“We expect to win every year; I don’t ever want our fans to show up just to be there. I want them to expect us to win and compete. I’d be more let down if they weren’t sad or mad because we’re all feeling the same emotions and we’ll be geared up when September is here.”
That was Ryan Getzlaf at his exit interview following the Ducks disheartening loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. And while his words are encouraging and the Ducks under his leadership took steps forward, it’s tough to hear after yet another year of coming up short.
Highlights:
Getzlaf had another great year and led the Ducks during the regular season as well as playoffs in points. He picked up 25 goals which ties the second most he has ever scored in a given season, but most fans would probably agree that he could have eclipsed 30 again (like 13-14) if he shot the puck more. Look at his goal against Winnipeg in Round 1 of the playoffs, when on the power-play Getzlaf let a wicked wrister go short side top shelf to put the game away for the Ducks. Though he makes some incredible passes and his play making is off the charts being a little bit more selfish with the puck wouldn’t be a bad idea for him
Getzlaf also took major strides this year in not letting his anger get the best of him. Though he’s been in the league since 2006, Getzlaf just turned 30 last month. In the past when a call would go against the Ducks Getzlaf would seem to lose his temper and his head causing the rest of the team to follow. This would lead to a one goal deficit exploding as the Ducks would implode along with their leader. Though there were a couple instances of that this season they were few and far between. In fact in the five games Getzlaf missed this season the Ducks went 1-2-2 and looked lost without their leader. He took major steps forward in how to lead this team and set the tone from the get go. Anyone that ever questioned giving him the “C” should be gone by now.
Though Getzlaf should shoot the puck more you can’t argue that the guy certainly knows how to distribute. Getzlaf had 45 assists this regular season which was good for 15th in the entire league. He followed that performance up by currently leading the entire playoffs with 18 assists. He is so good at surveying the ice and if you’re on his line you better always have your stick on the ice because he’ll make passes that no other player could thread. And while its impressive to lead the playoffs in that the fact Getzlaf only scored two goals all playoffs must change going forward if the Ducks want to lift hockey’s greatest prize.
Oil On Whyte
Room for improvement:
Getzlaf led by example and through his locker room presence all year long and it evident that this team rallied around him. However when it mattered most Getzlaf and partner in crime Corey Perry choose very bad times to shrink in the post-season. When you’re going up against a battle tested veteran team you need your stars and leaders to step to the fore-front. Getzlaf in this regard did not. You can make the argument that the only time Getzlaf has been in the Conference Finals was his first and second year in the league but he has that C on his chest for a reason and when it mattered he didn’t come through. In Game 5 vs. Chicago Getzlaf shined. He had 2 assists and played a great game that the Ducks won in overtime to take a 3-2 lead in the series. However in Game 6 and Game 7 Getzlaf went a combined -4 and had just one assist. He was responsible for at least two of the goals against in a do or die Game 7 and did not show up when his team needed him most. Getzlaf is far and away my favorite player so it pains to write this but so does another Game 7 loss. If that performance doesn’t fuel Getzlaf into next season I don’t know what will.
Getzlaf is a pro and arguably one of the best captains in the league. His teammates listen when he speaks and there is no doubt he is in control of the team and the room. And when Getzlaf is on he is almost impossible to stop, single handedly taking over games or even playoffs series as we’ve seen in years past. Getzlaf learned some lessons this year and you can bet he’ll apply them going forward. I expect Getzlaf to hit somewhere around 80-85 points next season and think he will be even better equipped to lead this mostly intact from this season Duck squad through the playoffs.