Anaheim Ducks Expert Panel: Who or what is the Anaheim Ducks “X-Factor” in 2018-19?

Every Season someone or something is the “X-Factor” between success and failure. What will it be for the 2018-19 Anaheim Ducks? Our experts weigh in.

Every year someone or something can make or break a season. In 2017-18, injuries were probably the culprit that held the Anaheim Ducks back from a successful campaign. Who or what will it be this time.

We scoured FanSided to get some outside opinions. In doing so, we put together an all-star team set of experts this time around. They come from various other FanSided sites but all have hockey in common. While there is some consensus, there is far from total agreement.

Here is what our panel thinks this time around.

Redan Lopez – Contributor, L.A. Sports Hub

The Anaheim Ducks’ X-factor going in the 2018-19 season will be goaltender John Gibson. This offseason, the Ducks did very little to improve their forward corps. Instead, they will be hoping for rebound seasons from players like Ryan Kesler and Jakob Silfverberg as well as continued development of youngsters Ondrej Kase, Troy Terry, and Nick Ritchie to provide more offense.

As a result, I do see the Ducks scoring a little bit more this season, but not by much.

Defensively, the Ducks stood pat. Their big move on defense was re-signing Brandon Montour to a two-year contract to keep the top four Cam Fowler, Josh Manson, Hampus Lindholm, and Montour intact.

The big question this season will be John Gibson. Can he stay healthy and handle a starter’s workload of around 60 to 65 games? Gibson is the undoubtedly the defensive backbone of this team.

Gibson had his best season yet last year, recording a .926 save percentage and playing a career high of 60 games. Should Gibson slip just a little bit, it could ultimately spell doom for a Ducks team that has a tough time consistently putting the puck in the net. Gibson’s play can very well determine if the Ducks get in the playoffs or not in a competitive Western Conference.

Gibson’s A-game will need to be brought each and every game in order for the Ducks to stay afloat in an up for grabs Pacific Division. Whereas teams like the Flames, Oilers, and Kings vastly improved this offseason on paper and the Ducks did not improve nearly as much on either end of the ice, Gibson will have his work cut out for him to ensure the Ducks reach a 7th consecutive playoff berth.

Danny C. Brasqo – Contributor, Puckprose

My “X-factor” for this year’s Anaheim Ducks, is both a “who” and a “what” to keep an eye on…

Three-words – Ryan Kesler’s hip.

Feel free to use that as your fantasy team’s name.

Will Kesler’s ailing hip be healthy enough for the soon-to-be 34-year-old and former Selke Award winner, to contribute at the level we are used to seeing him?

Kesler’s been the perennial 20-goal, 50-plus point, two-way center for the majority of his career. As their roster is currently situated, the Ducks can hardly afford to lose his production on both ends of the ice.

If Ryan is missing from the middle, that would immediately throw a monkey-wrench into the possible line combinations, as well as special teams. That Adam Henrique acquisition is looking better every day we inch toward training camp.

With top-tier, two-way centers being quite the unicorn these days – expecting a single player to fill the holes that losing Kesler would create, is very unreasonable.

Along with his offensive production, the veteran is also used for important defensive assignments. This includes taking critical face-offs and locking down the opposing team’s main scoring threats.

The way I see it, no news is bad news in this case. As per the NHLPA’s tradition with keeping injury statuses tight-lipped, Ducks fans will be left sitting on the edge of their seats until Bob Murray and Company release a positive update.

Consider the start of training camp as D-Day for Anaheim’s center ice depth.

C.L. Cohuss – Contributor, FanSided NHL

If we’re talking about an X-Factor in terms of simply reaching the postseason, it has to be John Gibson. He’s balled for the last three years in net and the Ducks rewarded him with an eight-year extension, but outside of a few depth signings (defenseman Luke Schenn and forward Carter Rowney come to mind), did Anaheim do anything to help him out? Not really.

Last year’s trade acquisition Adam Henrique is a good addition to the club and will give them 45 to 50 points, but this is still a team that ranked19th last season in goals scored. There could be an upswing but I wouldn’t expect it to be beyond subtle. Since finishing first in total goals in 2013-14, the Ducks have regressed considerably every season. It also does nothing for the fact that the core of last year’s defense remains the same, outside of Sami Vatanen.

While that group is talented and will get better, they’re still young and learning, as evidenced by their falling apart in the playoffs without Cam Fowler. They also surrendered the sixth most shots on net during the regular campaign, meaning both Gibson and backup Ryan Miller were standing on their heads night after night.

Nothing then is likely to change as far as the Ducks needing Gibson to play the superhero once more. Especially while young guys like Rickard Rakell (34 goals and 69 points) and Ondrej Kase continue to progress and others begin to hit their mid-30s. It would be naive to count on Corey Perry returning to 30-goal form or for Ryan Getzlaf to score another 20. He hasn’t put up 20 goals since 2014-15. That’s not even considering the rumors that Ryan Kesler plans to sit the whole season.

Without significant improvement along the roster and with a team that’s likely to struggle for offensive production, Anaheim is going to ride or die just as before on its goaltending. Gibson will absolutely be the reason they make the postseason if of course, they do make it.