Anaheim Ducks Expert Panel: What Ducks player needs to have a breakout playoffs?
Jamaal Artis – Contributor, LA Sports Hub
With Cam Fowler our 2-6 weeks, it is highly probable that he could miss all of the first round and some of a second-round series.
That is going to put a lot of pressure on the Anaheim Ducks defensive unit. Especially their younger members Josh Manson and Brandon Montour who did a lot of growing up last year in their first taste of the playoffs.
The player most likely to fill Fowler’s shoes will be veteran Francois Beauchemin. It’s likely his minutes go up from the 17 he’s been averaging. At 37-years-old, he is likely to retire at the end of the season. This will be his last hurrah. If the Ducks want to get out of a tough first-round series, Beauchemin will have to be at his best.
Greg Johnson – Contributor Pucks of a Feather
When the Ducks defense is fully healthy and Head Coach Randy Carlyle isn’t succumbing to the occasional brain cramp that causes him to play both Kevin Bieksa and Francois Beauchemin in a game. All the defenders look like they’ve established themselves with the possible exception of Brandon Montour and Marcus Pettersson. I don’t think there’s any chance Pettersson will break out this soon. So the answer could be Montour.
Then when you look at the Ducks’ goaltending, both John Gibson and Ryan Miller are established as a great one-two punch. The only thing Gibson needs to break out of is East Coast bias.
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But when you look at the top nine forwards, all but one has established himself. Nick Ritchie, it’s time to go big or go home. You can see the talent in him. He’s big and strong.
Maybe you don’t notice he has some sweet hands down low. But Ritchie only has nine goals this season. Heck, fourth line center Derek Grant, who had never scored a goal in 86 career games before coming to the Ducks this season, has 11 goals.
Nick has spent most of the season on the third line, sheltered from the top four defensemen on opposing teams. He has a cagey veteran center in Adam Henrique. And he has an amazing talent on the opposite wing in Ondrej Kase.
Who knows what Nick Ritchie’s potential is? It is obvious this is not it. Ritchie needs to get that body down low in the offensive zone and do what he is best capable of doing. Speed and agility aren’t his strong points. He’s best along the end boards and in front of the net where he can use his size and strength. It’s time for Nick Ritchie to show us all what he’s capable of doing on a consistent basis. This year’s playoff run would be perfect timing.
Ed Stein – Editor, Pucks of a Feather
For me, the player that needs a breakout playoffs is John Gibson. He’s been the Anaheim Ducks’ best player this season. Why him then?
While I do agree with Greg that Gibson needs to break out of his east bias, there is more to it than that. As he’s done so many times this season, he’ll need to carry the Ducks on his shoulders. In short, Gibson will need to be the next Martin Brodeur.
As previously stated Cam Fowler will miss part of the opening round and he could miss all of it. Their thin defense will be exposed. As a result, Gibson is going to be hung out to dry on several occasions. What the goalie does in those situations can either deflate his team or lift it up.
In addition, the Anaheim Ducks haven’t been an offensive juggernaut this season. Their 2.78 goals for per game is only 22nd in the league, second worst among all teams still eligible for the playoffs. Consequently, there will be even more pressure on Gibson to keep his team in it.
Next: Fowler Out 2-6 Weeks. What Happens Now?
Consider this quote from Fowler to the OC Register after the Jets game two weeks ago:
“Games where we have no business being even really on the same ice surface as the other team and he just stands on his head and gives us a chance to win.”
In the postseason, it’s going to be magnified. Brodeur excelled in this environment. For the Ducks to survive and advance, Gibson must do the same.