Devil’s Advocate: The Youth Movement
The Young Gunners
Considering the season the Ducks had last season, Offense shouldn’t be a question. Getzlaf and Perry have proven year after year that they are among the elite in the NHL. However, the majority of the youth movement will be seen in the offensive zone. We have only seen shades of what Jakob Silfverberg, Emerson Etem, Devante Smith-Pelley, Rickard Rakell can do in a Ducks sweater, and this year will have to be a coming out party for this group. Anaheim’s top 6 will provide the team with enough scoring throughout the regular season to make the playoffs, no question. The playoffs are a completely different story, as matchups and physical play take their toll on teams, especially the big guns up front.
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The Kings and Blackhawks have been neck and neck in the Dynasty race over the last 5 seasons, primarily because of the offensive depth their 3rd and 4th line provide in their cup runs.
Should Silvferberg, Etem, and Smith-Pelley find their scoring touch during the season, this will instill confidence in BB to play the kids in big minutes. That can allow a player like Getzlaf to only have to play 19 minutes a game, as opposed to the 21:25 (per NHL.com) he averaged in the playoffs last season, and taking less punishment and playing with less fatigue through the physically demanding second season.
Between the Pipes
The biggest question many will have with the Ducks this season is in the blue paint, with Frederik Andersen and John Gibson manning the net. I personally am confident in either netminder even more so than when we had Hiller, but the lack of experience between the pipes leave the pundits with an uneasy feeling going into the season. I feel that Andersen worked the kinks out last season, as he spent the majority of his time with the big club. He was the unknown going into last season, and performed very well in Jonas Hiller’s absence.
May 14, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson (36) during game six of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. The Kings defeated the Ducks 2-1 to tie the series 3-3. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Gibson has more of the pressure between the two goalies, as he is expected to live up to the “phenom” title that has been placed on his back since dominating the World Junior Tournament in 2012. It’s his play that will determine Anaheim’s cap space in the future, and may decide Andersen’s fate coming as soon as this season’s trade deadline. Each look to have nearly a full season ahead of them with the big club, and the spotlight shines the brightest at the Ducks net.