Anaheim Ducks: Five reasons for fans to stay positive about the team

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**Editors Note

When putting together last Friday’s Anaheim Ducks mailbag, I left out the question, “why is everybody so negative about the Ducks?” A few sentences wouldn’t give an adequate answer, there is too much to say.

There is a story to tell and it’s our job to do it. I knew the best person to tell the world why the Anaheim Ducks are the good guys is Ciara Durant. She is our resident “glass is half-full” contributor. The following is something that should make all Ducks fans proud. As for the haters, maybe they can see things a bit differently after they read this. – Ed Stein

The Question

A question that was presented to Pucks of a Feather recently was, “why is everyone so negative about the Anaheim Ducks?”

Well, my question to you is, “why wouldn’t people be?”

Many NHL fans have pegged the Ducks as a joke. It all comes down to the reputation that has haunted them for over a decade. The Ducks are seen as a team that always plays dirty. Now, because of that reputation, every time this team tries to play physical, riots break out.

Also, everyone is always finding a reason to hate on the “holy trinity” of Anaheim. Ryan Getzlaf is too whiny and has been knighted by some as “the worlds tallest toddler.” Ryan Kesler forgets to take his chill pills every morning before a game and loses his head. Then there’s Corey Perry, a cheap shot artist and a bully (among a barrage of very unflattering words). Of course, it all comes full circle to the accusations that they all “play dirty.”

It would be easy for these accusations to irk me; sometimes they do. However, these accusations seldom make me angry at other fan bases or media sources. Actually, it makes me feel bad for them.

Even Shasphere wrote that bad reputations can follow someone long after they’ve rightfully outgrown them. Anyone spewing negativity about the Anaheim Ducks has been taught wrong. Now, it’s our job to fix that and teach them right.

My lesson to the hockey world today is: The Anaheim Ducks are a good team on the ice and good people off it.

As the saying goes, you can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk.” So, in order to prove my point, I’m going to back up my beliefs with facts.

#1 The Goalies

ANAHEIM, CA – MARCH 04: Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson (36) deflects a shot during the first period of a game against the Chicago Blackhawks played on March 4, 2018. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

If you want proof that Anaheim is still good, look no further than our men in the net.

Fact, John Gibson is a brick wall who carried the team on his back most of the season. However, let’s not forget the secret weapon, Ryan Miller, who stepped up at the pinnacle of our desperation.

There are not many other teams in the league who can say that they have two outstanding netminders on their roster. Based on stats alone, they were both ranked among the top ten goaltenders in the league.

John Gibson

John Gibson ranked number eight among goaltenders. He ended the season at 31-18-7 with a save percentage of .926%, which is phenomenal. However, if you look deeper into his stats against other goalies in the league, that’s where things start to look impressive.

Four goalies who had a higher save percentage than Gibson played half as many games as he did. Of the seven other goalies, John Gibson saved 450 or more shots than all but one of them. Not only did John Gibson play more games than all of the goalies who rank higher than him, he had the aptitude to save more shots than them.

With that in mind, statistics aren’t always a good indication of a players performance. John Gibson was also rumored to be a potential Vezina trophy nominee. This accolade is awarded to the goaltender who is best attuned to his position. It’s inarguable if you have followed Anaheim for any length this season, that John Gibson carried Anaheim.

Unfortunately, he won’t win the Vezina this season because he missed too many games with injuries. However, I see him earning the prestige of this award in the near future.

Ryan Miller

The 37-year-old veteran goaltender has yet to lose his swagger in the net. He ranks fifth, statistically, among goalies in the NHL. However, like I mentioned before, statistics aren’t always a good indication of a players performance.

Though Ryan Miller played significantly less than frontman John Gibson, he proved his worth to the team. Ending the season at 12-6-6, Miller stepped up in the midst of what could have been a horrific Anaheim meltdown.

Losing your star goalie to injury can be devastating for a team. Especially when you don’t have a backup goalie you can necessarily trust.

Ryan Miller was the stepping stone many of us had to put our feet on, to have faith in Anaheim during uncertainty. Knowing you have a backup goalie who can be counted on helps us fans breathe a little easier during games when John Gibson isn’t dressing.

Bringing Miller in this season is beneficial for Gibson in more ways than one. He knows that his team is in capable hands, when he sits out. Miller, being a veteran netminder, can also serve as a mentor to Gibson while the young goaltender perfects his craft in the crease.

#2 Quick to Resilience

BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 30: Adam Henrique #14 of the Anaheim Ducks warms up before the game against the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden on January 30, 2018. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The definition of resilience is as follows: an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.

If you summed up this past season in one word, resilience wins by a landslide. Resilience isn’t solely about the recovery, but it also includes the process to adjust.

This season Anaheim was plagued by injury after injury; there’s no use beating a dead horse. They didn’t use those injuries as an excuse. Defying all odds, the Ducks bounced back, charged forward and made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs as the second seed in the Pacific Division.

There isn’t much emphasis on how they adjusted as a team. I want to take a moment to look at a few Ducks players who were the epitome of resilience this season.

Adam Henrique

After Sami Vatanen returned from his offseason shoulder surgery in less than “pristine” playing condition, Bob Murray struck a deal with New Jersey.

Rickard Rakell and Jakob Silfverberg were out with injury and the Ducks needed another forward to fill the growing gap in the lineup. Adam Henrique was the solution to Murray’s problem.

He had never played a game for the Anaheim Ducks, that didn’t matter. Demoted to fourth line center in New Jersey, was tossed into the fray head first. However, Henrique adjusted to the team quite quickly, earning himself a position on the Ducks third line.

Since his acquisition in November, Henrique thrived as a Duck. In 54 subsequent games with Anaheim, he netted 20 goals and added 16 helpers. Adjusting to the change of a new team is not easy. Henrique did it with ease and both parties benefited from the trade.

Brandon Montour

Starting the season off without key defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen could have sunk the Ducks. Brandon Montour was the next man up. He only played in 27 NHL games the previous season. That isn’t much time for the coaching staff to judge what kind of NHL player he could be.

They were caught between a rock and a hard spot. Randy Carlyle and company had to make a quick decision. They called upon the young defenseman, hoping he might serve as a temporary band-aid for the blue line.

In the absence of Lindholm and Vatanen, and later Cam Fowler, Montour logged significant ice time. He went from the bottom to the top pretty quickly. More and more responsibility came with his expanded role on the blueline. One might have assumed he might buckle under the pressure.

Montour adapted to his role in a way no one expected. He took his opportunity and ran with it. His attitude translated positively into his gameplay. This earned him a well-deserved role in the top four by the end of the year.

He still has some kinks to work out. As shown above, his resilience will be key in making him an even better player in the years to come.

Honorable Mention: Randy Carlyle

My position on Randy Carlyle has been clear from the start. It’s no secret that I think the Ducks should move on and find a new head coach.

However, it would be unfair of me to say that all of Carlyle’s coaching decisions this season were awful. I am by no means letting him skate by on the injury excuse. Nevertheless, Carlyle had some tough calls to make regarding his team.

Not every decision he made benefited the team. Yet, he tried to do his best to adjust to the changes. Somehow, he still had a hand in getting this team into the playoffs.

#3 Rickard Rakell

ANAHEIM, CA – MARCH 30: Anaheim Ducks center Rickard Rakell (67) reacts after scoring the game-winning goal with seconds left in overtime to defeat the Los Angeles Kings 2 to 1 in a game played on March 30, 2018. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Rickard Rakell is in a category all his own. He is, I believe, the next poster child of the Anaheim Ducks.

This season, Rakell led the team with 34 goal and 69 points. Only Ryan Getzlaf, with 50 assists, added more helpers than him. His 35 assists he helped the team tremendously. As did his clutch goal scoring.

It’s also an added bonus that he is a calm and collected player on the ice. As proof of his demeanor, he spent only 14 minutes in the sin bin this season. Rakell is the furthest things from a dirty player, which is helpful for the Ducks unmerited reputation.

Each season he continues to improve. The courage and resolve RickyRak shows on the ice are immeasurable compared to other players in the league. His victory with team Sweden in the World Championships, as well as his contribution to helping the Pacific Divison win in the All-Star Game, are further proof of his skills and ability to adapt to change.

Not only is he an outstanding hockey player, he is an all around good person. Rakell is the kind of player who genuinely cares about his fans. His relationship with 17-year-old cancer survivor Katie Hawley backs that up. When Rickard Rakell heard about her story, he did everything in his power to make sure she was encouraged and didn’t stop fighting.

We need more players in the league like Rickard Rakell.

#4 Up and Coming Players in the System

REGINA, SK – MAY 20: Sam Steel #23 of Regina Pats lines up against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan at Brandt Centre – Evraz Place on May 20, 2018. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images) /

The Ducks have a very promising future with all of the first-rate players in the system. If I could, I’d give you a synopsis on each and every one of them. However, there isn’t enough time in the day.

Here are a couple players worth mentioning.

Sam Steel

Sam Steel is a player that has been getting Ducks Nation excited for his arrival.

The 20-year-old captain of the Regina Pats just came off of a phenomenal performance at the Memorial Cup, which you can read more about in a recent article.

Though the NHL is a big jump from the WHL in many ways, there is no denying that Sam Steel is impressive with the puck. This past season with the Pats, he netted 35 goals and added 50 helpers. Though he fell slightly short from last season, he still has fantastic potential.

“I’ve seen him make some incredible passes for wide-open tap-ins. Everyone’s looking at him on the bench, wondering what just happened. That’s a normal thing in his game, something a lot of guys wished they had.” – Jake Leschyshyn, Regina Pats center

Maxime Comtois

Signed to an entry-level contract with the Ducks, Maxime Comtois has proven himself as a stand out player. He is definitely someone who needs to be watched. We are eager to see up and coming players like him, who play with the grit and desire of NHL players.

Playing for Victoriaville, he netted 44 goals and added 41 helpers in the regular season. Comtois has size and speed that the Ducks need, He presents as a poised player both on and off the ice.

Also look for Max Jones, Antoine Morand, Josh Mahura and Troy Terry to make an impact with the Ducks in the next few seasons.

#5 Taking Care of Their Community

NEWPORT BEACH, CA – MARCH 16: (L-R) Ryan Kesler, Logan Schaefer, and Andrea Kesler attend the Anaheim Lady Ducks Fashion Show Luncheon. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Bloomingdale’s) /

I’ll make my last point short and sweet.

The Anaheim Ducks are an organization who gets involved in their community. They aren’t so wrapped up in themselves that they let the area around them suffer. It’s important to them to make SoCal a better place.

More from Pucks of a Feather

There are annual fundraisers such as the Ducks in Tux event, the Lady Ducks Fashion show, and the Golf Classic just to name a few.

Proceeds from the Lady Ducks Fashion show are used to benefit the CHOC Children’s Hospital. All proceeds from the other fundraisers go towards supporting the Anaheim Ducks Foundation, which was founded in 2008.

“The mission of the Anaheim Ducks Foundation is to facilitate and support programs that produce positive change for children and families throughout Southern California by providing educational opportunities, broadening access to the sport of hockey and addressing the health and wellness needs of our community.” – Anaheim Ducks Foundation Mission Statment

It is great to see a team that is so ready and willing to step up and has a hand in helping better those around them.

Next: Ducks cap status if Ryan Kesler misses the season

Thanks for taking the time to read this! I hope you were reminded of why our team is still good! Hold onto that all of that positivity: October isn’t too far out.

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Anaheim Ducks: Five reasons to stay positive

It has been years since the Anaheim Ducks informally adopted the mantra, “no one likes us, we don’t care!” With there being so much controversy surrounding the Ducks from other fan bases and media, it is an adequate expression for us to live by. It’s just not true.