Anaheim Ducks: Where Do the Ducks Go From Here?
Pucks of a Feather Contributor, Jonathan Maxfield, answers the question that is on the mind of every Anaheim Ducks fan. Where do we go from here?
With all honesty, I’ve been procrastinating writing this article. Not because I don’t have any ideas for the direction to take it, and certainly not because I don’t have enough that I want to say about the Anaheim Ducks.
It’s because I was hoping, pleading that Bob Murray would surprise me, that he would make the move we’ve been waiting for. I was hoping he would look at the sorry state this franchise currently sits in and do something about it.
I thought the shellacking by the Oilers, who were fresh off of an embarrassing 4-0 loss to the Kings, one of the worst teams in the entire league, would prompt change. Well, that change came in the form of benching the Pontus Aberg.
I convinced myself we would definitely see a change after losing to the Senators, one of the worst teams in the league, after setting a new bar for most consecutive losses in franchise history. Still, nothing happened.
I thought for certain we would see some change after watching a 3-0 lead evaporate, ending in a brutal 7-4 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins. But alas, here we sit a few days later, and the only change we’ve seen is in the demeanor of coach Randy Carlyle who has devolved into lashing out at reporters who ask him about his job status.
I’ve simply come to terms with the fact that this is our reality. Reinforcements aren’t coming. We aren’t going to rise like a Duck shaped phoenix. Bob Murray is just content letting this season waste away and not do anything to spark this team to push them towards the playoffs.
GMBM showed his hand to us last season when he had no faith in the lineup he had assembled, he refused to go and get help. He refused to give the minuscule amount it would cost to get Evander Kane.
Instead, he opted to get two veterans who’s acquisition really feel like nothing more than him trying to save face by saying, “I did something!” The Ducks were promptly dispatched of by the Sharks in the playoffs which prompted this quote from Bob Murray to Eric Stephens, formerly of the OC Register.
I think it’s remarkable that we made the playoffs. But in making the playoffs, did we screw up some other things? That’s where I’m trying to get my head around. Sometimes it’s better to miss (the playoffs). -Bob Murray, General Manager of the Anaheim Ducks
Bob Murray probably looks at this lineup he has hobbled together and sees that nothing he’s going to do is going to make them a contender. So, why bother to make massive moves to try and become a playoff team when you know you’re not going to make it past the first round?
Still, a GM who does nothing in the face of a 10 game losing streak looks incompetent. The obvious decision would be to fire the coach, the coach whose team consistently bleed shots, consistently don’t score, and consistently bore their fans to sleep. However, as Elliotte Friedman said in his 31 Thoughts article:
“There is no way Anaheim GM Bob Murray would want to fire Randy Carlyle in-season. He dislikes that route and has said he feels the coach deserves a full roster for proper evaluation. An 0-6-2 stretch will test even Murray’s patience, but that’s an absolute last resort for him.” -Elliotte Friedman, Sportsnet
So, that kind of puts some cold water on that hot take. Yes, that was before the two most recent losses, which were arguably the most embarrassing of this 10 game drought, but I don’t feel at this juncture that Carlyle is going anywhere until the end of the season, and that’s unfortunate.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that Bob Murray won’t make moves of some sort. So, what can we expect the rest of this season? This brutal, depressing, hard to watch season…
Is it Time to Retool?
If Bob Murray is intent on standing pat, on not trying to make a run this season, then the best chance might be a retool. This isn’t a bad idea overall, in my opinion. With an aging core, it might be worth it to try and acquire a high draft pick and try and strike goal with a replacement for Ryan Getzlaf who is closer to the end of his career than the beginning.
Murray does not seem like the type of General Manager who would commit to a long term rebuild, or a full team blow up. Honestly, that doesn’t make sense for the Ducks anyway. However, a retool, that shakes up the core of the team a bit, and preparing for the changing of the guard does make sense.
Seeing the dramatic fall of Ryan Kesler, probably hit home with Murray that Getzlaf will soon suffer a similar fate. So, what can we expect if a retool is in the cards?
Sell, Sell, Sell!
The trade deadline is quickly approaching and teams usually fall into 3 groups: buyers, sellers, and those who do nothing. A retooling team will likely be sellers and the Ducks should be no exception. Rentals are the main course but it’s not impossible for a team to trade someone with a term.
The Ducks should be putting out feelers for Jakob Silfverberg as we speak. The 28-year-old Swede is a free agent at the end of the season and it’s unlikely that the Anaheim Ducks will be retaining his services.
Silfverberg is good for 35-40 points and 15-20 goals a season. That is nothing to scoff at; his defensive ability and responsibility will be invaluable to a team in the playoffs. Silfverberg is the type of player that is usually highly coveted come trade deadline time, and the Ducks should be seeking out a 1st round pick for him, or a 2nd round pick and a solid prospect.
The Anaheim Ducks should also be seeking a new home for Chad Johnson. The 32-year-old journeyman is a solid AHL or backup goaltender.
It is unlikely that he will fetch much of a return, but retaining some of his salary and moving him for a struggling prospect or a late round pick is better than losing him for nothing once Ryan Miller is back.
Although it’s unlikely we’ll see anyone pay any sort of price for them Andrej Sustr and Luke Schenn should be heavily shopped. Whether it is as a depth pickup for a contending team or a team who has an injury pop up, they need to go. A 7th round draft pick for either would seem like an overpay, but it’s better than nothing, and honestly might be better than having them on any roster.
Pontus Aberg has had a great stretch to this point with the Ducks. He’s had more goals than most other players but inexplicably finds himself scratched the past two games. If this is to send a message, hopefully, it is received well by young Pontus and we see him find his game again.
A hot streak could solidify his place in the lineup permanently with an extension, or it could drive it up enough that he could be a teams mid-range pickup for the playoffs. Aberg is currently on pace for about 20 goals and that’s something teams will covet come trade deadline.
Lastly regarding rentals, if I’m Bob Murray, I’m instructing Carlyle to showcase both Jake Dotchin and Andy Welinski. Both are currently up with the big club, and it’d be beneficial in two ways.
If they play well it helps drive up their price if the Ducks were to trade them. It also gives you a chance to see if they should be part of the long term plans for the Anaheim Ducks.
Personally, I think Welinski is a good bottom pairing guy, while Dotchin is a specialty defender who will help keep the other team in check while also finding himself out of position a decent amount. He has a niche place in the NHL, but I’m not certain it’ll be with the Ducks.
Find Them A Fresh Start
In addition to rentals, the Anaheim Ducks should actively be pursuing a fresh start for a few of their current players.
Andrew Cogliano– Ironman has looked like a shell of his former self recently, and honestly I’m not sure he’s to blame. He’s spent the majority of his time with Ryan Kesler who is one of the worst players in the league this year when evaluating his underlying numbers.
Is Kesler to blame for the downfall of Cogliano, or is it a 31-year-old forward just starting to regress? Whatever the answer to that question, Cogliano has two more years on his deal at $3.25 million a year.
That is not an outlandish contract by any stretch, and not impossible to move, and in a retool, cap flexibility is key and Cogliano might be a casualty to that reality.
Patrick Eaves– Eaves story is a sad one. He’s been a class act just about everywhere he’s been. He’s a great player with a great personality, but hockey is a business and the poor guy cannot stay healthy.
The Anaheim Ducks paid a premium to get the oft-injured 34-year-old who has only found a place in a lineup for 7 games over the past season and a half. As it stands now, Eaves is skating normally and is looking to join the Ducks on their road trip.
If Eaves can find a place in the lineup and make an impact over the next few weeks, finding Eaves a chance at a cup might be beneficial to him and the team. Eaves has one more year on his deal at just over $3 million. Any chance at this move will rely on Eaves wanting a move, and being physically able to play for the stretch run.
Ryan Kesler– I would not be shocked if Kesler called it quits after this season. He does not look good on the ice and he’s not performing at a high level. For a hockey player, that hit to your pride is not something most take well.
While Kesler does have 3 more years on his deal after this season, retirement isn’t out of the question in my opinion. If he does not consider retirement he could find himself on the same island that Stephane Robidas, Joffrey Lupul, and Nate Horton currently reside on.
It’d cost an asset, and a team willing to play ball, but getting Kesler’s $6.8 million cap hit off the books should be a huge priority for Bob Murray.
Thinking About the Future
There is one thing you cannot knock Bob Murray on, an that is his drafting ability. He has made the majority of his picks for the Anaheim Ducks in the 20+ range and he has a remarkably high success rate regarding his picks.
He normally doesn’t draft all-stars, but he does a great job at finding everyday NHLers, regardless of where he’s drafting. That’s a great thing. Murray does have 2 forays in the top 10 however.
Drafting Hampus Lindholm with the Ducks own pick in 2012 at 6th overall has turned out remarkably well with Lindholm in the conversation for best pick of the entire first round, alongside Morgan Rielly and Filip Forsberg.
The other being Nick Ritchie, 10th overall with the Ottawa Senators pick in 2014. Ritchie hasn’t exactly been a home run, often drawing criticism from Anaheim Ducks fans, but if you look at that 2014 draft, Ritchie is still one of the more successful picks from that draft.
If Bob Murray can find himself in that top 10 range again, there’s some real talent out there in this upcoming draft, particularly at center, that the Ducks could desperately use as they try and find the successor to El Capitan.
The Candidates
Jack Hughes- Center- USHL
Jack Hughes is widely regarded as the consensus number one pick this coming draft. He is a high skill, incredibly fast skater, with soft hands, and remarkable vision.
I’m not entirely sold on Hughes as an elite goal scorer at the NHL level, but his passing ability should more than make up for that. I’ve seen his skill set compared to that of Patrick Kane and I can say it’s not too far off. Hughes would be a major asset if the Anaheim Ducks somehow managed to luck out and win the draft lottery.
Kirby Dach- Center- Saskatoon Blades
On the other end of the spectrum, Dach is not a flashy player. He’s a big-bodied center. He’s got a lot of skill and elite playmaking ability. Although he’s not a gifted goal scorer, his innate ability to find open passing lanes is something that should have teams coveting the young center.
A good comparison would be to that of a Joe Thornton or even a Ryan Getzlaf. Dach is a good 3 zone player who can make passes and is not easily dislodged from the puck. He could go as high as 3rd overall or could drop to the middle of the first round.
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?
He is going to be one to watch and if you want to replace Getzlaf, getting another player similar to Getzlaf isn’t a bad idea.
Kaapo Kakko- Right Wing- TPS
The name on everyone’s mind since the start of the season is Kakko. He’s had a remarkable year and has even been mentioned as a usurper to Jack Hughes’ stranglehold on the top spot in the draft.
While I don’t necessarily see that as truth, more so just people trying to stir up a story, Kakko is gonna be a legit contender. Kakko is a fairly big winger, at 6’2”, and is already playing at a high level.
He has great puck skills, both shooting and playmaking. While he’s not exactly the most fleet of foot, his other skills more than make up for that. I personally think he’ll go 2nd overall and will be a gem for whoever he ends up with.
Dylan Cozens- Center/Winger- Lethbridge Hurricanes
The first of the high-end prospects that I’m personally not high on, but is right up Murray’s alley. He’s a big body with a scoring touch. Cozens is a high energy player who will cause havoc for whichever team he’s matched up against.
I personally would prefer the Anaheim Ducks to look more towards skill than another power forward if they get a top 10 pick and for that reason, I wouldn’t want Cozens as much as others. At the same time, I concede that he will be a great NHL player.
Arthur Kaliyev- Right Wing- Hamilton Bulldogs
Now for the other end of the spectrum, the player that I wish Murray would take but I don’t think he will. Kaliyev is a Florida born Russian with a snazzy shot that will carry him into the NHL as a high-end goal scorer.
There are questions regarding Kaliyev’s physicality, and he has been critiqued for shying away from puck battles, but I think he’s going to be a big-time goal scorer in the NHL and one that I would like to see in the black and orange. He’s likely going to be a mid 1st round pick.
Cole Caufield-Right Wing- USDP
Now, my pick for the sleeper pick that I would salivate over the idea of being in a Ducks jersey. His size, a diminutive 5’6”, is likely going to scare a lot of teams away. It’s very similar to the situations with Johnny Gaudreau, Kailer Yamamoto, and Alex DeBrincat, all of which are actually taller than Caufield.
The fact is, Caufield might have the best shot of anyone in this draft. He’s a shifty player who is tenacious around the net. It’s not uncommon for the shorter players to play with a bit of a chip on their shoulders and Caufield I think will have quite a chip.
He’s probably the furthest out of the prospects listed here to play in the NHL but I think he’ll end up being one of the better players out of the entire draft.
The Anaheim Ducks are at a crossroads, and their actions over the coming months will really set the tone for their future. It’s going to be interesting to see how Murray responds to the most adversity he’s had since taking over the reins a decade ago, and I for one, am ready to see how he handles it.
Next. Mid-Season Report Cards: Randy Carlyle and Bob Murray. dark
These were just a few of the prospects that the Ducks could consider in the 1st round, if you’d like a more in-depth look at some of them, including more who are further down the top prospects list make sure to let us know!