Devil’s Advocate: The Youth Movement
All of us here at Pucksofafeather feel strongly about Ducks chances for a cup run in the upcoming 2014-15 season. I am pretty excited with the moves GM Bob Murray has made, enhancing both the skill and depth of the club. I’m also really excited to see the Ducks draft picks finally come into the fold full time and start to pay dividends this year. As a hockey realist, however, there are a few variables both internal and external that could get in the way of a 2nd Cup.
The Blue Line
While the main focus this offseason was found on the offensive side of the puck, team defense is where I feel the Ducks might be the weakest. The Ducks return the same core defenders from last season, just subtract the human band-aid Luca Sbisa, and add hulking defenseman Cam Stoner. I feel that on paper, that trade off works well for the Ducks, as Sbisa only played in less half of the games last season, failing to make the lineup as either a healthy scratch or out due to injury.
Mar 29, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen (45) defends against Vancouver Canucks forward David Booth (7) during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
However, the concern would be in our youth, Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatenen. Both saw plenty of ice time last year with the injuries to Sheldon Souray and Sbisa, and getting their reps as part of the rotating carousel of defensemen Bruce Boudreau went with last season. Both met expectations as puck moving, offensive defensemen, but the question will be if they will be able to do that again for a full season, and avoiding that sophomore slump.
Francois Beauchemin enters the season another year older, and will his body, more specifically his right knee, be able to keep up with the play at this point in his career. The NHL has become a young mans’ game, and with the ever increasing speed and strength of these younger players, older defensemen may end up left in the dust by the likes of a player like Nathan MacKinnon. Beauchemin has far exceeded expectations to the point where he made Brian Burke look like a genius, as the returning piece in the Sergei Federov deal, and has been a pillar of strength and stability in his time in Anaheim. However, could this season mark the beginning of the end for Frankie B? The same can be said for Bryan Allen, as it seems that the Ducks acquired Stoner to be the heir apparent to Allen, as both have the size and grit to win battles in front of the net, but Stoner is 5 years younger. Lastly, Cam Fowler has to be ready to accept the #1 D role, playing the big minutes against the opposing teams’ top line, quarterbacking one of the 2 power play units, and setting up the Getzlaf line with solid exits out of the zone, staying on the positive side of the all-important, non-advanced +/- stat.