Anaheim Ducks: Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm must take the reigns
The Anaheim Ducks are transitioning from their veteran core of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Ryan Kesler to the next generation. It’s time to let Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm take over leadership of the defensemen instead of bringing in recycled veterans.
The Anaheim Ducks are heading towards an interesting season. They are far from “re-build mode,” but something is missing. They either need to add an impact player or some of the young players must step in order for Anaheim to be bonafide Stanley Cup contenders.
The defense corps has been a strength of the Ducks. Fans can see via Anaheim’s past drafts that defense is always a high priority position. The old adage is defense wins championships. That isn’t 100% true, but it’s pretty darn close. To return as a cup threat, the Ducks “old men” on the blue line need to step up.
Blacklist
Toni Lydman, Bryan Allen, Clayton Stoner, Kevin Bieksa. Yes, this list will give most Anaheim Ducks fans nightmares of slow-moving, turnover prone defensemen the team has signed the last few years.
GM Bob Murray’s reasoning for the majority of the signings was to add a veteran presence. He believed that a young inexperienced group of Dmen needed a little help to find their legs, and show them what it takes to win. Additionally, veteran leadership was needed to stabilize the group when things went south. This season the Ducks don’t need to sign a free agent to accomplish this. they have the answer, make that answers already under contract.
Promote from Within
Player A: 561 regular season games/62 playoff games/249 total points/ and a career TOI of just over 23 minutes. Age 26
Player B: 371 regular season games/55 playoff games/143 total points/ and a career TOI of just over 21 minutes. Age 24
If you haven’t deduced yet player A is Cam Fowler and player B is Hampus Lindholm. Both of the are cornerstones of the defense as well as the Anaheim Ducks as a whole.
They have been through the ups and downs of this franchise for the last half decade plus. The second each of them touched the ice as NHL players, an impact was made. Each one brings something similar and different to the table.
Both defenders use their impeccable skating ability to either break-out of their own zone or create scoring opportunities and they each see the ice exceptionally well and make great first passes. Fowler is more offensive minded. He joins the rush more than the Ducks other blueliners and seems to get his shot through with more ease. Lindholm is sounder in his own end, playing a more physical style using his big body as an advantage.
The comparisons are not exact but the parallel can be drawn from Fowler and Lindholm to the likes of Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger. Of course, numbers 4 and 47 aren’t at the Hall of Famers level yet. I do believe the next generation defensemen have high ceilings.
Great things happened when the Ducks trusted the Niedermayer, and Pronger duo. Fowler and Lindholm are on their way to repeating history.
Changing of the Guard
To this point, I would think most Ducks fans are high on both Fowler and Lindholm, Two former first-round picks who both have had a hand in some great wins for the franchise and continue to improve. I believe we still have yet to see what they’re fully capable of.
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Since they have become mainstays in the line-up, they have had a seasoned veteran in the blueline group to look to for guidance. The strategy has paid dividends. Fowler and Lindholm got their feet wet and learned what it takes to win. At some point, the students must become the masters.
The Anaheim Ducks don’t need to bring in an aging, past his prime, veteran to be a locker room presence. They also don’t need to make the defense slower in the name of “helping the young guys”. What they do need is the faith that two of their former first-round picks are ready to take that next step. Management has to believe in 4 and 47 to be the physical and vocal leaders of the defense.
Both players have been within one and two games of the Stanley Cup Final, so they know what it takes to win. Josh Manson and Brandon Montour will continue to learn from them. While Marcus Petterson and Jacob Larsson may not be ready to take over the third pairing, they will eventually. They will also follow the guidance of Fowler and Lindholm. For now, the Ducks should look for a low cost fourth or fifth defenseman that can play with either Petterson or Larsson. A player like Toby Enstrom or Alexi Emelin could work.
If not now when?
Fowler and Lindholm are in their early-to-mid-20s and have been in the league for eight and five years respectively. The two blueliners have proved they can log big minutes and that they can play in big games. It’s time to take the training wheels off because if not when?
Next: 5 UFA's the Ducks should consider signing
How much longer do we look at this group of defensemen as needing experience? Yes, they are young, but why can’t they be young and experienced? The time is now to give Fowler and Lindholm the keys to the D unit. Let’s find out what they’re really made of.