Our Anaheim Ducks Monthly Mailbag, June 2018: Power Play, Star Rookies, and RK17
By Ed Stein
Question 2) What has to change so the Ducks power play can work?
Kenny Marcial: The Ducks should mirror Washington’s power play. Tampa plays with the same strategy and it works out for them as well. We have the players. Montour has the big shot, he takes the Ovechkin role. Getzlaf can take the Carlson role, he just needs to shoot enough to keep the goalie honest. Fowler can play the Backstrom role of distributing the puck from the right boards. Silf has the amazing release on his wrist shot, so he fits what TJ Oshie does. Rakell can mirror Kuznetsov and be the rover.
Chris Bushell: They need to a find a way to carry the puck in and set up. No team succeeds on the PP using a dump and chase style to get in, and their best players must shoot. It’s a couple passes then shoot, not move the puck slowly and stand stationary.
Ed Stein: Shoot the puck! Cycle, move and shoot!
Ciara Durant: Last season was the perfect example of what not to do. There needs to be more follow through. I don’t have much to add to what everyone else said. I do, however, think the recent changes in the coaching staff will be beneficial to improve the power play and keep the players accountable.
Greg Johnson: They have to move the puck faster. Right now they look like they’re passing a uranium puck. If they move it around faster, they’ll open better passing and shooting lanes.
Jacob Robles: We need guys like Getzlaf, Montour, Fowler, etc. to shoot more. Especially Getzlaf. We pass way too much and it rarely results in a goal. It drives me nuts when Getz doesn’t shoot because we saw how effective he was when he started letting it fly in the ’16-’17 season.
Blake Navarro: To make the power play better The Anaheim Ducks need to get the right personnel out there and have Getzlaf run it. They can’t have someone like Kevin Bieksa, who was on the Power Play for a few months, out there and expect better results.