A brand new NHL season is drawing very near so to get you prepared, we’re previewing what’s ahead for each of the 30 NHL teams. Here’s a look at the Anaheim Ducks.
MAIN SUMMER HEADLINES
• Ducks fire coach Bruce Boudreau
• Ducks hire coach Randy Carlyle
• Defenceman Sami Vatanen signed to four-year extension
• Forward Mathieu Perrault signed to four-year extension
• Ducks acquire Bernier via trade, days after trading away Andersen to Leafs
Head coach: Randy Carlyle
GM: Bob Murray
Team payroll: $65.48 million ($73 million salary cap)
2015-16 Record: 46-25-11 (First in Pacific)
GF: 218 (18th in NHL)
GA: 192 (First in NHL)
Result: Eliminated first round by Nashville, 4-3
Key acquisitions: Antoine Vermette, Jonathan Bernier, Jared Boll, Mason Raymond, Jeff Schultz
Key departures: Chris Stewart, Frederik Andersen, David Perron, Mike Santorelli, Brandon Pirri
Rookies to watch: Defenceman Shea Theodore got 19 games of seasoning with the Ducks last year, but still qualifies as a rookie this season. He’ll be in tough to crack Anaheim’s roster, but he could bring some offensive skill to the back end that Anaheim needs. Theodore had nine goals and 37 points in 50 AHL games last season, and at 21 he appears to be on the cusp of breaking through.
Anaheim will have a successful season if…
John Gibson has a career year. It’s a lot to ask of a guy who’s only played 66 NHL games, but if Gibson improves on his .920 save percentage over 40 games last season, the Ducks are likely to be successful. The 23-year-old is going to have to take the brunt of the workload because 28-year-old Jonathan Bernier hasn’t inspired much confidence coming off two shaky seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Another key will be having forwards Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler and Corey Perry healthy and at the height of their abilities throughout the entire season. Beyond these three players the team’s offensive depth is questionable, hence the 18th-place finish in goals last season.
Anaheim will have an unsuccessful season if…
Coach Randy Carlyle makes drastic changes to the way this team played from December through to the end of the 2015-16 season.
Former coach Bruce Boudreau had the Ducks committed to playing the stingiest brand of hockey in the show last season. As a result, no team allowed fewer goals than they did (192). Carlyle may be known as a defence-first coach, but his version of defence-first strategy hasn’t historically employed the same emphasis on puck possession as has Boudreau’s.
The Ducks had the second-best possession numbers in 2015-16. If that style of game goes by the wayside under Carlyle, it could prove disastrous.
