Anaheim Ducks: Keys to an Improved Power Play
New Players
Dec 29, 2013; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Dany Heatley (15) shoots during the second period against the New York Islanders at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Most teams will stack their first PP unit and then have a second unit that can get it done but not nearly as often. Coming into this season the Ducks may be able to put two units together that have the same level of finish.
As far as the first unit goes, the addition of Ryan Kesler allows Ryan Getzlaf to stay on the point. I’m not always a fan of a forward at the point, but in Getzlaf’s case he’s proved he can handle it and play a “rover” style on it.
Corey Perry and Cam Fowler should remain the other constants on the Ducks first unit and the fifth and final spot could go to any number of the following: Dany Heatley, Jakob Silfverberg, Pat Maroon, Devante Smith-Pelly, Kyle Palmieri, Matt Beleskey, or Emerson Etem. Yes I realize that is virtually the rest of the Ducks roster but all provide a different look if they are out there.
Putting Maroon, Beleskey, or Smith-Pelly out there gives you a big body to battle in the corners or block out the sun in front of the net. They all also can put the puck in the net so they aren’t just muckers. If you go with it Heatley, Silfverberg, Palmieri or Etem, now you have two snipers (whichever of the list and Perry) on the wings and more speed to win puck races.
A unit with one of these on the opposite wing now makes teams focus on everyone giving more room for guys like Perry and Getzlaf. Take that with an offensive minded defenseman in Fowler and this is an extremely dangerous unit.
As for the second unit goes its danger hinges on the impact of Rickard Rakell. Kesler can’t play on both units and having Getzlaf man a point on the first unit takes him off the second. But Rakell, two of the seven players I listed, Francois Beauchemin, and either Sami Vatanen or Hampus Lindholm make the second unit just as dangerous. Younger and more unproven yes, but a unit of mainly young, fast, battling types that know how to put the biscuit in the basket. Boudreau has a lot of pieces to play with but putting the right combo out there could result in a deadly Ducks power-play.