How The Ducks Attack The Offseason

3. Find a consistent partner for Getzlaf and Perry.

Mar 4, 2014; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets forward Andrew Ladd (16) scores on New York Islanders goalie Anders Nilsson (45) during the third period at MTS Centre. Islanders win 3-2 overtime. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

Although the Robidas acquisition was praised for adding grit and experience to the blue-line, it was also met with confusion. The Ducks dealt a conditional 4th round selection to the Dallas Stars for Robidas, but that 4th round pick was acquired from the Washington Capitals for Dustin Penner, who was the linemate of Getzlaf and Corey Perry.

After the Penner trade, the Ducks had a revolving door of forwards on the top line with the twins. Matt Beleskey, Bonino, Devante Smith-Pelly, Patrick Maroon, and Jakob Silfverberg were all either tried or suggested on the top line. The old “Kid Line” from 2007 was no more, and the organization was scrambling to find a partner for the twins.

Whether it is by trade, free agency, or from within, the circus at left wing on the top line must end. Getzlaf and Perry will never be able to develop chemistry with a third player if a new winger emerges onto their line every few games. In limited chances to end the regular season and in the postseason, Beleskey did very well with the twins. However, he has had his share of injuries over the past few seasons. Are the Ducks comfortable with Beleskey as the answer, or should they address the issue in a trade or through free agency?

The Ducks’ starting point to finding the third player for the twins should be the 2014 Olympics, when Mike Babcock decided to pair Jamie Benn with Getzlaf and Perry. With those three, Team Canada worked a ruthless forechecking game, always cycling the puck and wreaking havoc on opponents in the offensive zone. The line of Benn, Getzlaf, and Perry was arguably the most dominant line at the Olympics, even though it was only implemented for the final three games.

Now, the Ducks cannot acquire Benn from the Stars, but they could potentially find a similar player elsewhere. Beleskey has a lot of the same elements that Benn does, especially in physicality and crashing the net. But if the Ducks decide that Beleskey is not the answer, who is an option?

An underrated player that the Ducks could target, in my mind, is Andrew Ladd. TSN’s Bob McKenzie sent out a tweet saying that the Jets could very well be open to trading any player in their system. Ladd is a max-effort player who can dish out hits and makes his linemates better. He’s not an elite scoring winger, by any means, but with Getzlaf and Perry, he wouldn’t be relied upon to be anything more than a 20 goal scorer, which is a mark he has reached in all but one of his seasons with the Thrashers and Jets (in the lockout season, he scored 18 goals in 48 games, more than both Getzlaf and Perry).

Ladd can work because, unlike the Senators and Canucks, the Jets are in a position to potentially make the playoffs. But in order to do so, Winnipeg needs to add veteran players if they want to make a playoff run. Winnipeg has added young pieces and draft picks over the last few years, but the Jets need to add veterans to a very young, talented roster for leadership purposes. So, regardless of a Kesler or Spezza deal, the Ducks should have enough pieces in the farm and veterans on the NHL roster to at least make an offer. If Ladd does not work out, there are plenty of forwards to look at on the free agent market (Matt Moulson, Jussi Jokinen, Mike Cammalleri) or even within the organization (Beleskey, Maroon, Etem).

No matter how the Ducks go about addressing this issue, they must find a stable situation at left wing. At some point, the dealer has to stop shuffling the cards.