Pucks of a Feather
Fansided

Early Anaheim Ducks favorites to take home NHL hardware next year

By Ed Stein

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 22: John Gibson and Federik Andersen of the Anaheim Ducks pose after sharing the William M. Jennings Trophy awarded to the goalie who plays at least 25 games for the team with the fewest goals against in the regular season at the 2016 NHL Awards at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on June 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 22: John Gibson and Federik Andersen of the Anaheim Ducks pose after sharing the William M. Jennings Trophy awarded to the goalie who plays at least 25 games for the team with the fewest goals against in the regular season at the 2016 NHL Awards at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on June 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Anaheim Ducks
1996 Season: Paul Kariya with the Lady Byng Trophy given to the player who displays sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images) /

Not Happening

There are just some awards Anaheim doesn’t have the personnel for.

Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP), Ted Lindsey Award (NHLPA Best Player) – These trophies are almost always given to skaters. The Ducks don’t have a superstar on their roster that can compete for an MVP against big guns in the league, such as Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid, etc.

Art Ross Trophy (Most Points) – The current Ducks aren’t built in a way that lends themselves to a scoring leader. They have players who can score, players who can set up scores, but there isn’t enough firepower all throughout the roster to win an Art Ross. The good news is, there are plenty of players in the system who can eventually make all four lines into scoring threats.

Lady Bing Memorial Trophy (Gentlemanly Conduct) – The Ducks have such a rotten reputation across the league that’s it’s almost impossible for one of them to win this trophy. Maybe it’s justified, maybe it isn’t. Even if a player such as Rickard Rakell had a break-through, the specter of being teammates with Corey Perry and Nick Ritchie will send potential votes to someone else.

James Norris Memorial Trophy (Best Defenseman) – The Ducks have some very good defensemen, but at this point, none of them are elite. Even if one of Anaheim’s blueliners stepped up and had a great year, it is rare that a player comes from nowhere to win this trophy.

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