Anaheim Ducks Pucks of a Feather Mailbag Part 2
Anaheim Ducks fans have asked the questions and we have the answers in this edition of Pucks of a Feather mailbag.
Welcome back to the second edition of Anaheim Ducks Pucks of a Feather mailbag. You asked the questions and I’ve got the answers and as always, here is the link to where you can submit your questions for our next mailbag. I will run one more mailbag before the deadline so get your trade questions in!
Let’s jump right into it….
Question 1 from Lukas Klause
How does the team select its captain? Does it involve skill, being more vocal, or just being the best player on the team? What are the factored contributing to the decision? If Ryan Getzlaf wasn’t the captain of the Ducks, who do you think the captain would be?
Every team is going to take a different approach to selecting it’s captain. You can look around the league and see not only the different players that wear the “c” but you can see the different process that each team goes through with selecting it’s captain.
Look at the Sharks for instance, Joe Thornton is getting old and the team felt it needed to begin the “moving on” process and they went with Joe Pavelski as the new captain. Pavelski is arguably the Sharks best player right now and he is going to be around for a while so it makes sense.
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?
Then you look at a team like the Kings. Dustin Brown is a third line winger at best and yet he sports the “c”. It’s not his on ice production that makes him a captain, it’s his work ethic, locker room presence and overall profesionalism that makes him a captain.
Plain and simple, every team is different and every team chooses the direction it wants to go when selecting it’s captain.
For the Ducks, it was really no surprise that Getzlaf became captain. Scott Niedermayer was on his way out and the decision could have been made to give Teemu the “c” for a fews season, but in the end they elected to give Getzlaf the “c” as he was the future and the guy Bob Murray was going to build this team around.
If Getzlaf was traded today for picks and prospects, I think Kesler would get the “c”. You can argue for Perry or maybe Fowler or Cogliano, but I think Kesler sets the tone for this team night in and night out. Kesler plays in every situation and his leadership and experience probably makes him the best candidate along with Perry.
Question 2 from Jason
Who do you believe are the top 15 defensemen in the NHL right now? How soon before we see Hampus Lindholm become a part of that group? Thanks!!
I love this question as I have been thinking about this a lot recently. Hampus Lindholm’s recent play has been unbelievable and this is what many expected to see from him this season. His confidence is growing exponentially and that has given him an edge recently in terms of quick decision making, joining the rush and physical play. If he keeps that up, he will turn into one of the best overall defensemen in the game sooner rather than later.
As far as top 15 defensemen in the game, that is tough. I know who my top 5-6-7 are, but 8-15 is a pick your poison kind of deal, but here’s who I have in my top 15.
Karlsson-Doughty-Keith-Subban-Hedman-Burns-Suter-Byfuglien-Giordano-Letang-Stralman-Josi-Carlson-Weber-Muzzin are my top 15 right now.
Ekmann Larsson, Pietrangelo, Leddy, Vlasic, Faulk, Klingberg, Ekblad, Brodie, Hjalmarsson and Seabrook are also very very talented and they are guys that I have just missing the cut for my top 15.
If Hampus Lindholm continues to play the way he has over the past month or two (which I fully expect this trend to continue) I think he will crack the top 20 sometime next season.
He can produce 30-40 points, shutdown top forwards, play in every situation, move the puck effectively, skate the puck up ice effectively, use his strong first step and skating ability to control gaps, use his stick better than most defensemen and use his size to his advantage to add a physical presence. How many defensemen inside my top 15-20 can put a check mark next to all of those things?
I think Lindholm becomes a top 20 defensmen in this league by the end of next season if not sooner. If you disagree, just take a look at my article on the impact Lindholm has made on the Ducks top forwards this season and since the start of his career.
Question 3 from Bryce Roberts
For the Ducks, it is almost certain that they will acquire a top 6 winger by the deadline. I have been most fond of JVR, Hall, Eberle, and Ladd. If you were the Ducks, would you do any of these trades?
Eberle for Montour or Vatanen
Hall for Montour or Vatanen and our 2016 1st
Ladd for Andersen and Kerdiles
JVR and a 2nd for Andersen our 2016 1st and Bieksa and possibly Montour or Vatanen if they are willing to take Bieksa ?
Thank you for the feedback.
Very detailed question so I’ll just jump right into my thoughts on your potential deals.
Jordan Eberle deal- I would not give up Vatanen for Jordan Eberle. I think right now Vatanen could bring in a significant offensive player and while Eberle is talented, I just don’t think he would have a huge impact on the Ducks. Montour for Eberle? Maybe, but I’m not sold on Eberle, he’s been too hot and cold this season for me to give up a promising young defensemen.
Taylor Hall deal- yes and yes. If McDavid doesn’t get hurt and the Oilers are in contention to make the playoffs this season, I think Taylor Hall would get some MVP consideration. He’s showing the type of player he can be and his speed is second to none. I would give up both Vatanen and Montour if it brought in Taylor Hall. The problem is I don’t see Edmonton trading Hall, Eberle and RNH are more likely to be moved because Hall is a star.
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?
Andrew Ladd deal- I don’t see Winnipeg eyeing Andersen in a trade. They have two good young goaltenders in Hutchinson and Hellybuyck. Ladd is also an unrestricted free agent this summer and will be looking for a significant amount of money, so he is a rental. That means I would not trade away any talented player or prospect to acquire him, especially with the season the Ducks have had. If it’s a 2016 3rd rounder and a 2017 2nd rounder to get Ladd, maybe.
One more note on Ladd. He and Getzlaf were linemates during their junior careers and it makes sense to bring him in. I just wouldn’t give up a 1st rounder or a top end prospect to do so. Ladd will absolutely be moved though now that the Byfuglien extension is done.
JVR deal- First, I would not give up a 1st rounder for JVR, and I don’t think Murray would have to. Andersen makes sense in a deal with Toronto as they could use a goaltender with a bright future such as Andersen. I think that Andersen alone or maybe with a low end prospect or pick could get it done. However, JVR is still recovering from injury and I don’t think Murray takes a gamble on him and his $4.25 cap hit through 2018, especially with Lindholm, Rakell and Vatanen needing new deals this summer.
I hope that gives you some more insight.
Question 4 from @Dirtmover
How do you see the ASB affecting the momentum of the team as they have been on nice little run as late and finished with the Beatdown of the B’s and how do you like the new line combos – 15- Stew and DP & RR – CP and Patty M ? thanks.
It’s clear the break did not hurt the Ducks, big wins against the Sharks, Kings and Coyotes capped off a 6 game win streak. The loss to Pittsburgh was tough but the Penguins have gone 8-0-2 at home recently so it was not an awful road loss for the Ducks, I think they bounce back tonight against the Flyers.
Since the all-star break is over I’ll focus on the second part of the question.
I like the new line combinations, but I think they are not perfect. Getzlaf and Perron have developed something that works and allows Boudreau to split Getzlaf and Perry. However I don’t think Stewart adds much to that combo. I think a guy that has some more playmaking ability or speed would compliment Getzlaf and Perron.
As far as the second line goes, Perry and Rakell understand each other well. Just look at the goal they scored against the Coyotes the other night when Rakell gave a no look drop pass to Perry. They seem to know where each other is going to be and I think it has to do with their style of play. Rakell looks a lot like Perry at times with the way he makes moves that catch defensemen off guard and he has great offensive instincts and puck controlling abilities, similar to Perry.
However, once again I think the third guy on the line is not the best compliment to what Perry and Rakell like to do. Maroon helps this line control the puck down low and he gives them a nice net front presence, but I again think a player with more speed and playmaking ability would put this line over the top.
Getzlaf, Stewart and Perron have played 74 minutes together at 5 v 5 and have a +5 goal differential with a corsi% of 58.2%. Rakell, Perry and Maroon have played 90 minutes together at 5 v 5 and have a -4 goal differential with a corsi% of 47.9%.
I would like to see a faster more talented offensive player with Rakell and Perry and I think that could allow Maroon to get a look with Getzlaf and Perron.
Next: Lindholm vs Vatanen, the great stats debate
That does it for our second edition of Anaheim Ducks Pucks of a Feather mailbag. Here is the link to where you can ask your questions for the next mailbag which will occur before the trade deadline so get your questions in today!