The Anaheim Ducks currently boast a 24-8-6 record, and their 54 points in the NHL are a league-high as 2014 comes to an end. The Ducks have shown flashes of being a top team throughout the season, and when healthy, the Ducks boast a roster that suggests the same. Through 38 games, the team has scored 107 goals, and every player that has played in at least 10 games has scored at least one, with the exception of defensemen Ben Lovejoy, Josh Manson, and Clayton Stoner. The Ducks’ goal-scoring is led by talented forwards Matt Beleskey (15), Corey Perry (14), Ryan Getzlaf (12), and Ryan Kesler (12). While those four have done a remarkable at leading the goal-scoring charge, the Ducks must get more secondary scoring. Those four forwards have 53 of the Ducks’ 107 goals, or almost half (49.5%). One of the Ducks who could help most is Andrew Cogliano.
Cogliano was a former first round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2005 Draft (25th overall). Coming from the University of Michigan, Cogliano put together good rookie and sophomore seasons for the Oilers, scoring 18 goals in back-to-back seasons and logging 45 and 38 points, respectively. However, his production dipped in the next two seasons, when he scored just 10 and 11 goals. His breakneck speed and penalty kill prowess all remained, but the point totals started to decline.
The Ducks thought a change of scenery could help Cogliano, and on July 12th, 2011, the team traded a 2013 second round pick to the Oilers to acquire Cogliano. Cogliano has played in every game for the Ducks since coming to Anaheim, both regular season and playoffs. In 250 regular season games with the Ducks, Cogliano has 51 goals and 100 points, and he has chipped in a goal and eight points through 20 playoff games. Cogliano picked up 42 of those regular season points and seven of the playoff points last season. He scored a career-high 21 goals and was just three points shy of his career high in points (he had 42 last season). He put up those numbers, despite a bottom-six role without power-play time.
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The script has gone a little differently this season, as it appears the puck luck Cogliano enjoyed last season hasn’t followed. Through 38 games this season, Cogliano has scored just four goals and nine points. This isn’t to say he isn’t getting his chances: he just has not finished. He has played in every game (as always), used his speed effectively on the forecheck, and won puck battles along the wall. All these aspects were prevalent on Sunday’s thrilling overtime win against Vancouver. Cogliano stripped numerous Vancouver defenders and made plays with the puck and used his speed in transitions. He hit two posts after beating Vancouver goaltender Ryan Miller cleanly both times.
“Snakebit” is an understatement when describing Cogliano’s season thus far, in terms of goal-scoring. He needs to rediscover his scoring touch. He’s not having issues handling the puck: it is just a cold streak. Cogliano converted 13.4% of his shots last season into goals. That number has dipped to 6.0%, which would be a career low. There is some optimism though: with goal-scoring droughts, one can crack the dam and open the floodgates.
The Ducks have terrific, high-end talent in their forward ranks, led by Getzlaf and Kesler. With Perry and Kyle Palmieri set to return from injury soon, the offense will continue to get stronger. But in today’s NHL, teams must be able to roll four lines at just about nay situation. If Cogliano can start producing goals again, he makes the team even more dangerous to play against. Depth scoring is especially key in the postseason, and no team can ever have enough contributors, the Ducks included.
Cogliano is a terrific player and beloved because of how he plays: all-out on each shift. He isn’t afraid to go to the dirty areas, he gives checks and takes them, and he wins puck battles, despite his size. He brings intensity night in and night out and never even takes a single shift off. He is someone that can spark a team and light a fire under his teammates. His playing style seems to inspire his linemates and teammates. Now, if he can do all that plus score more goals, the Ducks are a vastly better team for it.
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