Anaheim Ducks: Could the Hurricanes Solve our Defensive Woes?
By Ciara Durant
Could Jakob Silfverbeg have a Future with the Carolina Hurricanes?
Jakob Silfverberg is, in my opinion, a perfect fit for the Carolina Hurricanes. They are looking for a top-six forward, and although he has been in a bottom six role so far this season, Silfverberg is top-six material.
With his current position on the Anaheim Ducks shutdown line, he has been able to show off his defensive talent. However, because he has been given the responsibility of being a defensive forward, that has overshadowed his offensive prowess. Most nights, his main focus is to keep the other team from scoring, and not necessarily scoring goals himself.
That is why his point totals since being acquired from the Ducks can be so deceiving. When Ryan Kesler was out at the beginning of the season, Jakob Silfverberg was on a hot scoring streak. For the month of October, he led the team in points for almost the entire month despite being sidelined with a broken finger for five games.
He’s shown that he can be a versatile forward too. During the pre-season, he was switched to his off wing, and he had tremendous success. The 28-year-old forward has also shown remarkable leadership skills. He has been paired with a number of rookies this season, including Max Comtois, Isac Lundestrom, and Sam Steel, and he still produced despite the inconsistency in linemates.
His decrease in point production has coincided with being reunited with the shutdown line. I do not think this is a coincidence. Ryan Kesler, although he looks a lot better than last season, has not managed to outrun the effects of father time. He is slowing down and he is dragging his linemates down with him. I feel like the third line is the best place for him right now, and I’m glad Randy Carlyle feels the same.
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Andrew Cogliano is a mystery to me this season. His lack of production isn’t exactly worrisome, but his performance this season has left me puzzled. Plus, again, let’s not mention his inability to score on a breakaway. All in all, Jakob Silfverberg is doing the best with what he has.
It is rather disappointing to see him in the position that he is in. The Anaheim Ducks are doing him a huge disservice having him on the shutdown line, but there’s really nowhere else on the team for him to go. He has a nose for the net, that much we’ve been able to see. Yet, he’s being bogged down by two players who are on the downward slope.
If the Hurricanes were to trade for him, and they put him in more of a scoring role, I don’t feel like he would disappoint them. He’s shown flashes of true offensive brilliance when he’s given the chance to be more effective near the net.
He can score goals if placed in the proper position, and if that’s what they’re looking for, Carolina would be foolish not to jump at the chance to trade for Jakob Silfverberg. Especially before another team realizes what a treasure he could be to their line up.