Do the Anaheim Ducks Have the Depth at Center They Want?
By Paul Miller
The Questionable
Mar 30, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Joakim Andersson (18) celebrates his goal as Tampa Bay Lightning center Nate Thompson (44) reacts in the first period at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The questions reside in the third and fourth lines and whether there is the same amount of depth there to support the Ducks’ top lines.
Last year the bottom lines were centered by Mathieu Perrault and Nick Bonino.
Now the Ducks have Nate Thompson and, what is likely to be, a revolving door of rookies.
Admittedly I haven’t seen much of Thompson, but my understanding is that he is a Daniel Winnik type player.
A fourth line center that can be really effective on the penalty kill.
I can’t imagine Boudreau using Thompson much more than he used Winnik.
Wouldn’t even be surprised to see Thompson as a winger at some point in the season, especially if the young centers step up and play well.
Louis Leblanc was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens over the summer as well.
He has some NHL experience, but has yet to play a full season.
At 6’0″ and 180lb he’s hardly the big tough center Murray and company have been looking for, but perhaps his offensive capabilities can make up for it.
Leblanc has 10 points (5-5=10) and a plus 4 rating in 50 games for the Canadiens.
Rickard Rakell is the player everyone is going to be looking at to step up his game and play big minutes on the bottom lines.
He’s been teetering on the edge of playing with the Ducks for a couple years now, playing three or four games in Anaheim before being sent down to Norfolk again.
Without Perrault and Bonino to fill in those bottom line roles, it’s time for Rakell to step up his game and play big minutes.
He hasn’t lived up to his potential, scoring only 4 points (0-4=4) in 22 regular season games (one goal and one assist in the playoffs this year), But maybe a more permanent slot on the team will bolster his confidence enough to push him to the next level.