Anaheim Ducks: Pontus Aberg Claimed off Waivers from Edmonton
Just two days before their season opener, the Anaheim Ducks announced on Monday morning that they had claimed left wing, Pontus Aberg, off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers.
The Anaheim Ducks open their season on October 3, 2018, at the SAP Center against the San Jose Sharks. However, the season is not starting off the way anyone would have hoped. Last season’s injury “plague” seems to have followed us into the 2018-19 season. Key players such as Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler, and Patrick Eaves, are all out until further notice; the timeline on their return is currently unknown. Ondrej Kase has reportedly suffered from a concussion and the date of his return is also unknown.
The Bigger Issue
However, despite the injuries, there is another big issue the Anaheim Ducks needed to deal with before opening day. There is a serious lack of depth on the left side. As of Sunday, the only two forwards guaranteed to play in the left wing slot was Rickard Rakell and Andrew Cogliano. There was promise with the young prospect, Maxime Comtios. It has since been announced that he will join the roster during the season opener. However, it has been predicted that he will probably play no more than nine games.
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The Ducks have an overabundance on the right side but are floundering on the left. Jakob Silfverberg had a lot of success when playing his offwing alongside Adam Henrique and Ondrej Kase in the preseason. He scored 33% of the Ducks goals in their first three games; going as far as saving them from a shutout in Game 3 against the Coyotes. The possibility that he will be playing his offwing this season is, in my opinion, exponentially high.
Still, despite the success, they are still one man short. Nick Ritchie is still at RFA status, and if things don’t start progressing with his contract negotiations soon, the Ducks still need a backup plan. That is why, on Monday morning, the Anaheim Ducks claimed left wing, Pontus Aberg, off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers.
Who is Pontus Aberg?
The 25-year-old Swede was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the second round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Preds during the 2016-17 season, with only two points (1g, 1a) attributed to his name. During the 2017-18 season, he played 37 games in Nashville, with eight points (2g, 6a). At the trade deadline, he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Mark Letestu.
He played 16 games in Edmonton last season, netting two more goals and six helpers, for a season total of 16 points. However, despite having the opportunity to start fresh in Edmonton, he didn’t impress as much as the Oilers wanted him to. Nevertheless, Edmonton’s loss is Anaheim’s gain.
Of course, Aberg won’t have a spot in the top six. He is still a very underdeveloped player who lacks consistency. Still, the Ducks need to roll out a decent fourth line this season. It hurt them in the long run last year, and I think Aberg is the missing piece that could restore Randy Carlyle‘s confidence in his fourth line.
Aberg has yet to prove that he is a consistent point producer. However, although he is 25-years-old, he still has plenty of room to learn and develop. Aberg definitely adds the depth and speed the Ducks have been searching for. He is smart with the puck and has, for the most part, an accurate shot. The young Swede plays hard and has the competitive spirit and drive that could be beneficial to the Anaheim Ducks.
He has proven he can be a consistent point producer at the junior and AHL levels, contributing 52 points (31g, 21a) in 56 games during his last season with the Milwaukee Admirals. He may not have lived up to the hype of being a second-round draft pick. Nothing against the Predators or the Oilers, but I think the move to Anaheim will do him some good!
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