Anaheim Ducks: Can Playoff Dreams Still Take Flight?

We’ve long since put the hopes of a playoff run behind us, but the Anaheim Ducks recent point streak has turned some doubters into dreamers.

We’re nearing the midway point of February, and with the All-Star Break long gone, it’s time to focus on the flight to the finish for the Anaheim Ducks. Right now, the Ducks are 11 points behind the second wildcard in the West, held by the Arizona Coyotes. While some fans have said that it’s best that we settle for a high draft pick and miss the playoffs, the run by the Ducks during their Canadian road trip has started to turn some doubted into dreamers.

Even I game up on this season a month ago, but since then, this team is only 11 points out. While I don’t know if they’ll make the playoffs, compare this year to last year, and I’ll be fine with doing some scoreboard watching.

With the trade deadline upcoming, and the season hitting the testy waters, it’s time to evaluate how the Anaheim Ducks can make a miracle trip to the playoffs. So, buckle up tight and grab some popcorn, because it’s time to have some fun.

Finding Their Way to Success

Early this season, the Anaheim Ducks were like the Bad News Bears on ice; they were a team that couldn’t get goals, play solid defense, and their goaltender was left to fend off the onslaught that was coming upon them. Yes, there were times in which the team showed the bright spots, but there were times that it was bad, and I do mean, fish sticks left out of the fridge three days old bad. There were talks of firing the coach and trading away the young players; it was just not good at all. It even got to the point where the only highlights were off the ice, i.e. Corey Perry and Andrew Cogliano coming back to Anaheim a few weeks ago.

However, lately, things are changing: the youngsters are spreading their wings and flying, contributing either with huge goals and or defensive plays. One person that I love is Max Comtois. Despite playing in San Diego right now, he has been a guy who has improved his play on both sides at the NHL level. Has he been perfect? No, but neither have his teammates; he may not lead in the stats department, but he, along with the other young guys, have stepped up, and I’m proud of them.

I also want to give some love to the vets, including three players who have stepped up when we needed them to: Derek Grant, Jakob Silfverberg and the Captain, Ryan Getzlaf. I could go in other directions, but Derek Grant came up huge on the road trip, helping us claim eight of ten points available. His two biggest moments were two game-tying goals in back to back games, that helped the Ducks push both games into overtime, and his play on defense has also helped as well.

Jakob Silfverberg has also been a vital part of the recent success. His goal against Buffalo jump-started the offensive explosion in which the Anaheim Ducks were able to hold on and win. Second on the team in goals, and third on the team in points, Silfverberg has been hot lately, scoring three points on the five-game road trip. If the Ducks want to continue their push in the playoffs, Silfverberg must continue shooting “Silfverbullets” at the net.

And then there’s the Captain, the leader of the flock that must guide the team through the tumultuous ups and downs of adversity: Ryan Getzlaf. Now, why do I bring his name up as one of the most important players over the last few games? Well, it’s the intangibles, that’s why: while he has only scored two points in the last six games, his goal against Buffalo gave Ryan Miller some cushion to work with, and that’s why we have one of the best captains around.

Getzlaf has been around the block, and knows that around this time of the year, time for play is done, now it’s put up or shut up. If the Anaheim Ducks are going to make the playoffs, Getzlaf must continue being the leader that he is, guiding the younger guys into their roles.

While there were others that you can’t ignore like Adam Henrique, Ondrej Kase, or Rickard Rakell, the three I mentioned had a visceral impact because of how they’ve contributed to the team in their own ways. In the end, it’s going to take a team effort by all players to get them where they want to be and that is playing in mid-April.

Now, even if they don’t make the playoffs, the guys who I mentioned that have been an integral part of the team, are pieces of the team that, in the future, can bring in success. If the Ducks don’t make the playoffs but make a good showing over the last month and a half, the future looks absolutely bright. I would only consider trading a few of the pieces only if it can net us some younger players who can score. Other than that, I would leave the team as it is, and let the team learn how to play with one another and then make the tweaks in the offseason.