Ducks trade Theodore to Golden Knights

The Anaheim Ducks are parting with a promising young defenseman.

Shea Theodore was traded by the Ducks to the Vegas Golden Knights, who promptly selected veteran blue-liner Clayton Stoner from Anaheim in the expansion draft.

The Ducks were likely going to lose a much better player in the expansion draft had they not agreed to this deal, a fact acknowledged by general manager Bob Murray on Wednesday night.

"Obviously, we were going to lose one player in expansion, but we felt freeing up some salary would help us this summer," Murray said in a statement.

Stoner's 2017-18 cap hit is $3.25 million, after which he's eligible to become an unrestricted free agent.

Theodore collected nine points in 34 games for Anaheim in the regular season, adding two goals and six assists in 14 playoff contests.

He was a first-round pick of the Ducks in 2013.