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Anaheim Ducks: Top Five Players to Replace Nick Ritchie

By Chris Bushell

SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 16: Nick Ritchie #37 of the Anaheim Ducks skates with the puck against the San Jose Sharks in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 16, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nick Ritchie
SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 16: Nick Ritchie #37 of the Anaheim Ducks skates with the puck against the San Jose Sharks in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 16, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nick Ritchie /
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SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 18: Anaheim Ducks left wing Nick Ritchie (37) controls the puck as he brings it up ice in the second period during game four of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks on April 18, 2018, at SAP Center in San Jose, CA (Photo by Samuel Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 18: Anaheim Ducks left wing Nick Ritchie (37) controls the puck as he brings it up ice in the second period during game four of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks on April 18, 2018, at SAP Center in San Jose, CA (Photo by Samuel Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Anaheim Ducks 2018-19′ training camp roster has officially been released. 64 names are vying for coveted spots on the Ducks opening night roster. And with one notable omission of the 64 names, it opens up quite the competition.

Friday, September 14th is a day that can’t come soon enough for Ducks fans. After an eternity of a summer training camp finally begins for the 2018-19′ season. And last night the Ducks released their 64 man roster that will be in camp. No PTO’s were added, no real surprises in names with the exception of one. RFA forward Nick Ritchie remains unsigned and per tweets from The Athletic’s Eric Stephens “discussions are ongoing but nothing is imminent”.

With that in mind, it seems highly unlikely Ritchie will be in camp when it opens Friday and could be a hold-out into the season. This leaves a hole to fill on the Ducks third line and there are numerous candidates looking to play alongside Adam Henrique and Ondrej Kase. So here are five options the Ducks could look at on the third line ranking from who I’d like to see least to most.

#5. Brian Gibbons

LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 17: Brian Gibbons #39 of the New Jersey Devils passes the puck during a game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on March 17, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 17: Brian Gibbons #39 of the New Jersey Devils passes the puck during a game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on March 17, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

Brian Gibbons was one of the few free agent signings by the Ducks this summer. Gibbons was once a great college player for Boston College but has struggled to find the same level of success in the NHL. Bouncing between the NHL and AHL ever since he broke into the league in 2011 with numerous teams including the Penguins, Blue Jackets, and Devils. He is coming off a 26 point campaign in 59 games with the Devils last year. Both those stats were career highs for Gibbons and landed him a 1yr 1 million dollar deal with the Ducks this season. As much as I didn’t see the need for the signing it also isn’t going to hamstring the Ducks. It’s only a million on the cap and he comes off the books next season if he doesn’t pan out.

Gibbons best quality is his speed which does fit in line with Henrique and Kase and his 12 goals last season showed he does have some scoring knack at the pro level. Gibbons is the best of the free agent forwards the Ducks brought on but he is appearing on this list only because Randy Carlyle is the head coach. Carlyle’s MO, unfortunately, is playing veterans over rookies and that could land Gibbons on the roster. However, the mandate from Ducks brass is to play fast and have fast players. There are faster, better, and younger players in Ducks camp.

Let’s hope you can teach an old dog in Carlyle new tricks.

Chances of making the team 4/10. Because of Carlyle. 

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