on any team but the Ducks, this is criminal.
I’m sure the trade will be made with much egret
This will be difficult for Anaheim fans to swallow.
It is a Fowl move by the Ducks, but sometimes we have to waddle our way thru the pond of life. :D
This doesn’t fly with me
This trade is a cardinal sin. I guess the GM had an eagle’s eye for Fowler….Probably been watching him like a hawk. Okay, I’m done.
St. Louis Blues do not know the definition of insanity.
The Blues should try and get Fowler and Trouba to save there season, The Blues defenseman group needs alot of help.
They’re 5-2-1 since Monty took over. They seem to be trending in the right direction.
@usakesler. Trouba’s wife has a job lined up in Anaheim, doubt he waived his ntc to get flipped again.
The Blues were down in a hole, but they get born again, so, it’s not over now.
Plus minus brutal over the last three years -reminds me of garth butcher-liddy must be done
A report that came out a couple days ago said leddy, if he even comes back, will only be physically able to play 3rd line minutes every other game. So maybe they are just pushing him to have surgery or stay on LTIR because 3rd line every other game minutes really doesn’t help
Should have waited 9 more games and have him play in his 1,000 game.
Ducks being ducks
Hold on to the guy so he can play nine more games while the team that wants to trade for him goes shopping elsewhere? Not a solid strategy.
Don’t ruffle your feathers! Goosfraba!
I root for any relative of Tim Biakabutuka.