Anaheim Ducks: Closing out Preseason and Roster Updates
The Anaheim Ducks preseason has officially come to its conclusion. This means that the regular season is only three days away. Final roster cuts are being made as eleven more players have been sent down to San Diego.
The Anaheim Ducks end their preseason 3-3. They struggled to find their footing during the first three games against the San Jose Sharks and Arizona Coyotes. However, after the roster was shaved down to 43 men, they finally started to look like a cohesive team.
Going into Game 4 against Arizona, panic ensued at the news that the team’s star right wing, Corey Perry, would be sidelined for the next five months. Injury to his MCL and meniscus required surgery; it is estimated that he will make his return in February close to the trade deadline.
Coach Randy Carlyle has been preaching since day one of training camp that he wants his team to be relentless. The team banded together during the last three games and finally found the chemistry they had been lacking during the start of preseason. They were, as their coach wanted them to be, relentless. They were tenacious, and from the looks of it, the team as a whole has become a lot faster.
The roster is finally starting to look similar to what it will be on October 3rd. Although the Ducks have been pegged as “old”, I am of the opinion that this season we have the perfect mix of youth and veterans. We can only hope that their performance over the last three games is a picture of what the rest of the season could look like.
Anaheim Ducks vs Arizona Coyotes (Game 4)
The Anaheim Ducks played their last preseason game against the Arizona Coyotes on September 24th. The game resulted in the Ducks first preseason win, defeating the Coyotes 4-2 at Honda Center. Although it doesn’t mean much as far as the regular season goes, it definitely boosted the confidence of the team.
Anaheim Ducks star netminder, John Gibson, made his first appearance of the preseason. Richard Panik and Brendan Perlini were able to get two goals past Gibson on behalf of the Coyotes. However, we were reminded why the young goaltender will be spending the next nine years in Anaheim. The 29 saves he made in his preseason debut helped lead the Ducks to their first victory.
Carter Rowney, a free agent the Ducks picked up during the offseason, lit up the scoreboard first. He buried the puck off of a rebound, giving the Ducks a 1-0 lead. Although their lead didn’t last long, Panik responding a few minutes later, things were just getting started in Anaheim.
Midway through the second period, the Ducks scored their second goal of the evening. In what was probably the most impressive play of their preseason, Sam Steel buried a wrister from the left wing after a flashy toe drag, giving the one goal advantage back to the Anaheim Ducks.
Late in the second period, Andrew Cogliano fed the puck to Cam Fowler, who cashed in the puck for the Ducks third goal. Richard Perlini, of the Arizona Coyotes, scored their second goal. However, in an attempt to increase their score, the Coyotes pulled their goaltender in exchange for an extra attacker. Maxime Comtois used this to his advantage, scoring Anaheim’s fourth goal from their own blueline.
Anaheim Ducks vs Los Angeles Kings (Games 5)
A game between the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings is never anything less than exciting. The preseason isn’t any different. Their first contest of the preseason, on September 26th, the Anaheim Ducks absolutely devastated their cross-state rivals, 7-4.
Adam Henrique scored his first goal of the preseason, putting the Ducks on the scoreboard first. His opportunity came off a rebound from Jakob Silfverberg. Silfverberg’s shot wasn’t cleared away cleanly, giving Henrique the chance to skate in around the far post to make the rebound.
Andrej Sustr put the Ducks ahead by two after the puck bounced off of Jack Campbell‘s glove and rolled into the net. However, the Kings responded late in the first and Austin Wagner beat Ryan Miller.
Early in the second, Brian Gibbons set up Maxime Comtois with a snazzy touch pass, making it 3-1. Dion Phaneuf scored his second goal of the preseason for the Kings soon after, the score now 3-2. Emerson Etem, a former winger for the Ducks attempting to crack the Kings roster, tied it 3-3.
“Swedenheim” restored the Ducks two-goal lead midway through the second. Rickard Rakell rocketed a puck into the net from the right wing circle, scoring his first goal of the preseason. Jakob Silfverberg followed shortly after on a rebound during the Anaheim Ducks power play. The deficit reduced to one when Tanner Pearson snuck the puck behind Miller.
With four minutes left in the second, rookies Isac Lundestrom and Marcus Pettersson showed off their skills. They set up Maxime Comtios with a skillful tick-tack-toe play, putting him on the score sheet for the second time that evening.
Adam Henrique scored his second goal of the evening during a Los Angeles power play. His short-handed goal came just 17 seconds after the Kings pulled Campbell in favor of Cal Petersen. Henrique cashed in on his own rebound, leading the Ducks to a 7-4 victory.
Anaheim Ducks vs Los Angeles Kings (Game 6)
The Anaheim Ducks finished their preseason by shutting out the Kings on their home ice. John Gibson made his second appearance, saving an impressive 32 shots. The team looked both determined and electric.
Unfortunately, the Ducks were unable to capitalize on their three powerplay opportunities. However, their first goal came during a penalty kill. Kiefer Sherwood proved just how much he wants a roster spot during the season opener. He was both tenacious and agile on the ice. This allowed Ben Street to pick up the puck when Sherwood pinned Jake Muzzin along the glass. Street’s shorthanded goal allowed the Ducks to be the first team on the score sheet.
During their last opportunity to show off their skills, the Anaheim Ducks rookies kept impressing. Troy Terry scored his first goal of the preseason off a 2-on-1 rush with captain Ryan Getzlaf. He buried the shot into the net, giving the Ducks a 2-0 lead.
Sam Steel scored the Ducks final goal of the evening. In my opinion, I think this was the final piece to ensure him a roster spot on opening night. The Ducks were relentless in the second period, resulting in a turnover in the Kings offensive zone. Steel’s snapshot beat Jonathan Quick, and the Ducks ended their preseason on a positive note, shutting out the Kings 3-0.
This would not be a Kings vs Ducks game without a few fights, however. Andrew Cogliano and Dion Phaneuf dropped their gloves early in the first. Cogliano ended the brief scrap by tackling Phaneuf to the ice.
A few minutes later, Drew Doughty went after Ondrej Kase when he got a little too close to Jonathan Quick. Brandon Montour jumped in to defend his teammate, tackling Doughty. Montour’s skate, however, came a little too close to Kase’s face. Both Montour and Doughty were assessed for roughing penalties.
Roster Changes
The Anaheim Ducks began training camp on September 16th with a 64 man roster. Tough decisions had to be made, and as of September 28th, they have reduced their roster to 34 men.
More from Ducks News
- Who could the Anaheim Ducks consider presenting offer sheets to?
- Is Pierre-Luc Dubois on the cards for the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks?
- Making the case for the Anaheim Ducks to trade with the Edmonton Oilers
- Anaheim Ducks might benefit tremendously by trading John Gibson
- How close are the Anaheim Ducks to becoming contenders again?
Updated 2018 Training Camp Roster: Joseph Blandisi (Center), Andrew Cogliano (Left Wing), Maxime Comtois (Left Wing), Ryan Getzlaf (Center), Brian Gibbons (Left Wing), Adam Henrique (Center), Ondrej Kase (Right Wing), Isac Lundestrom (Center), Rickard Rakell (Left Wing), Carter Rowney (Center) Kevin Roy (Left Wing), Kiefer Sherwood (Right Wing), Jakob Silfverberg (Right Wing), Sam Steel (Center), Ben Street (Center), Troy Terry (Right Wing), Cam Fowler (Defenseman), Brandon Montour (Defenseman), Josh Manson (Defenseman), Hampus Lindholm (Defenseman), Andrej Sustr (Defenseman), Luke Schenn (Defenseman) Jaycob Megna (Defenseman), John Gibson (Goaltender), Ryan Miller (Goaltender)
Injured: Ryan Kesler (Center), Corey Perry (Right Wing), Patrick Eaves (Right Wing), Max Jones (Left Wing), Kalle Kossila (Left Wing/Center), Korbinian Holzer (Defenseman)
Assigned to San Diego (AHL): Terrance Amorosa (Defenseman), Alex Dostie (Center), Chris Forney (Defenseman), Scott Moldenhauer (Defenseman), Tyler Soy (Center), Ben Thompson (Left Wing), Giovanni Fiore(Left Wing), Mitch Hults (Center), Jack Kopacka (Left Wing), Angus Redmond (Goaltender), Deven Sideroff (Right Wing), Keaton Thompson (Defenseman), Simon Benoit (Defenseman), Kevin Boyle (Goaltender), Sam Carrick (Center), Jared Coreau (Goaltender), Chase De Leo (Center), Jacob Larsson (Defenseman), Steven Oleksy (Defenseman), Josh Mahura (Defenseman), Anton Rodin (Center), Corey Tropp (Right Wing), Andy Welinksi (Defenseman)
Assigned to Juniors: Hunter Drew (Defenseman, Charlottetown of QMJHL), Benoit-Olivier Groulx (Center, Halifax of QMJHL), Antoine Morand (Center, Halifax of QMJHL), Kyle Olson (Right Wing, Tri-City of WHL), Roman Durny (Goaltender, Des Moines of USHL)
Assigned Overseas: Olle Eriksson Ek (Goaltender, BIK Karlskoga), Lukas Dostal (Goaltender, SK Horacka Slavia Trebic)
Released: Justin Ducharme (Right Wing, Chicoutimi of QMJHL)
Julius Nattinen was placed on unconditional waivers in order to terminate his contract. He has decided to opt out of playing in San Diego this season in favor of going back to his native Finland.
dark. Next. Anaheim Ducks Monthly Mailbag: September 2018
The Anaheim Ducks season opener is set to take place on October 3, 2018, against the San Jose Sharks. With a new season comes a lot of new content from Pucks of a Feather. To stay up to date, make sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter!