Anaheim Ducks: Will the Injury Bug Ever be Eradicated?
Constant injury has been the song of the Anaheim Ducks all season, and they are barely a quarter of the way through the season. Is there an end in sight to the tragic afflictions that constantly plague this team?
The Anaheim Ducks have been no stranger to the frustrations that come when the injury bug strikes. When you own, manage, coach, play for, or follow an NHL team, you know that injury is not avoidable. In the blink of an eye, anyone can sustain an injury that could keep them out for days, week, and even month; some players even sustain injuries that force them into retirement.
Since the start of the 2018-19 season, the Anaheim Ducks roster has suffered 16 separate injuries, with a few of the players suffering from more than one. This does not include the one game John Gibson sat out due to flu-like symptoms. It also does not include Korbinian Holzer‘s wrist injury or Kevin Roy‘s upper body injury.
At this point in the season, the Anaheim Ducks have yet to play with a fully healthy roster. Of course, this is not the cause for all of the team’s issues. Nevertheless, it still deserves to be looked at as an attribute to the Duck’s struggles over the past two seasons, more specifically 2018-19.
How have the injuries affected this season so far? I wish we could touch on every injury and how it has affected the team. However, I don’t think we have enough time to go over that. Still, there are a few significant injuries I feel need to be addressed.
Before we jump into it, here is an overview of the injuries sustained by the Anaheim Ducks so far this season.
Anaheim Ducks 2018-19 season injuries: Ryan Kesler (Hip), Ryan Getzlaf (Groin and UBI), Patrick Eaves (Shoulder and Back Spasms), Ondrej Kase (Concussion), Corey Perry (Knee), Brian Gibbons (Hand), Carter Rowney (UBI), Cam Fowler (Complex Facial Fracture), Hampus Lindholm (LBI), Nick Ritchie (UBI), Jakob Silfverberg (Broken Finger), Josh Manson (LBI), Max Comtois (LBI) Rickard Rakell (Ankle)
Dawn Wright, Vocal Chord Injury
When Ducks Nation walks into Honda Center on game day, they know that they will always be treated to a spectacular rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. As Dawn Wright honors the flag, our nation, and all of our armed forces, it has become a tradition for us to shout her name as she sings “by the dawn’s early light.”
Let’s not forget to mention her spectacular key change! Oh, my word! I get goosebumps every time I hear her sing. Unfortunately, Dawn’s voice has been missing around Honda Center lately. The reason? She has succumbed to the very contagious Anaheim Ducks injury bug.
Dawn revealed that she has been struggling with vocal chord issues and it was recently announced by the Anaheim Ducks organization that she would be having surgery in January. Due to the complexity of surgeries like this, she will be out for an extended period of time.
Although we have been treated to quite a few outstanding performances on the road, such as the phenomenal violin performance during the Carolina Hurricanes “Hockey Fights Cancer” night, her absence has been felt tremendously during the home games.
Dawn may not put on the skates and score goals, but she is just as much a Duck as the players who put on the jersey every night. She is a Honda Center staple. Although her absence does not affect the outcome of a game, it definitely affects the atmosphere at HC.
We hope the best for Dawn as she navigates through the difficult waters of dealing with this surgery. We wish her a very speedy recovery and hope she is back to singing the National Anthem for the Anaheim Ducks as soon as possible.
Corey Perry, Knee Injury
Corey Perry is one of the cornerstones of the Anaheim Ducks franchise. He, along with Ryan Getzlaf, has been a part of this team longer than anyone else. Perry has also been one of the teams top point producers for the team over the past decade.
I mean, he scored the final goal during their last game of the Stanley Cup Finals. If all of that doesn’t define a franchise cornerstone, I’m not sure what does.
During the previous two seasons, Corey Perry has definitely struggled. His point production has dropped, earning him a lot of scrutiny from fans. This was his season to come back and prove that he is still the Corey Perry of old, especially after a few shots from Bob Murray and co.
However, his “comeback” season came to a crashing halt before it had even begun. During a pregame practice, he injured his knee. He had surgery to repair his MCL and a torn meniscus and has been sidelined since before the Ducks have even played their first regular season game.
Earlier this week, Chris Bushell broke down his injury and what is needed for his imminent return. I feel like fans are 50/50 on Perry returning this season. On one hand, it would be great to see him integrated back into the lineup if he’s feeling ready. On the other hand, a few extra months of rehab might do him good and keep him from injuring himself further.
The real question is, what have the Ducks lost in the absence of Corey Perry? I mean this with all due respect, but Anaheim has lost a nuisance. Now, I don’t mean that he is annoying. What I mean is, he’s really good at getting under the opponent’s skin. He is really good at causing the blood of opposing teams, and fans, to boil.
The Ducks don’t really have any players on their team who can shake the confidence of their opponents and score goals to boot. I understand he’s struggled to find the back of the net the past few seasons, but he still generates a good amount of points. Plus, he had a lot to prove coming into the 2018-19 season.
Perry is also really good in the offensive zone. Early in the season, the Ducks had a really difficult time generating shots on goal and keeping the puck in the offensive zone and out of their own. His presence in the top six could have been beneficial during the Ducks losing streak in October.
Not to mention, I’ve heard the argument that Rickard Rakell could possibly be struggling this season because he isn’t on a line with Corey Perry. A lot of people have chalked up his success to being on a line with Ryan Getzlaf, and I have no doubt that’s part of it, but Perry could be the missing link.
I’m not saying that is the case. Rakell hasn’t been bad this season, he just hasn’t lived up to all the hype. However, the argument is pretty convincing when the player you’ve placed so much hope in is struggling while his other linemate has been out all season.
Hopefully his “new knee” will bring about a resurgence a la Teemu Selanne. It will be good to have Corey Perry back on the ice with the rest of the Anaheim Ducks whenever he feels like he’s ready to get back out there.
Patrick Eaves, Broken Rib and Back Spasms
It is pretty impossible not to love Patrick Eaves. Especially after his heartbreaking exit last season. It was nothing short of a miracle that he was misdiagnosed with Guillain Barre syndrome, a condition where the immune system attacks the nerves.
However, the injury bug has seemed to follow Eaves his entire career. Since he broke into the NHL during the 2005-06 season, he has yet to play a full season. The most amount of games he’s ever played was 79 during his split season with the Dallas Stars and the Anaheim Ducks in 2016-17.
He has yet to play a full season with the Ducks, which has been unfortunate. Especially when he found such great chemistry with Ryan Getzlaf during their 2016-17 cup run. He seemed to be the missing piece to the Anaheim Ducks puzzle.
With him out of the lineup, the Anaheim Ducks are certainly missing some depth. However, what is missing the most from Eaves absence is stability. As I said, when he came in, he seemed to be the missing piece.
Eaves has never been a flashy player who scores a lot of goals. However, he is responsible. Even though he doesn’t have the title of a leader, he still serves as one. His veteran presence is much needed on a team that is transitioning into the “youth movement.”
The influx of younger players this season could have certainly learned from him. Having the right attitude in the NHL is almost equally as important as having the skills and scoring goals.
I feel for him. It’s probably not easy being injured all the time. He wants to be out there playing the game he loves. If trying to play through a broken rib isn’t enough proof, I don’t know what is. There is, unfortunately, no timetable on his return. However, we hope to see Eaves back on the ice before the season ends.
Will the Injury Bug Ever Be Eradicated?
When will the injury’s stop? That has been a very prominent question in the minds of Ducks Nation for the past two seasons. The Anaheim Ducks have had the worst luck when it comes to getting hurt.
The answer to that question is simple. No, they won’t.
Hockey is a contact sport and injuries are bound to happen. Injuries won’t ever stop happening, unless maybe the players wrapped themselves in bubble wrap, and even then I don’t think it would stop the inevitable.
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The Anaheim Ducks are just going through one of those seasons where injuries abound. Hopefully, that will change because injuries are never fun. Nevertheless, no matter the season, someone is going to get hurt.
That is why it is up to the team, specifically the coaches, to be prepared when their team is devastated by injuries. As much as I don’t like Randy Carlyle at the helm, I have to give credit where credit is due. I have to say, he’s done the best with what he has to work with. For the most part.
The absence of players like Corey Perry, Patrick Eaves, Cam Fowler, Ryan Getzlaf, and others is hard to cope with. It’s hard to lose any player to injury. However, when injuries happen, you can’t just cancel games and hope you can resume as soon as they’re healthy. The best thing to do is shuffle the deck and keep going.
For as many struggles as the Ducks have had this season, they have done a pretty good job at moving forward in the absence of their key players. It finally feels like they’ve found their identity, which is good for any team that’s racked with the injury bug.
Hopefully, they keep moving forward, keep pushing, and when the injured players re-enter the lineup, they can come back without having to worry about playing for a team who has yet to find themselves
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