2014-2015 Review
Anaheim leveraged the star power of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry last year, supporting them with a potent second scoring line and a young, agile defensive group. Seemingly unbeatable in close games, the Ducks marched to the Western Conference Finals before succumbing to the eventual champion juggernaut Chicago Blackhawks. One area the Ducks lacked stability was in goal, due in part to inexperience and injuries, leading to an overall league average season. With most of the key contributors still in place in 2015-2016, if the Ducks can get even slightly above average goaltending this season, they could get out of the Conference Finals this year.
New Additions
Carl Hagelin
Acquired from the New York Rangers via trade, the speedy Hagelin should be a good fit in Anaheim. He may not start out playing with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry (though he would be great on that line), but playing on the second line is a nice consolation. Already 27 and having never scored 40 points, Hagelin should play a “stretch” role on defensively minded Ryan Kesler’s line, potentially leading to a career year. If Patrick Maroon falters on the top line again, Hagelin could get the first chance to replace him next to superstars Getzlaf and Perry.
Chris Stewart
There was a period of time when Stewart was a highly sought after commodity, and teams now are still chasing his back-to-back 28 goal seasons in 2009 and 2010. He’s clearly not the offensive force once thought, but he plays a physical style that should fit in nicely in a third line role with the Ducks.
Kevin Bieksa
After losing Francois Beauchemin to free agency, the Ducks sought to replace the veteran defender on an otherwise young blue line. Bieksa, at 34, doesn’t offer much offensive upside, but his mentoring presence could make a difference for his younger peers. His possession rates aren’t much good anymore, so as long as he doesn’t get too many minutes he shouldn’t be a liability on the ice.
Shawn Horcoff
Another veteran signing, Horcoff projects to be a bottom six forward. His Corsi-For rate of 52.6% at 5-on-5 last season makes him a solid depth piece, but at 37 he isn’t much more than that.
Key Losses
Matt Beleskey
Beleskey was one of last season’s contract year breakthroughs, and he cashed in by moving east to Boston. Before putting up 22 goals on the second line last year, Beleskey had consistently scored less than 10 goals per year. Maybe he just needed the second line opportunity, but the Ducks were wise to avoid paying a 27 year old coming off a career year thanks to an unsustainable 15.2% shooting percentage.
Emerson Etem
Besides his highlight reel goal against the Jets in the playoffs last season, Etem wasn’t known for his offense in Anaheim. Traded for Carl Hagelin as part of a draft day salary move by the Rangers, Etem should get an opportunity to grow his game in New York.
Francois Beauchemin
An aging blue liner that sought one more contract, Beauchemin will head to Colorado for the next three seasons. Anaheim acquired Kevin Bieksa to replace his veteran presence, but the deep blue line of the Ducks won’t be any worse off.
Biggest Strength
Young Blueliners
After swapping fellow defenseman Ben Lovejoy for Simon Despres during last season, the Ducks have four solid young blueliners under the age of 25: Hampus Lindholm (21), Cam Fowler (23), Sami Vatanen (24) and the aforementioned Despres (24). While Fowler hasn’t ascended as once projected, he had his best offensive season since his rookie year in 2010. This group is trending up and provides a solid rush for the Anaheim forwards.
Biggest Weakness
Stability in Net
Anaheim has three young goalies on the roster in Frederik Andersen, John Gibson and Anton Khudobin, but they will need one of these goalies to step up and runaway with the job this season. Andersen was given first crack at the starting gig, and while he recorded 35 wins, his .914 save percentage was right around league average. With the window starting to close on Anaheim’s Cup hopes, Andersen will either need to maintain the same game stealing ability as he did in the playoffs last year, or the younger Gibson will make his move to claim the net.
Bottom Line
If Frederik Andersen can stay healthy and improve his consistency next season, Anaheim should contend for the top spot in the Pacific Division again. With superstars Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf both 30 years old and signed to large cap-hit deals, and the young blueline due for raises in a few seasons, the Ducks realistically have another three years as an elite team. Nevertheless, they will make a difficult opponent in the crowded Western conference again this season.
Fantasy Slant
Most Overrated: Ryan Kesler
The newly minted Kesler is an example of a player that is more valuable in real life than fantasy (as it should be). A top two way player, Kesler’s linemates will handle the bulk of the scoring on the second line. He’ll probably put up close to 40 points again and he has some value in fantasy, but he’s a name brand that won’t deliver the halcyon Vancouver day numbers while playing tough assignments.
Most Underrated: Jiri Sekac
All Sekac needs is a chance, and while he’s not slated to get a top six role as of now, he’s a name to watch on the waiver wire. Sekac, a playmaking forward, was jammed in a defensive system role in Montreal, leading to frustration from Michel Therrien and a trade to Anaheim. Allowed to play a bit more open, Sekac made some gains with the Ducks in short bursts last season. Patrick Maroon was healthy scratched several times last season, so if he can’t keep up with Getzlaf and Perry again, and Sekac gets a shot with the top line, scoop him up.
Biggest Surprise: Jakob Silfverberg
He kind of ruined the surprise by putting up 18 points in 16 playoff games last season, but Silfverberg looks poised to have a breakout campaign in 2015-2016. He put up 13 goals and 39 points in his first full season last year, and at 24 he is ticketed for the second line out of camp. He should also improve his 6.9% shooting from last year, too. Don’t expect the point per game rate from the playoffs, but he should be the focal point of the second line scoring.