Five Reason’s Anaheim Ducks Fans Can Look Forward to the Off-season

To say that the Anaheim Ducks have been having a difficult season is an understatement. However, there is a lot to look forward to in the off-season.

During their game against the Vancouver Canucks, the Anaheim Ducks finally broke their third losing streak of the season. With a season record of 22-26-9, most of Ducks Nation is relieved that there are only 25 games left before the 25th Anniversary ends.

There is no denying that this season has been difficult for Anaheim Ducks fans. For the first time in eight seasons, the Ducks are in a position where the door to the playoffs has likely closed. Only six points separate them from the Ottawa Senators, who are currently last in the league.

Over the past 57 games, the Anaheim Ducks organization has sent us on an emotional roller coaster. We’ve had to suffer through three separate extended losing streaks. Although most of us have embraced the tank, it doesn’t make it any less difficult to watch.

We’ve also suffered through another season with Randy Carlyle behind the bench. To be honest, he should not have been allowed to return as Anaheim’s coach after they were swept by the San Jose Sharks in the first round of the 2018 playoffs, but Bob Murray let his pride get in the way. Although he has finally put his foot down, it doesn’t allow enough time for the Ducks to salvage the 2018-19 season.

Currently, the trade deadline still looms on the horizon. However, many fans are already anxiously awaiting the off-season. With the current state of the team, it is completely understandable. A lot of exciting things are bound to happen for the Anaheim Ducks when the current season ends.

The 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver

Although it is never fun to watch the team you support have an awful season, there are benefits at the end of the season that could come in the form of a high-end prospect in the draft. This year, the coveted draftee predicted to be drafted first overall is 17-year-old Jack Hughes.

Jack Hughes (U.S. National U18 Team, USDP): Hughes is the type of player who would alter the Anaheim Ducks franchise drastically. If they’re aiming to actually move towards a more speed driven style of hockey next season, he would be a monumental leap in the right direction. He has the ability to drive the tempo of a game, not only because he is swift, but because of his quick wit and playmaking ability.

However, at this point, Hughes is not a guarantee for the Ducks. While the Anaheim Ducks changes of drafting him Hughes grows with every loss, the draft lottery must take place. If the Ducks do not win the draft lottery, they will lose out on the first pick. The good news is, there are still many fantastic prospects projected to be drafted early in the first round.

Kirby Dach (WHL, Saskatoon Blades): The 18-year-old Canadian born center is another prospect the Ducks might want to keep their eye on. He has been compared to both Ryan Getzlaf and Joe Thronton as far as the style of hockey he plays. Dach has an offensive prowess that has helped him to become a dominating force in the WHL, posting 57 points (21g, 36a) in 50 games.

He is sometimes criticized for not being overly flashy, but don’t let that one “downfall” fool you. He has great vision when he is on the ice, something the Anaheim Ducks have seemed to lack the past two seasons. He is said to be a great playmaker and, although he is big bodied, standing at an enamoring 6’4”, he has soft hands. Dach is top end talent and will be a great asset to whatever team snags him in the draft this year.

Kaapo Kakko (Liiga, TSP): Kakko is currently competing with Huges for the first overall pick. While Hughes is the favorite, the 18-year-old Finnish prospect isn’t far behind. Kakko is quick-witted which gives him the advantage over his opponents. Always at least one step ahead, he adds electricity and an offensive flare when he is on the ice.

While only 18, he has shown the hockey world that he has the maturity to play at a higher level. Liiga is one of the most competitive leagues in Finnland and Kakko’s team TPS, is one of the most successful. What most people don’t realize is that Liiga is not a junior league, the men who play are anywhere from 18 to their early 40’s.

He was fifth in points this season, with 24 (12g, 12a) in 33 games. The fact that he has the ability to keep up in a league like that, and be one of the top point producers at such a young age, is further proof that he could potentially be NHL ready for whatever team is lucky enough to draft him in June.

Cole Caufield (U.S. National U18 Team, USDP): We all know that hockey is in a constant state of evolution. When drafting players, coaches no longer prioritize size and focus more on speed and skill. That’s good news for Cold Caufield who stands at 5’7”. Although his stature is shorter than the average NHL player, he doesn’t allow that to hinder him. The 17-year-old is one phenomenal player.

On the same team as Jack Hughes, he has spent the season playing right wing alongside the projected first overall draft pick. While some might say that could hurt Caufield’s chances because he’s bound to be overshadowed by all of the hype surrounding Hughes, that doesn’t seem to be the case. In fact, Hughes has nothing but good things to say about his linemate. In an article posted on NHL.com, he was quoted as saying:

“He’s probably the purest scorer of this draft class. It’s not like he overpowers goalies with his shot, it’s that he has a knack for scoring, so it’s really easy to play with a guy like that. You put it on his stick and it usually ends up in the back of the net, so no complains playing with him.” -Jack Hughes

Although underwhelming in size, Caufield has an overabundance of talent that would suit the Anaheim Ducks. He is projected to be drafted around 15th or 16th overall, but in the wise words of Pucks of a Feather site expert, Chris Bushell, you choose the player you want and who fits your team best, even if the consensus is to draft someone ranked higher.

Cole is a laser with the puck and he uses his biggest disadvantage, his height, to his advantage. His shorter stature allows him to be a little more sneaky, which becomes a major disadvantage for his opponents. He has a nose for the net, with 55 points (36g, 19a) in 42 games, and has an offensive touch that will make him a coveted draft prospect in the first round.

A New Head Coach for the Anaheim Ducks

Since the Anaheim Ducks were swept by the San Jose Sharks in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoff’s last year, we all knew Randy Carlyle was no longer the right coach for this team. Nevertheless, Bob Murray didn’t think it was the right time to part ways with Carlyle just yet.

While I give Murray the benefit of the doubt, Carlyle did have to coach a team that was very injury prone last season, there comes a point where you have to say enough is enough. After almost another full season with RC behind the bench, and three losing streaks later, Carlyle was relieved of his duties.

Stepping in as interim head coach was none other than the Anaheim Ducks General Manager, Bob Murray. His team won their first game with him behind the bench, but the sample size is so small, whether he is a good coach or not remains to be seen. Regardless, no matter how Murray does coaching this team for the rest of the season, the Ducks are guaranteed to get a new coach in the off-season.

With Bob Murray stepping in as the new head coach, one can only assume it is because the Anaheim Ducks organization doesn’t want to pull Dallas Eakins away from the San Diego Gulls when they have a pretty good chance at making a run for the Calder Cup.

While many criticize him for his time behind the bench with the Edmonton Oilers, he wasn’t left with much to work with. I’m not sure even a miracle worker could have saved the Oilers back then. Every team goes through struggles and unfortunately it resulted in Eakins losing his job.

Eakins is a fantastic candidate, as he has done wonders for the “Ducklings” down in San Diego. Look at Troy Terry for example. With the Ducks transitioning their younger players into NHL roles next season, having a familiar face behind the bench would help out not only the kids but the veterans as well.

If for some reason the Anaheim Ducks do go in a different direction, there are plenty of eligible and qualified candidates for the position. Rickard Grönborg has made it known that he wants to transition to the NHL after his contract with team Sweden expires. He has experience coaching players like Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell. Sheldon Keefe is another fantastic candidate.

Regardless of who becomes the new head coach of the Anaheim Ducks, one thing is for sure. With a new head coach comes a new system that is more than likely up to speed with the rest of the NHL. The Ducks are going to look a lot different next season and it’s going to be in large part to the new bench boss.

The IIHF World Championship in Slovakia

One of the only redeeming factors of the Anaheim Ducks Series 1 sweep last season was the fact that Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell went on to win the gold medal at the IIHF World Championship in Denmark.

While it is way too early for the rosters to be released, one can only assume that both Lindholm and Rakell would be invited back to join Team Sweden this year after their incredible win in 2018. Although a gold medal win at the IIHF Worlds is not a Stanley Cup, watching the two Swedes win another gold would be a wonderful off-season treat for Ducks Nation.

Not only would we get to see current Anaheim Ducks compete, but we would also get to cheer for players we don’t normally have the privilege of doing so. Plus, we would also get to discover new talent we may not have seen play before.

The IIHF Worlds may not be as hyped up as the Olympics, but all of the IIHF tournaments have become something a lot of hockey fans look forward to. It is a chance to watch the younger prospects or current NHL’ers take pride in representing their home countries on the ice. Who knows which familiar faces we could see in Slovakia come May. It is certainly going to be a fun off-season even to witness.

The Rookie Tournament and Ducks Camp

The Rookie Tournament that took place prior to this season was a blast to follow along with. It gave us, as well as the coaching staff and Bob Murray, the opportunity to see their young prospects in action. The crème de la crème (the best of the best) rose to the top early, making their mark before Ducks Camp even began.

Players like Troy Terry, Max Comtois, Sam Steel, Isac Lundestrom, and the biggest surprise, Kiefer Sherwood, stood out and ended up making it onto the roster for opening night. While only one player remains, only after his recent call-up yesterday, they finally got a taste of playing in the NHL.

After this season is over, the Rookie Tournament and Ducks Camp are going to be taken more seriously than ever. It is almost guaranteed that a few of these rookies will make their way onto the Ducks roster full-time next season.

Watching the rookies in the Tournament and at Ducks Camp will give us a better idea of who really has what it takes to make it in the NHL. The more they want it, the harder they are going to work. Unfortunately, there is no room for all of the rookies to make it to the big league next season, but the competition is going to be fun.

Tournaments like that and development camps are always the best way to gauge what the future of the Anaheim Ducks is going to look like. From the way things went prior to this season, I’d say the future is bright for the Ducks. They’re missing one piece to their puzzle and hopefully, they can snag him during the 2019 NHL Entry Draft later this year in Vancouver.