4 Anaheim Ducks Preseason Storylines
Sep 16, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie Frederick Andersen (31) against the Phoenix Coyotes at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Anaheim Ducks preseason gets underway with a split-squad scrimmage tonight against the Colorado Avalanche. Finally we will get our first look at this “new” Ducks team that is on a short list of Stanley Cup contenders entering the season.
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Now this is only preseason and because there is a feeling out process and guys are getting back to game speed after a long summer, you need to take everything with a grain of salt. New line combinations, guys fighting for spots and replacing some marquee names could take some time. With that said, I’m expecting things to look pretty good and will be watching a few things very closely this preseason.
Here are some storylines that need to be followed very closely and they could be determining factors in how far the Ducks can go this season.
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
Yes the first storyline is that simple. The Ducks were finally able to land Ryan Kesler over the summer and give them a 1-2 punch at center as Kesler will slot in right behind Captain Ryan Getzlaf. Kesler is a star and has said all the right things since arriving in Southern California.
Kesler has said he is here to do one thing and that is to win. Win that Stanley Cup that has eluded him so far and he believes this is the place to do it. This move had a lot of hockey minds pushing the Ducks even further up in contenders lists on paper. But that is just what it is at this point, on paper.
Kesler needs to be a big-time performer for the Ducks and provide a secondary scoring punch. The Ducks haven’t had this good of a 1-2 punch up the middle since the days Andy MacDonald was in Anaheim and this may be even better than that.
The Ducks were very tight-lipped about who would flank Kesler until we saw him go through training camp with Pat Maroon and Jakob Silfverberg. That line could work well as Maroon is a big body that throws his weight around but also has soft hands and can score goals. While Silfverberg won’t crush people he isn’t afraid to muck it up in the corners and has a quick release and can score plenty when healthy. Add an All-Star like Kesler to those two and that line combination could be lethal. This line isn’t set in stone but look to see them in action tonight at least and potentially the next game before any tinkering goes on.
Kesler knows what his role is and how counted upon he will be both offensively and defensively and a great deal of the Ducks success will hinge on how well Kesler plays and gels with the team.
Goaltending
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
You would be hard pressed to find a bigger question mark for the Ducks entering the season. We know it will be Frederick Andersen and John Gibson, but there are questions to follow.
Who claims the No. 1 role and can one, or both, handle the pressures that come with it?
To be honest, I have no idea who to pick at this point as No 1. Consensus would probably lean toward Gibson as he is labeled a phenom and succeeded at virtually every level he has ever played at. But Andersen look very good last season and this job is 50/50 in my opinion. All eyes will be on them this whole preseason to see if one can claim the starting job.
Both looked very good in their season and playoff experiences last year with the exception of a few blemishes (Andersen away from Honda Center and Gibson seeming to let nerves get to him in Game 7 vs. LA) for each. Despite both saying all the right things in interviews about this being good and them pushing each other, they know it’s competition. Look for both to have their ‘A’ game from the drop of the puck tonight.
Honestly as far the season goes, I’m okay with a 41/41 game split. Both are coming into their second season and I don’t want either one of them playing anywhere close to 50-60 games. However come playoff time I want one guy. No goalie carousel in the playoffs this season. One guy and stick to it.
This may be the most important storyline to follow this preseason and although it may sound like a broken record, this one phrase is true:
The Ducks will go as far as Andersen/Gibson or Gibson/Andersen will take them.
Rakell, Karlsson, Kerdiles?
November 8, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center
Rickard Rakell(67) moves the puck against the Buffalo Sabres during the third period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
This will be the most fun storyline to watch this Ducks preseason. With the retirement of Saku Koivu and the departure of Mathieu Perreault, the Ducks third line center slot is wide open.
Nate Thompson will most likely center the fourth line, leaving the three names mentioned up top as the most likely candidates. Rickard Rakell is the only of the three with NHL experience and most believe it is his job to lose. However, William Karlsson has been tearing it up in the Swedish elite leagues while Nic Kerdiles had two dominant seasons for the University of Wisconsin and success with the US National Development Team. Karlsson and Kerdiles both looked good in their limited action in AHL Norfolk last season as well.
All three had a great games with the Ducks other prospects in the two Futures Games played last week, leaving some to think this race is a little bit tighter now. I’d say pump the brakes a little bit.
I believe that all three will succeed in the NHL and be huge pieces for the Ducks moving forward, but right now my front-runner is Rakell. The Swedish and NCAA game is vastly different from the NHL and even the AHL level where all three have seen time. And although they all played well against the Sharks prospects that is what they were, prospects.
Rakell has seen regular season and post season action at the NHL level and played excellent. So unless Karlsson and Kerdiles are lights out impressive in the preseason my third line center is Rakell. Doesn’t mean we won’t see them up here at some point this season but giving them some AHL time may be in the Ducks best interest.
Nevertheless, keep a close eye on all three this preseason as it’s a toss-up right now as to who gets the nod.
The Heatley Experiment
Apr 10, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing
Dany Heatley(15) in the second period against the St. Louis Blues at Xcel Energy Center. The Minnesota Wild win 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Have the Ducks finally found the compliment to Getzlaf and Perry? Heatley believes so as he said he is doing everything he can to perform at the same level as those guys.
The three have been a line since training camp started and have been showing they can be a downright dominant line. In my list article, I outlined why Heatley can excel here with this group and the internal and external pressures around him to do so. I don’t believe Ducks fans are realistically expecting 50 goals from Heatley, but with this line and him playing up to his full caliber 25 goals isn’t out of the question. Couple that with the 30+ I expect from Getzlaf and the 40+ I expect from Perry that’s about a dominant a top-line as you can have.
If Heatley can get firing on all cylinders and cause teams to use their top defensemen on this whole line, imagine the opportunities it opens for the other lines. We should see this line together through the entire preseason to see if they can gel and form some chemistry.
Watch this trio closely as I believe Getzlaf and Perry both know if they can make this work how good this line has the potential to be. Expect to see Heatley play at another level to prove all the naysayers wrong as well. And if they do mesh you have three All-Stars on the same line that will be an absolute nightmare for other teams to defend.
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