Five Ducks Who Wont Be On The Pond Next Season
The Anaheim Ducks will have multiple decisions to make this coming summer. And with the “next wave” of Ducks absolutely coming next season there will be some pieces that need to be shipped off this summer.
It was well thought that the Anaheim Ducks would use this season to usher in the next wave of talent. The defensive shift was virtually completed but the talent up front all looked poised to break through and bring with it a new era of Ducks hockey. However, the Ducks got bogged down with old coaches and styles and turned this season into a pseudo “bridge year”. And as disappointing, irritating and obnoxious as that is it could turn out to be what’s best long term.
The Ducks will most likely get a very high draft pick and it allowed all their forward prospects to get another year in the minors or juniors to earn even more experience. But next season the Ducks will have no choice to promote this group as if they don’t it begins to stunt their growth and maturity. The likes of Sam Steel, Troy Terry, Max Jones, and Max Comtois are virtual locks to be on the roster and players like Kevin Roy and Isac Lundestrom should be pushing the envelope. That’s 4-6 forward out of 12 available spots. And with that, there is still the need to fit in Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler, Adam Henrique, Rickard Rakell, Ondrej Kase etc. So who needs to go? General Manager Bob Murray should start moving these players first.
**Caveat: Jakob Silfverberg will not be listed in here as he has been written on extensively prior to this article**
5.) Carter Rowney
One of the multiple head-scratching signings last summer by Bob Murray and honestly the only one that has found a way to stick around. Carter Rowney was signed to a 3-year deal worth 1.13 million per. With the current cap in the NHL and Rowney knowing his role as a 4th liner that money wasn’t the head scratcher but more the term. It was like Murray needed to out-do other teams and added term. Rowney has actually been a pleasant surprise, not doing anything incredible but playing responsible and making smart plays when he is out there. Rowney hasn’t done anything wrong to this point but this summer he is just going to be in the way.
Rowney is now blocking some of the Ducklings mentioned above and they need to move him. Rowney has already tied his career high in goals for a season (3) and set career highs in assists (9) and points (12). He will most likely chip in a couple more points throughout the season and could finish the season with 15-20 points. The Ducks can easily move him to a team that needs a 3rd-4th line forward for a middling prospect or low draft pick, save some cap space and open a spot for one of the young guns. His cap hit and term are manageable for a team that needs that and all of the young players mentioned above should eclipse 20 points next season making them a far better option.
4.) Derek Grant
Yes here to break the hearts of many Ducks fans on Twitter. Derek Grant won’t be and shouldn’t be back next season. To be honest he shouldn’t have been brought back this season. Yes, the Ducks were able to move on from Joe Blandisi, a player that never seemed to gel here or really got a shot too. And he is only being paid 650,000 so its not like he is eating up a huge chunk of cap space but come on. Derek Grant is not a game breaker, he isn’t leading a team anywhere and should be “the extra forward” on most good teams. Nothing personal against him but what does Grant give you that Sam Steel doesn’t? Steel proved he can play up here and if Grant was brought in due to uncertainty about Ryan Kesler why couldn’t Steel just be called up?
Grant a year ago should be commended for holding the fort when Kesler and Ryan Getzlaf were hurt. He did an admirable job in a position he had never been placed in and kept the Ducks afloat. But this is two years later and now he like Rowney mentioned above, is merely in the way. Steel needs his full shot to show what he can do and will do it better than Grant. As it stands right now Steel has played in 13 games for the Ducks and posted 3 points. Grant has played in 11 and posted 3 points. And the upside of Steel, as opposed to Grant, is night and day. The Ducks won’t have to trade Grant as he is a free agent at seasons end. But don’t expect Grant to be back in SoCal for the 19-20′ season and the Ducks are better off for it.
3.) Patrick Eaves
This is the toughest player to list and the only one of the list that will be missed. Patrick Eaves has been through the wringer between last year and this year. At the time of the initial trade from Dallas, this looked like a brilliant move from Murray. Eaves was a power-play specialist, a goal scorer, and showed some chemistry with Ryan Getzlaf. But then the medical issues of Guillain-Barre or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or another disorder and then the shoulder and rib issues Eaves may say its time to hang them up. And no one would blame him. Eaves has a family and the rest of his life to think about. He has struggled to get back on the ice this season and next season will most likely be more of the same. It’s difficult to see and you have to feel for him. But he needs to do what’s best for him.
Troy Terry, Max Jones, and Max Comtois all can step in and his fill his spot and all seem ready to do so. They are all younger, healthier and have their whole careers ahead of them. Giving a roster spot to Eaves blocks these three and more and it may be a spot that Eaves is never able to fill. After this season Eaves only has one season left at 3.15 million and the Ducks will either buy him out or keep him on IR allowing him to remain a member of the team for the season. Eaves had a great career that will, unfortunately, be cut short due to injury. Eaves is a great person on and off the ice and keeping him around the team can allow him to help guide the young players but he may have suited up for his final season with the Ducks and in the NHL.
2.) Devin Shore
Yes, the player who came for Iron Man Andrew Cogliano will most likely be a goner at seasons end. Devin Shore was brought in from Dallas as really the only significant move Murray has made to this point in the season. It seemed to be more of a trade to send some shock waves as opposed to getting a player that would be a key component long term. Shore is young still, just 24 but has yet to really impress in the NHL thus far. At the point of the trade, he had played 42 games for the Stars with a 5-12-17 line. This isn’t bad but its nothing eye-popping either. Since arriving in SoCal it has been even less remarkable as Shore has appeared in 13 games with just a 1-3-4 line and a -7 rating.
Shore is due to make 2.3 million next season before becoming a restricted free agent in 20-21′. That’s a pretty rich price for a guy who may not even eclipse double-digit points this season and is not responsible in his own end either. All of the 4-6 above mentioned players are an upgrade over Shore. He isn’t a bad player and there will be a market for him similar to Rowney. A team looking at his young age and having only one year left on his deal should net you a prospect or a mid-round pick which is fine when you have multiple players waiting that are superior to him. And regardless of its a 4th or 5th round pick the Ducks scouts and drafting as of late especially in the late rounds has been nothing short of great. They have earned some trust in finding a diamond in the rough to start replenishing the farm system and saving some cap space too.
1.) Nick Ritchie
Credit needs to be given where it is due. Nick Ritchie has significantly cut down on his “dumb penalty” numbers. And his point totals are drastically better than last season. Last year Ritchie played in all but six games and finished with a 10-17-27 line. This year through just 43 games he has an 8-17-25 line. He should easily break his total from last season and in significantly fewer games. But if you have watched the last three Ducks games it’s easy to see that Max Jones is the bigger, faster, younger, better version of Nick Ritchie. Jones looks like the player Ritchie was always billed as and once Jones breaks through you just feel the goals could come in bunches. Which is why the Ducks need to move in from Ritchie now.
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Ritchie is at his highest point to sell this summer. Especially if he breaks his point totals of last season. Ritchie is still young and an extremely friendly contract that will see him only be a 1.5 million dollar cap hit for the next two seasons. That is a very easy contract to move on from and something that could net you a 3rd round pick and as stated the Ducks drafting has earned trust to make a great pick. Now the argument can be made that the contract is friendly and hold on to it but he is blocking better younger players. Ritchie has had has his chance to make a mark and become a force on this team. He hasn’t fallen flat on his face but he sure hasn’t run with the opportunity either. Yes, you can say don’t hold him to live up to his draft position but quite frankly he hasn’t lived up to the talent around him. Players drafted after him have surpassed him and have higher upsides. Sell high on Ritchie and let the young kids come in.
What say you Ducks fans? Are you okay with these five not being Ducks next season? Sound off in the comments and let us know on Twitter and Facebook!
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