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Anaheim Ducks: The Good, The Bad and Things Fans Want to Forget – Part 1

By Kennyth M

COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 01: Anaheim Ducks right wing Ondrej Kase (25) looks on before a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Anaheim Ducks on December 01, 2017, at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH.(Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 01: Anaheim Ducks right wing Ondrej Kase (25) looks on before a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Anaheim Ducks on December 01, 2017, at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH.(Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Anaheim Ducks
CHICAGO, IL – FEBRUARY 15: Anaheim Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle and coaches huddle with their team during a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Anaheim Ducks on February 15, 2018. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Lord Stanley has found his new home in the United States capital which puts a wrap on the 2017-18 season. Our newest contributor Kenny Marcial takes a final look back at the Anaheim Ducks in 2017-18 with his new three-part series.

The credits are running on the 2017-18 season and the Washington Capitals are riding off into the sunset with the Stanley Cup in tow. There has been ample time to digest what was an embarrassing finish to the Anaheim Ducks season.

In retrospect, the season was something to be very proud of. It’s easy to gloss over many of the developments that happened along the way. Hopefully, Anaheim can build upon what they did for next season. In this 3 part series, I will be going over the good, bad and things fans want to forget from the season.  For the first part, the good takeaways from this 2017-18.

Continued progression of the young guns

For a long time, the Anaheim Ducks have had one of the best farm systems in the league.  Despite the tag, no offensive prospects have developed to the point where they could be considered as potential replacements for Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. That changed the past two seasons.

  • Rickard Rakell – The left wing, has taken that next step in his development. He is on the verge of Superstar status, which he might have achieved with his performance at the World Championships.
  • Ondrej Kase – Coming into the season, his doubters claimed he was unable to “finish.”  In 2017-18 Kase changed that opinion in breathtaking fashion.  He scored 20 goals this past season and teased with the potential to score even more.
  • Brandon Montour – He developed his defensive game nicely when he struggled in the offensive zone. Montour’s play took off the second half of the season as he formed a quality pairing with Cam Fowler.  If Anaheim can model the power play after the Capitals, Montour could fill the “Ovie” role nicely.
  • Hampus Lindholm – Lindholm returned from shoulder surgery to post a career high in goals (13) and maintained a nice +/- (16).  He played so well that it is hard to imagine he has room to grow, but he has the potential to be elite if he continues his current progression.
  • Marcus Petterson – He started the season in San Diego and was expected to be a few away from his proverbial “Cup of Tea,” with the big club. The former 2014 second-round draft pick smashed that notion and became a mainstay in the Ducks lineup once given the opportunity.

Color me excited.

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