Pucks of a Feather
Fansided

Anaheim Ducks: The Good, The Bad and Things Fans Want to Forget – Part 2

By Kennyth M

WINNIPEG, MB - MARCH 23: Ryan Kesler #17 of the Anaheim Ducks looks on during the pre-game warm up prior to NHL action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on March 23, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - MARCH 23: Ryan Kesler #17 of the Anaheim Ducks looks on during the pre-game warm up prior to NHL action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on March 23, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Chris Wagner should have finished the season wearing black and orange
PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 03: Chris Wagner #21 of the New York Islanders skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on March 3, 2018. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Chris Wagner for Jason Chimera

Acquiring Chimera was supposed to make the Anaheim Ducks a “Faster” team, but the trade made them a less talented one. It was frustrating to watch Murray trade a solid young player for someone who’ll be spending next year at some golf course in Florida. The Ducks didn’t need only speed, they needed someone with speed and talent, the latter of which Chimera lacked. 

Wagner was a “jack-of-all-trades.” If a center went down, he filled in admirably. If we needed a grimy goal, he did that as well (he scored some key goals during the WCF march in 2016-17 like this one). Wagner was also good on the PK and could change momentum with a thunderous hit. It’s hard watching players like Wagner and Stefan Noesen leave for no particular reason. They are guys who easily could have brought long-term consistency to our bottom six forwards.

Anaheim Ducks
ANAHEIM, CA – MARCH 18: Jakob Silfverberg /

The Second Line

Ryan Kesler missed almost the first half of the season, it was expected the Anaheim Ducks second line would struggle in his absence. Jakob Silfverberg was off his game and left some fans wondering if he was playing through an injury. How else does Silfverberg, arguably one of the best shootout players in the game’s history, take only five shootout attempts all season? 

Related Story: Anaheim Ducks: The Good, The Bad and Things Fans Want to Forget – Part 1

Andrew Cogliano does so many things well and is a key member to the second line when everyone is healthy. He is a third line player who plays in the top six because he has chemistry with his linemates. When Kesler or Silf struggle, Cogs is out of place and the line comes to a grinding halt offensively.

Kesler returned from his injury the day after Thanksgiving. It was obvious the Ducks didn’t get the same player back. He filled his role of shut down center admirably; however, he relied heavily on his ability to read the play in lieu of skating. Consequently, he struggled against faster teams like the Sharks.

Home/Ducks News