Anaheim Ducks Player Grades: Daniel Winnik

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

This season with the Anaheim Ducks, we saw some of the best performances from each player. One in particular has improved Anaheim’s performance on the forecheck more than any others, Daniel Winnik.

The Ducks, however, have been eliminated in the second round of the playoffs this season and will be unable to perfect that forecheck technique.

As we look forward to the preseason of the 2014-15 season the Ducks will need to improve all around in order to capture the Cup next year.

Before we get to the preseason there have been rumors floating around that the Ducks will trade Daniel Winnik away. Only time will tell if this is just a rumor or there is some truth to this.

Before we buy into any word of mouth stories, let’s go into this shining young forward on the Ducks’ roster.

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Regular Season

Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

This season Winnik played 76 games. Although he played a majority of the season, he only scored six goals, but had 24 assists.

He did not have a high goal scoring season, in fact, he had the same amount of goals this season as he did the season prior when he played half as many games. He did have a high amount of assists, which led to 24 goals for Anaheim during the regular season as compared to last season’s 13 assists.

Winnik showed a unique skill on the forecheck as he pestered the other teams in their zone as they tried to clear. The only other Anaheim player that would do the same was Devante Smith-Pelly.

This season Daniel took 115 shots compared to last season’s 95. He appears to gradually do more and more as he gains more time in the league and ice time.

His average ice time was cut back this season from 16:50 in the last season to 15:23 this season.

Although he normally plays left wing, Bruce Boudreau rotated him through as center as well and he rose to the challenge. It’s good to know that Winnik remains a versatile player for Anaheim.

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 Playoffs

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

During the Playoffs, Winnik didn’t really produce much in terms of goals or assists having played nine games and having 0 goals and only one assist.

The playoffs ended early for the Ducks, but there is always time to improve.

Winnik needs to make himself more valuable to the team during the post-season and the only way to do this is to start producing during the regular season and continue that effort into the playoffs.

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Future

Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

What lies in the future for Daniel Winnik?

As rumors continue to flutter on Twitter and elsewhere that the Ducks will trade him, his future is uncertain.

He has only played two seasons with the Ducks so far after he arrived from the San Jose Sharks. Many fans would like to see him stay and grow with Anaheim, but only time will tell where he will lay his helmet.

If he stays with the Ducks, his ice time is sure to increase and Boudreau will continue to shift him from center to left wing. Winnik will most likely continue to rise to the challenge.