Anaheim Ducks Line Predictions
Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
The Anaheim Ducks added several players to the line-up over the several weeks. The Ducks traded for Ryan Kesler and signed Nate Thompson, Clayton Stoner, Louis Leblanc, and Dany Heatley.
The question is where will the new players and the current players fit on the Ducks lines?
There are only a few players that we can be certain where Bruce Boudreau will play them. With the addition of several news players and the loss of others, I will attempt to give some possible line combinations we could see. This is going to be a feeling out process as Boudreau will most likely shift personnel around during the pre-season and the opening weeks of the 2014-15 NHL season.
Top Line
November 15, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry (10) is congratulated by forward Ryan Getzlaf (15) after his 2nd period goal against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
On the top line we know that Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf will be two of the players.
But who is going to be the third player?
Before the Heatley acquisition I would have said Devante Smith-Pelly or Matt Beleskey. Smith-Pelly played extremely well in the playoffs scoring five goals leading the Ducks. Beleskey also performed well in the playoffs with two goals and two assists before getting hurt. Both had good chemistry with the twins and I think either could be the missing player that the Ducks need on the top line.
Now that Heatley has entered the picture I can see Bruce Boudreau trying him out on the top line. Heatley naturally plays at left wing position, which is a position the Ducks have been lacking for some time. Heatley didn’t have a great year last season with 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points. But in the prior four full seasons he played, he averaged 32 goals and just under 36 assists. If Boudreau puts Heatley on the top line, then maybe he plays with the twins resulting in similar past season numbers.
Possible first lines:
Heatley/Smith-Pelly/Beleskey – Getzlaf – Perry
Second Line
Mar 10, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler (17) skates against the New York Islanders during the third period at Rogers Arena. The New York Islanders won 7-4. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
With the trade of Ryan Kesler we can fully expect him to be the second line center. A good fit for Kesler would be Patrick Maroon at left wing. Both of them are big players that can establish a good forecheck and pin the opposing team in their zone. If Heatley plays on the top line, then I add Smith-Pelly to the mix here. This would be the big line for the Ducks with three aggressive players can take the puck to the net to create some chances. They could also wear down the opposing team’s defense with their size and strength on the puck.
If Smith-Pelly remains on the top line, then I would add Heatley in this line. He could play his natural left wing spot and Maroon could move over to the right wing. Kesler may be the answer to helping Heatley find his scoring ways again. An ideal scoring chance for this line would be Heatley taking a shot and Maroon setting up screens with his large frame. This line could be dangerous throughout the season. I don’t think Boudreau could go wrong with either possible combination.
Possible second lines:
Maroon – Kesler – Smith-Pelly
Heatley – Kesler – Maroon
Third Line
January 12, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Andrew Cogliano (7) skates into position against the Detroit Red Wings during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The difficult question for the third line is who does Boudreau put at center?
He has Nate Thompson and Rickard Rakell as options at center. So I could see him trying out either one as the third line center. There is also a third possibility in Andrew Cogliano. Some forget despite playing at the wing position while in Anaheim, that his natural position is center which he played while at Edmonton. I could see Cogliano playing center at the third line, with Thompson and Rakell battling it out for the fourth line center position.
I would put Kyle Palmieri and Jakob Silfverberg together with Cogliano to create a speed line for the Ducks. All three can skate well, score, and pass. This line could be a good counter punch for the Ducks and add some secondary scoring. If Boudreau keeps Cogliano at wing, then we could see Thompson or Rakell at center with Silfverberg or Palmieri at the opposite wing.
Possible Third Lines:
Palmieri – Cogliano – Silfverberg
Cogliano – Thompson/Rakell – Silfverberg/Palmieri
Fourth Line
Apr 25, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Rickard Rakell (67) celebrates with left wing Emerson Etem (65) after scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars during the first period in game five of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
For the fourth line I see Thompson and Rakell playing in the center position depending on who can earn the spot in the pre-season. Rakell played well in 18 games last season with four assists. He also appeared in four playoffs games scoring a goal (his first in the NHL) and an assist.
For the wing positions there are several options. One choice I would go with would be Emerson Etem. Etem had 7 goals and 4 assists in 29 games last season. We also saw Tim Jackman on this line last year, so he could in this line if someone is injured or if Boudreau likes him to match up with a particular opponent the Ducks are facing.
Additionally if any combination of Heatley, Beleskey, or Smith-Pelly do not work out on the first two lines, then we could see one or two of them dropped to this line. It’s difficult to determine a fourth line combination because it is really going to depend on how all the other lines are filled by Boudreau. This line has changed at times throughout last season and I suspect to see the same this coming year.
Possible Fourth Lines:
Beleskey/Heatley – Thompson/Rakell – Etem/Jackman/Smith-Pelly
Apr 2, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau (right) talks with center Ryan Getzlaf (155), right wing Corey Perry (10) and left wing Patrick Maroon (62) in the third period against the Edmonton Oilers at Honda Center. The Ducks defeated the Oilers 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
I don’t really see Leblanc playing in the line up night in and night out. I could see him in at the fourth line center position if Thompson or Rakell are bumped to the third line center or if either one of them become injured.
As I mentioned in the beginning, this is going to be a feeling out process for Boudreau especially at the start of the season. I expect to see several different line combinations early in the season. This article is just a glimpse of some of the possibilities. With all of the player movement this off season, the possibilities are endless. The good aspect of the player movement is it gives Boudreau options to try different line combinations
The key for the Ducks will be getting the top line situation determined early in the season. Once Boudreau can determine who will play with the twins, then the rest of the lines will fall into place. Constantly changing the personnel on the first line affects all the other lines. Hopefully Boudreau finds the right chemistry on the top line early in the season. This will make the Ducks that much better going into the final months of the regular season and post season.
In my next article I will look at the Ducks possible defensive pairings.
Follow Pucks of a Feather on Twitter.
Like Pucks of a Feather on Facebook.