Anaheim Ducks Round Table: 5 Bold Predictions for 2019
The Anaheim Ducks have officially entered the second half of the 2018-19 season. The staff at Pucks of a Feather brings you five bold predictions for 2019.
With 42 games in their rearview mirror, the Anaheim Ducks still have a lot of hockey left to play in 2019. However, with half a season already under their belts, we have had plenty of time to analyze them and learn their behavior.
The hopes that the Ducks have a better second half is high, they always seem to pull through near the end. Taking what we know about the team already this season, the staff at Pucks of a Feather presents five bold predictions for 2019.
TJ Watson — The Anaheim Ducks Miss the Playoffs
Too many injuries in addition to the inconsistency as far as playing 60 minutes of hockey could mean that the Anaheim Ducks miss the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. We’re struggling to beat the best teams in the West and as long as we stand pat, they won’t be able to make the playoffs.
The only way they make it back is if GMBM makes a huge high stakes move, and I don’t see that happening. The West is tough and with only 1 point separating the Ducks from the Vancouver Canucks, with others not too far behind, they’re holding onto the second place Wild Card Spot for dear life.
Chris Bushell — Troy Terry will Return to Form Upon His Call-Up
To start the season, Troy Terry did little to impress. He looked timid, out of place, and slow. He was put in a position he shouldn’t have had to be in with injuries to key players and he wasn’t ready for that responsibility.
Since being sent down to San Diego, he has rebounded, finding his game in both ends of the rink. He has also become a leading point getter for the Gulls. His confidence level is sky high and he’s looking like the player we all knew he could be. He’s been doing so well, he was selected to represent the Gulls as the AHL All-Star game.
The Ducks need scoring help badly and if they want to stay in the hunt for the playoffs, they need to get it now. Hopefully, Terry will be called up soon and will be a catalyst for this team in the second half and into the playoffs.
Jonathan Maxfield — Daniel Sprong will score 15+ goals and Ondrej Kase will finish within 5 points of being a point per game player
If Daniel Sprong started the season with the Ducks, my prediction would be 25 goals, but alas, he’ll only play just over half of the season. That is if he steers clear of injury. Simply put, Sprong has been a spark plug since joining the team in early December.
He’s got a real jump in his step, and while some can criticize him for playing soft and not hounding the puck the way Andrew Cogliano or Ondrej Kase do, it doesn’t drastically affect his game negatively in the Ducks lineup to this point.
Sprong, in 12 games dressed as a Duck, has scored 5 goals and an assist for a total of six points. That’s a great start for a player who couldn’t find a consistent place as a part of the lineup with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Even better, he’s starting to show some chemistry with captain Ryan Getzlaf, who has elite level passing that can make even the most mundane shooter look like Alex Ovechkin. This is made even easier when you consider that Sprong has a great shot (the best shot on the team as I’ve been preaching since we acquired him!)
The brass ring is there for Sprong. All he has to do is take it, and so far, I’m impressed with what I’ve seen. I predict Sprong will end up with 17 goals as a Duck this season.
Another player who has been lighting it up recently is Anaheim Ducks former 7th round draft pick, Ondrej Kase. On the back of a breakout 38 point campaign in 2017, fans were excited to see what Kase could do as he continued to develop.
So far, he has not disappointed. Kase started the season with an unfortunate injury, but since coming back has been playing as a man possessed. It took four games for him to finally break through on the score sheet due to being insanely snake bitter, but since then has posted 19 points in 24 games.
Remarkably, he has scored two or more points four times this season. Kase is a stud in the making, and while his season may be shorter due to the injury at the beginning of the season, I strongly feel that Kae will be 5 points from being a point per game player.
Khalid Hart — Rickard Rakell Will Return and Lead the Ducks into the Playoffs
Since December 5th we have not seen too much of Rickard Rakell due to a sprained ankle injury. He currently does not have a return timetable. That means we don’t know when he could return. However, he has been seen on the ice at practice, so one can only hope it is soon.
With that being said, I predict that he will come back, along with Corey Perry (whenever he returns), and be one of the few reasons why the Ducks make the playoffs.
He was off to an awfully slow start this season, having only 5 goals and 20 points in 30 games this season. I feel like he’s the kind of player who can ramp up the scoring when it’s crunch time. With the team currently being on a godforsaken 7 game losing streak, I don’t see them doing their usual late-season ascension to first place in the Pacific Division.
Rakell will be why the team does sink into a first or second Wild Card spot. His speed and scoring ability will be just what the team needs to stay out of the Wild Card spots. If he returns to doing the goal scoring we all know he can do, I see him having another 50 point season with 20-25 goals and 30 assists.
He’s already halfway there, so we’ll see what happens on his return. I believe this kind of production would be possible if he’s paired with Ryan Getzlaf and either Pontus Aberg or Ondrej Kase.
Ciara Durant — Brandon Montour will Finish the Season with 45 Points
The Anaheim Ducks are 42 games into the season, just one game over the halfway points, and defenseman Brandon Montour currently has a 20 point season. This puts him just 13 points shy of breaking his record from last season.
Montour is known as one of the Anaheim Ducks more offensively minded defenseman. While players like Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson are known to be a little more predictable, Montour is not afraid of making bold moves or taking risks.
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Although this doesn’t always work out in his favor and has certainly shown areas where he needs to improve, he has been a great asset for the Anaheim Ducks on their blueline. While the blueline as a whole has had its own issues this season, I am a firm believer that once the offense figures things out, the defense will follow suit.
With several multi-point nights this season, Montour has proven that he can produce. His production has significantly decreased over the past few games, but so has the rest of the teams. Nevertheless, he is still currently tied for third in points with Rickard Rakell.
One thing is for certain with Montour. He is not afraid to shoot the puck. As it stands, he currently leads the team, tied again with Rickard Rakell, in shots on goal.
He has played only two games this season where he has not generated a shot on goal, and most nights he has at least two or more. It is refreshing that he is willing to shoot the puck, especially when generating shots on goal has been an issue for the Anaheim Ducks at certain points this season.
Since Cam Fowler‘s injury, he has taken on quite a bit more responsibility, averaging over 23 minutes of ice time per game. I have a feeling that once the Anaheim Ducks break their losing streak, it is going to prompt Brandon Montour to start producing again.
I’m half tempted to say he reaches 50 points this season, but with the way Montour and the rest of the team have been playing recently, I feel like 45 is a good middle ground.
Next. 15 Great Moments From 2018. dark
Do you have any bold predictions for the Anaheim Ducks in 2019? Let us know by leaving a comment down below!