Pucks of a Feather
Fansided

Fixing the Anaheim Ducks “Power Outage” on the Power Play

By Chris Bushell

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 14: Brandon Montour #26, Jakob Silfverberg #33, and Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrate a second period goal in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round against the San Jose Sharks during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on April 14, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 14: Brandon Montour #26, Jakob Silfverberg #33, and Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrate a second period goal in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round against the San Jose Sharks during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on April 14, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Anaheim Ducks
ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 6: Rickard Rakell #67 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrates with the bench after his first-period goal during the game against the Dallas Stars on April 6, 2018. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Mix up the Units

I am one of  Cam Fowler’s biggest fans and consider him the Ducks best defenseman, as well as one of the best in the league. He seems to get the “little brother” syndrome on the power play on the top unit with Ryan Getzlaf. Fowler should be quarterbacking the PP. When Getzlaf is on the ice with him, Fowler is too quick to defer to the captain and uses #15 as a safety valve too often.

This year the Ducks could have two potent units if they utilize their players correctly. Anaheim will also have young skilled players on the roster. If a mainstay isn’t getting the job done, a young gun can take his place. To start the year I would have two units the look like this:

1st Unit: Eaves, Henrique, Rakell, Getzlaf, Lindholm

2nd Unit: Silfverberg, Kesler, Perry, Fowler, Montour

Both of these units possess vast strengths but different strengths. The first unit has a QB in Getzlaf that can “stir the drink.” He makes slick passes from the point and also has a cannon of a slapshot. Lindholm does a great job of getting his shot through traffic and is great at keeping it low to the ice for deflections. Eaves and Henrique have wicked wristers, are hard on pucks and have a nose for the net. Rakell brings the speed and dekes along with scoring touch.

The second unit has snipers in Silfverberg and Perry; additionally, both have the ability to play below the goal-line and hound goalies. Kesler is the net-front presence along with the ability to generate offense from anywhere. Fowler truly gets to QB this unit from the top of the point. He gets his shot through and along with Montour bring a speedy edge from the back-end that can drive to the net.

(**Yes I am operating on the belief that all the noise surrounding Kesler is just that. Should he be out for an extended period, I would move Rakell down to center the unit and slide Sam Steel on to the top unit and let him go wild**)

Home/Ducks News