Early Anaheim Ducks favorites to take home NHL hardware next year
Usually, this time of year, we are inundated with early favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Why not extend it to hockey? Let’s look at the NHL individual awards and see which Anaheim Ducks players are candidates to win them in 2018-19.
The NHL rolls out its red carpet every June in Las Vegas to honor the stars from its freshly concluded season. In their 25 year history, the Anaheim Ducks haven’t won many individual trophies.
There have been some winners, but there should have been more. Maybe it’s due to their team-first approach. More likely, the Ducks still suffer from some non-traditional market bias.
For whatever reason, not very many members from the O.C.’s team have stood on the big stage, making their respective acceptance speeches. Maybe that can change in 2018-19 with a good season. Here’s a too early look at the Ducks chances of winning NHL individual awards.
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.
Some Chance
There is an outside shot someone from the Anaheim Ducks can win one of these awards.
Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year) – If the Ducks give Sam Steel a legitimate opportunity to contribute on the offensive end, he could win.
Jack Adams Award (Best Coach) – I hope you weren’t drinking coffee when you read this. I’ll say that the Ducks have a better chance at winning they Lady Byng than Randy Carlyle has to be coach of the year. His replacement might.
Maurice Richard Trophy (Top Goal Scorer) – Anaheim might not have a player to lead the league in points, but goals scored is different. Rickard Rakell has been getting better every year. If the Ducks have a great 2018-19, Ricky Rak will need to put the puck in the net. He has Ryan Getzlaf, one of the NHL’s best setup men, as his center.
Frank J. Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward) – Ryan Kesler won a Selke in 2011 with Vancouver. If healthy, RK17 is always a contender. How about Andrew Cogliano? His speed and pocket picking prowess have disrupted many opponents offensive hopes.
King Clancy Trophy (Leadership and Humanitarian Efforts), Mark Messier (Leadership as chosen by Messier) – It’s about time the rest of the NHL recognizes what Ryan Getzlaf does for the Ducks, not only on the ice but in the community at large.
Good Candidates
This is where members of the Ducks organization have the best shot at winning.
Vezina Trophy (Best Goaltender), William Jennings Award (Goalie, Fewest Goals Allowed) – John Gibson should have been a finalist for the Vezina last season, but no one was going to beat Pekka Rinne for the trophy. It’s hard to imagine how much better Gibson can get, but he hasn’t come close to his ceiling. Not only is a healthy Gibson a candidate this year, but he could be for the next eight or so years.
General Manager of the Year – “Big Deal” Bob Murray has won this award before in 2014. He’s well respected around the league. A big season for the Ducks is a possibility, which makes Murray a contender for a second award. To win he’ll still have to pull something out of his bag of tricks, such as a big trade or personnel change.
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (Perseverance and Sportsmanship) – This year’s Masterton Trophy is primed for Patrick Eaves to put in his display case at home. Before missing all but one game last season with Gillian Barre-like symptoms, he was hitting his scoring stride as an NHL player. Eaves had great chemistry with Getzlaf and Rakell in 2016-17 and, if fully recovered, has the ability to recapture the magic.
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What say you? Can a member of the Ducks take the podium next June for the first time since 2016? Let us know in either the comments section or on social media (Facebook, Twitter).