Ryan Kesler Has Been Everything the Anaheim Ducks Wanted, And More
Oct 14, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center
Ryan Kesler(17) carries the puck into the zone ahead of Philadelphia Flyers right wing
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare(78) during the first period at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
When the Anaheim Ducks made the blockbuster trade to bring Ryan Kesler to Southern California in the offseason, it was seen as a direct response to address an issue that was exposed by the Los Angeles Kings in the postseason. The Ducks lacked both strength and depth down the middle, and the Kings willingly rolled four lines anchored by strong pivots on their way to crushing the Ducks in Game 7 and eventually winning the Stanley Cup.
Center, like the quarterback in football, is the franchise position in the NHL: it is near impossible for any team to contend without at least one great centerman down the middle. The Kings have Anze Kopitar, the Blackhawks have Jonathan Toews, and the Bruins have Patrice Bergeron: those three teams have won the previous five Stanley Cups. Team Canada won the 2014 Sochi Olympics, in large part because they were the strongest team down the middle, anchored by Sidney Crosby, Ryan Getzlaf, Toews, Bergeron, and Matt Duchene. That team also lacked Steven Stamkos because of a broken leg and lost John Tavares to an MCL tear.
Top-six forwards are a valuable commodity in the NHL, and top-six centerman are an even rarer luxury. The Anaheim Ducks had coveted Kesler even during the 2014 trade deadline: by adding him, the team could have potentially had him for three postseason runs before his contract expired after the 2015-2016 season. However, a deal with the Vancouver Canucks did not happen in March. After the season ended, the Ducks re-engaged with the Canucks, ultimately sending a package of Nick Bonino, Luca Sbisa, and 1st and 3rd round draft picks in 2014 for Kesler and a 2015 3rd round pick.
More from Ducks News
- Who could the Anaheim Ducks consider presenting offer sheets to?
- Is Pierre-Luc Dubois on the cards for the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks?
- Making the case for the Anaheim Ducks to trade with the Edmonton Oilers
- Anaheim Ducks might benefit tremendously by trading John Gibson
- How close are the Anaheim Ducks to becoming contenders again?
In Kesler, the Ducks are getting a one-time 40 goal scorer and former Selke Trophy winner. But honestly, the Ducks have to be absolutely thrilled with what they have gotten from Kesler: he has been everything the team had hoped, and even more. Through 17 games, the Ducks have shown flashes of being one of the best teams in the NHL and a possible Stanley Cup contender. Many believed that this team was one final piece away from truly contending for a championship last season, and those same people initially believed that the Kesler deal would catapult Anaheim into the conversation of the truly elite teams in the NHL. The Ducks sport a 11-3-3 record and are currently at the top of the NHL with 25 points in the standings.
In the middle of all of this improvement is Kesler, who has made the team much better in just about every area of the ice.
November 7, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler (17) moves in for a shot on goal against the Arizona Coyotes during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
1. Even Strength
Part of Anaheim’s struggles the past few seasons has been their inability to roll a strong second line to complement the duo of Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Coach Bruce Boudreau tried his line juggling magic to generate a strong second line during his tenure, but there was hardly any real production. In the past two seasons, the Ducks tried Bonino, Peter Holland, Mathieu Perreault, and even an experimental stint with Bobby Ryan at the second-line center spot. They are all solid players, but not at the caliber of a true top-six center (Ryan is a bona-fide top-six player in the NHL, but he is more suited for the wing). With Kesler, the Ducks have that second line center spot anchored and can focus more on filling the remaining three wing spots on the top-six. The Ducks also can deploy Getzlaf and Kesler for fewer minutes: Getzlaf’s minutes are down from 21:17 last season to 20:41 this season, while Kesler’s minutes have dropped from 21:48 to 20:16.
Kesler is third on the team with 14 points and tied for third on the team with five goals. The recent second line of Kesler, Matt Beleskey, and Jakob Silfverberg has been terrific. The trio have a set of skills that complement each other nicely and have been a force together, both offensively and defensively. That line is able to dictate play because of strong work in the corners and the willingness to engage on the forecheck. Kesler and Silfverberg are also two of the team’s best defensive forwards, both at even strength and on the penalty kill, where the two are in the top three among Ducks’ forwards in shorthanded ice time per game. Because of that combination, Boudreau is able to deploy this line when aiming to neutralize the opponent’s top lines while knowing that they are able to create offensively as well. A great way to play defense is to control the puck in the offensive third and put shots on the opposing net, as the opponent cannot score without the puck.
In the NHL, it is of paramount importance that a team can roll four lines: depth production is a truly valuable thing in the salary cap era. The Ducks have not struggled with having depth contributions, but many of those players were not able to become true contributors on the top-six. With Kesler anchoring the second line, the Ducks have a terrific second unit. Kesler is riding a four game point streak (two goals, four assists), while Beleskey and Silfverberg have two and three points respectively since being put on the line Friday against the Arizona Coyotes. Both players have seen significant bumps in their ice time as well, as Silfverberg has logged at least 19 minutes in each of the past three games, while Beleskey’s two highest games in terms of ice time came when he skated with Kesler and Silfverberg.
When the Ducks won the Stanley Cup, they had a strong second line of Getzlaf, Perry, and Dustin Penner. The team, since then, has had issues with being top-heavy and relying too much on Getzlaf and Perry to carry the load. With Kesler making his linemates better, the Ducks now have a unit they can roll out that can ease the scoring burden from the top line and play tougher defensive assignments.
Oct 13, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman
Andre Benoit(61) trips Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler (17) as he carries the puck and is awarded a penalty shot during the third period at First Niagara Center. Anaheim beats Buffalo 5 to 1. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
2. Power-Play
Kesler’s addition has given the Ducks the ability to either load up on the first power-play unit or have him featured on the second unit. Kesler is a physical player who can fight for positioning and screen a goaltender: this is how he made a living on the Canucks’ power-play, scoring 54 power-play goals and 109 power-play points in his final five full-seasons with the Canucks (discounting the 2012-2013 lockout-shortened season, where he only played 17 games. Kesler did score two power-play goals and five power-play points that season as well).
Kesler on the first unit allows Getzlaf to move to play one of the points along with Sami Vatanen. Getzlaf, while he has a big body, cannot use his playmaking prowess when used as a screener. Now, Kesler can either take the half-wall or park in front of the net while Getzlaf and Vatanen create chances for players like Perry, Beleskey, Devante Smith-Pelly, or Patrick Maroon. On the second unit, Kesler can play the same role as a screener, but he becomes an option as a primary puck-handler. Neither William Karlsson nor Rickard Rakell are as offensively gifted as Kesler in the goal scoring or playmaking departments. On the second power-play, Cam Fowler and Kesler become the primary offensive creators, with players such as Hampus Lindholm and Silfverberg.
Kesler is also a huge boost to the power-play because of his ability to win faceoffs. Controlling the opening faceoff on a power-play can make the difference between sustaining offensive pressure and spending 20 seconds trying to re-establish position inside the offensive zone. Kesler has 25 faceoff wins on the power-play, more than all other Anaheim players combined (23). He is also the only Anaheim player who is above 50% in the faceoff circle on the power-play (52.1%). The Ducks are currently tied for 14th in the NHL with a 20.0% conversion rate on the power-play (12/60) after finishing 22nd in the league with a 16.0% conversion rate last season.
Kesler is third on the Ducks in power-play ice time per game among forwards at 2:59 (just behind Perry and Getzlaf). He’s fourth in power-play ice time overall on the team behind Vatanen and the two aforementioned forwards. He’s also second on the team in power-play points, with six (behind Vatanen, who has ten). Kesler’s presence on the power-play has made the Ducks a much more difficult team to defend when given the man advantage.
Oct 28, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler (17) blocks a shot during the second period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
3. Penalty Kill
Kesler’s addition has also helped the other end of special teams: the penalty kill. Kesler broke into the NHL as a defensive forward, and his initial job with the Vancouver Canucks was killing penalties, usually alongside Alexandre Burrows. Eventually, Kesler became an offensive threat, but he is still one of the premier two-way centers in the league, as evidenced by his Selke Trophy.
In his days with Vancouver, Kesler was always ranked in the top three among shorthanded ice time for forwards. In Anaheim, Kesler leads all Ducks forwards with 2:17 of shorthanded ice time and is second to only Francois Beauchemin.
The addition of both Kesler and Nate Thompson have helped cut down Getzlaf’s minutes on the penalty kill. Getzlaf was second to Daniel Winnik among forwards in shorthanded ice time per game for the Ducks last season (2:07). This season, that number is down to 1:16 per game, which is only sixth among Ducks forwards (behind Kesler, Andrew Cogliano, Silfverberg, Thompson, and Smith-Pelly). The Ducks were 13th in the NHL last year with an 82.2% penalty kill rate. This season, they are 8th at 85.4%.
Part of Kesler’s strength on the penalty kill is, again, his ability to win faceoffs. Kesler leads the Ducks in shorthanded faceoff wins (16). Again, winning and controlling the opening faceoff on special teams can be the difference in spending the time hemmed in the defensive zone or clearing the puck for an easy first 20 seconds.
Oct 31, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler (17) and Dallas Stars left wing
Jamie Benn(14) take a face-off in the third period at American Airlines Center. Anaheim beat Dallas 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
4. Faceoffs
Kesler’s faceoff prowess has been noted in both the power-play and penalty kill sections, but he has impacted the Ducks’ faceoff numbers dramatically. The Ducks were 20th in the NHL in faceoff win-percentage last season (49.2%), yet Anaheim now sits at 6th in the NHL (52.7%).
Kesler is 10th in the NHL in faceoff win percentage amongst centermen with at least 200 faceoffs and 5th among those who have taken 300 draws (56.2%). Getzlaf has taken a major rise in faceoff numbers this season, coming in at 18th among centermen with 200 draws (54.6%). This is a stark improvement from last season, when Getzlaf was 57th among faceoff leaders in faceoff win percentage (49.0%). The presence of Kesler allows Getzlaf to take less draws and allows Boudreau to deploy Getzlaf against an easier opponent in the faceoff circle. Kesler has taken 347 draws and won 195 of them, while Getzlaf has taken 271 and won 148.
Last season, the Ducks’ two most frequent faceoff takers were Getzlaf and Bonino, both of whom finished under 50% for the season. Bonino had a career faceoff win percentage of 47.0%, forcing Getzlaf to take the toughest faceoff assignments. Bonino currently has a faceoff win percentage of 46.2% in Vancouver, but Getzlaf is enjoying a career year in the faceoff circle. Taking draws has been an area of weakness for Getzlaf, but he’s thriving now that he does not have to take the toughest faceoffs.
Controlling faceoffs has become such an important part of today’s game. It’s integral to a successful special-teams unit, but winning key draws in the offensive and defensive zones in any situation can help protect leads or overcome deficits. The last five Stanley Cup champions were 3rd, 11th, 7th, 5th, and 3rd in the NHL in faceoff win percentage. This should come as no surprise: Kopitar, Toews, and Bergeron are three of the premier two-way centermen in the league, and all three are adept in the faceoff circle, helping their teams achieve those numbers.
Nov 12, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler (17) shoots the puck past Los Angeles Kings goal
Jonathan Quick(32) during a shootout at Honda Center. The Ducks defeated the Kings 6-5 in shootout. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
5. Perseverance
The lasting image of the Ducks in the past two seasons has been how the team exited the postseason. In 2013, the Ducks went away with a whimper to the Detroit Red Wings in Game 7 in the 1st round, with the team playing a rather poor game. In 2014, the Ducks were completely and systematically dismantled by the Los Angeles Kings in Game 7 of the 2nd round, with the team playing timid and shrinking from the moment when the team faced adversity in those games. In both of those Game 7’s, the Ducks never held a lead and seemed afraid of the moment.
On Wednesday, the Ducks got their first chance at redemption against the Kings, facing them for the first time since that nightmarish Game 7. The Ducks fell into a 2-0 deficit, despite outplaying the Kings for a good portion of the game. It seemed that the Ducks would suffer another loss to the Kings, and the team would realize that it still had a lot of progress to make before being on the level of one of the elite teams in the NHL.
Instead, Kesler led the charge, doing everything humanly possible to keep the Ducks in the game. He assisted on Silfverberg’s first goal to cut the deficit to 3-2, then tied the game at three with a goal of his own. He scored his second on a terrific wrap-around to cut the deficit to 5-4 and then netted the shootout winner past Jonathan Quick. He won 15 of 27 faceoffs, laid eight hits, got three takeaways, played over 21 minutes, finished with a +3 rating, and controlled 67.86% of the shot attempts at 5-on-5 play. In a transcendent effort, Kesler played a spectacular game, and the Ducks overcame three multi-goal deficits to defeat the Kings 6-5 in the shootout.
The Ducks acquired Kesler because they wanted to match the Kings, and they felt his skillset could give them the best chance to maybe change the result of one of the four games they lost last May. Wednesday’s game was there for the team to see exactly why they acquired Kesler in the first place, and he delivered in the biggest way. He rose on the biggest stage and refused to quit, nor did he let his teammates quit either. Unlike Game 7, the Ducks dictated play and were fearless, engaging on the forecheck, throwing the body, and aggressively shooting the puck.
Kesler’s perseverance and willpower were major reasons why the Ducks acquired him. Yes, he can make an impact on the scoresheet, but he has intangible characteristics that cannot be measured. The Ducks saw that firsthand, and they should have confidence going forward that with him, they can win more often than not, and that they will not have to worry about him shrinking on the big stage.
Nov 12, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler (17) celebrates after a goal in the third period as Los Angeles Kings right wing
Marian Gaborik(12) reacts at Honda Center. The Ducks defeated the Kings 6-5 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Kesler acquisition may be the most impressive offseason move for any team in the NHL. Other teams made big acquisitions to improve their chances for contention, but none have had quite the impact that Kesler has had for Anaheim. The Dallas Stars acquired Jason Spezza from the Ottawa Senators, getting him and Ludwig Karlsson for Alex Chiasson, Nicholas Paul, Alexander Guptill, and a 2015 2nd round pick. Dallas is currently 12th in the NHL at 2.81 goals per game, very similar to their 2.82 goals per game last season, when they were 10th in the league. However, the Stars have plummeted defensively, ranking 26th in the NHL at 3.25 goals per game against, more than half a goal per game worse than their 2.72 GAA last season. Spezza is second on the team with 15 points, but he is also a team-worst -8 through 16 games this season. The Stars had some question marks defensively entering this season, and while Spezza has delivered offensively, Dallas has struggled to contain other teams’ offenses, sitting at 10th in the Western Conference with 16 points.
The St. Louis Blues also got stronger when they signed Paul Stastny to a four year, $28 million contract in free agency. The Blues were plagued by offensive inconsistency, which was their undoing in the playoffs against the Chicago Blackhawks. Stastny was supposed to provide the Blues a scoring punch and another dependable centerman on the top-six: David Backes is a terrific player and great two-way performer, but he’s not generally regarded as a true top-line centerman. However, Stastny suffered a shoulder injury, missing eight games. Stastny’s effect on the Blues has not had a chance to manifest itself, but the Blues have been rolling along with their offensive line of Jaden Schwartz, Jori Lehtera, and Vladimir Tarasenko, who each have a hat trick on the season, while Tarasenko is flourishing with 21 points in 16 games, tied for fourth in the NHL with Phil Kessel.
When the Ducks acquired Kesler, they knew his strengths. He is great in the faceoff circle, a force on both special teams units, and a true top-six forward who can both score and create for his linemates. He’s a defensively responsible player (as evidenced by his Selke Trophy) and a heart-and-soul player who adds fire, passion, grit, and toughness to any team. The Ducks wanted a top-six center that could pair with Getzlaf to give the team a fearsome one-two punch down the middle, but they also wanted a center who had his own unique set of strengths to complement what Getzlaf does.
The Ducks have gotten everything they envisioned from Kesler and more. He’s on pace for 68 points, and his line has become a puck possession juggernaut. He has improved the power-play and penalty kill from last season, made the Ducks into a top-five faceoff team, and eased Getzlaf’s minutes. His style of play and leadership are tremendous: without Perry and Beauchemin in the lineup, Kesler has been serving as an alternate captain, and his leadership shows with how he plays. The Ducks have another heart-and-soul player who refuses to take a shift off.
The Ducks, before 2007, made a trade for Chris Pronger because they saw it as the final piece to a Stanley Cup winning team. The Ducks indeed won the Cup that season. This season, the Ducks saw Ryan Kesler as that potential final piece. He has already changed the Ducks for the better, and if this continues, the Ducks may have truly vaulted themselves into the Stanley Cup contender conversation with the likes of Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston. And if Kesler continues this level of play, then the Ducks will not just be Cup contenders for one year, but for several.
Jason Byun is the editor for Pucks of a Feather. He can be found on Twitter. For more Anaheim Ducks coverage, follow Pucks of a Feather on Twitter or like us on Facebook.