Anaheim Ducks: Are Camp Lines a Sign of Change?
The Anaheim Ducks opened Training Camp last week with an influx of youth. But that youth was spread throughout the forward lines instead of on one line. And the tempo was noted by many in attendance as significantly faster. Could we see these lines from camp carry over into action during the pre-season too?
The Anaheim Ducks officially begin pre-season play in the place where it all came crashing down last May. Yes, the Ducks return to the Shark Tank just about three and half months after being swept out of last years playoffs. But they return with a new faster style of play and a much more youthful line-up. Last weekend AnaheimDucks.com writer Kyle Shohara was in attendance and tweeting out his thoughts from the opening days of training camp. And while there was much of note that came out it was this tweet especially that caught my eye.
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Through two days of #NHLDucks camp, Getzlaf is skating with Roy and Terry, while Steel is centering Rakell and Perry. Comtois with Lundestrom and Silfverberg, Henrique with Kopacka and Kase. Wonder if any of these get a look in preseason.
Those were not the lines I was formulating all summer long but they could be just as effective. And actually could be incredible lines all for different reasons. Things will obviously change if/when Ryan Kesler and Patrick Eaves return from their injuries and one notable omission is Andrew Cogliano skating on a different line. But for the sake of the article, I will leave them off and look at these lines that Shohara noted.
Kevin Roy-Ryan Getzlaf-Troy Terry
From the second the Ducks shipped away Bobby Ryan it seems to be the age-old question. Who is the other wing with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry? Although due to some not so stellar years from Perry and the All-Star rise of Rickard Rakell its Rakell that has been more the main-stay on that line. This throws that all out the window and sees The Captain paired with two young guns poised to be breakout players for the Ducks. Getzlaf is a force to be reckoned with when he’s on top of his game. He can score, set up teammates and maybe most importantly is a steadying yet imposing player. Playoffs of the past have shown he can take over a game and a series and with these two Ducklings perhaps a new dynamic.
Troy Terry is ready to take that next step. He has worked all season to add to his already good size and crack the opening night roster. He has impressed in rookie camp and training camp alike and its time to see what he can do at the games highest level. Playing with a great passer and pivot and Getzlaf will allow Terry to do what he does best. Drive the net, cycle down low and learn from a player he can model his game after. Terry plays a similar style to Getzlaf and he shouldn’t miss a beat being a part of this line.
Kevin Roy may not have the stature of his linemates but he certainly has the speed and then some. Roy proved last season in his limited action, some with Getzlaf, he can play and produce on the top unit. Roy is quick, shifty and has hands that drive goalies crazy. On top of that, he like his linemates has great finish ability and he is definitely not afraid to shoot. Playing on a line with two guys that can clear space for him as well as get him the puck will pay dividends every time. And Roy also enjoys playing a cycling style that opens passing lanes.
The three of them can attack in many ways and all bring something different to the line. Everything you want in a first line.
Rickard Rakell-Sam Steel-Corey Perry
This was the line I was expecting to see Ryan Getzlaf on. His usual wingers of Rickard Rakell and Corey Perry are here but the center is highly touted prospect Sam Steel. Rakell is coming off a break-out season that saw him eclipse 30 goals and an election to his first All-Star game. Rakell was a huge reason the Ducks stayed afloat early last season and he seemed to only get better as the season went along. He has a knack for the big moment and scores in all different ways you can think of. He controls the puck on a string, makes great passes and knows how to get to high scoring areas. He pushes the pace of play and likes to do everything fast. A trait he shares with his center and a center that could push him to move even faster and rack up quite a few assists.
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Sam Steel plays the game of hockey one way, fast. If you were lucky enough to watch him in person during rookie camp or streaming the rookie showcase that was made evident. He gets the puck and whether he’s skating it, making plays or getting to scoring areas he does it fast. He puts defensemen on their heels with his speed and then his hockey IQ kicks in. He has the skills and smarts to either fly past them or allow things to develop and make plays with the space his speed creates. He and Rakell could have some magical plays between the two of them. And he will have one of the best scorers in this league on his other wing. A wing that is looking to redeem himself and have a return to form season. To put a mark on his legacy as a Duck and Steel could help him do that.
Corey Perry needs to play faster. The fans know it, the team knows it, the league knows it, and he knows it. Perry has had a rough last few seasons and has finally been called out by the front office multiple times this summer. Perry has the hands and hockey sense to still be a top end NHL scorer. And if he is placed on this line he better have been improving his speed this off-season. Rakell and Steel will play this game fast and put the league on notice doing it. They can bring Perry along for the ride and he will have a center that like Getzlaf, gets him the puck in prime scoring areas. Perry, in turn, will create time and space for Steel and Rakell giving them room to move while opponents worry about Perry.
This is a line comprised of two players who are first line players and one of the biggest prospects the Ducks have. If that doesn’t excite fans I don’t know what will.
Jakob Silfverberg- Isac Lundestrom-Max Comtois
Truthfully this is the line I can least see surviving into the regular season. First I placed them here for the order that Kyle tweeted them out. But Adam Henrique’s line will be third if not second depending on Kesler’s status. And with Kesler and Eaves along with Cogliano not slated on this list, I have a hard time believing that Lundestrom and Comtois make the squad initially. I think they can one day and maybe this season but they could use some time to mature and become more rounded players. Comtois has had a great rookie camp and from all indications performed incredibly with Sam Steel and Troy Terry as linemates. And he scored twice in the Ducks inter-squad scrimmage at the end of the weekend showing he’s making a push. Think he gets caught up in the numbers, however.
Lundestrom I have liked ever since the selection last summer. He has game and all reports from camp so far are this kid is impressive. But he’s extremely young and most of his success this camp has come against playing other players his age. At the NHL level, he will be playing against players vastly older than him and I need to see him prove it at that level first. A year back in the SHL of Sweden or with the Gulls should he chose to play in North America would do him good. He is going to be a big-time player for the Ducks one day. But there is no reason to rush him and throw him into a no-win situation. Swedaheim will be waiting for him one day.
From one Swede to another. Jakob Silfverberg has been the center of many trade rumors for a while now. He is entering the final year of his contract and will be 28 this season. Silf will most likely be looking for a long-term deal and his potential last big contract as an NHLer. Silfverberg has been a good not great player for the Ducks but has performed well in the playoffs. I wouldn’t hand him the world but he plays well here and can be used on the power-play as well as PK and has great chemistry with most of the current Ducks.
Fan favorite and entering the prime of his career don’t bail on #33 just yet.
Jack Kopacka-Adam Henrique-Ondrej Kase
Two-thirds of this line signed long-term extensions in the off-season. Adam Henrique and Ondrej Kase looked poised to be Ducks for some time now. And that should be music to most Ducks fans ears. The two formed quite the chemistry last season and with a full off-season and camp to improve upon it, it should only be better. Kase found his way last season breaking out for a twenty goal campaign. Some of which included big goals. Henrique had quite the year for himself out in SoCal after a trade from New Jersey brought him west before the holidays. The two of them should continue to be a great third line for the Ducks but there is one glaring hole with them. That is who should play the other wing with these two.
Last week I wrote on who could fill the void left by Nick Ritchie. Jack Kopacka was not one of these names. But the fact he is on this line means he must be showing the coaching staff something. I think there are better players than Kopacka to this point and especially if Eaves and Cogliano claim some of the wing spots discussed above they could fall here. Kopacka is a nice player and I think he could contribute to the Ducks one day. But there are many more skilled players ahead of him at this point that help the Ducks drastically more. They need to be in this spot.
Because giving Henrique and Kase someone just as skilled and they could be match-up nightmares for the opposition.
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