The Positives to Re-signing Jakob Silfverberg
1. Veteran Presence and Leadership Qualities
The 28-year-old Swedish forward is entering the latter years of his career and he will soon, if he isn’t already, be considered a veteran. While he may bear some resemblance to the deviant Harry Potter antagonist, Draco Malfoy, Silfverberg’s dignified character tells a completely different story.
While he may not have a letter stitched to his jersey, there is something about him that makes you take notice of his leadership qualities. Silf is the kind of player who serves well as a mentor to the younger, less experienced players, and encourages his fellow vets. It makes him more relatable; therefore, the team is better because of him.
In the next few years, while the Anaheim Ducks make the transition to a younger team, they will have Silfverberg there to lift up and encourage players like Max Comtois, Sam Steel, Troy Terry, Max Jones, and Isac Lundestrom. His presence on the ice, as well as in the locker room, will encourage the Ducklings in their development as the future leaders of the Anaheim Ducks.
2. Versatility and Flexibility
One thing that has been admirable about Jakob Silfverberg, especially this season, is his versatility. He plays a solid two-way game, having keen hockey sense both offensively and defensively. He can be used in a shutdown role or, better yet, as a goal scorer. Currently, he leads the Anaheim Ducks in goals with 16.
In a pinch, he can easily transition to his off-wing and still be successful. He doesn’t allow the transition to confuse him or hinder his creativity while he is on the ice. Right wing or left wing, it doesn’t matter, Silfverberg is going to be a valuable asset to his linemates.
While he has played most of his career in Anaheim alongside Andrew Cogliano and Ryan Kesler, the forward has no issues when it comes to his coach juggling the lines. There are a lot of players who struggle to find chemistry when they aren’t paired with their normal linemates, and while it may happen sometimes, Silfverberg always has at least some chemistry with whomever he is paired with.
3. Always Reliable
The “injury bug” has run amuck through the Anaheim Ducks roster the past few seasons. Some players are not the same, for others, it took them a while to heal, and while Jakob Silfverberg has not been immune, he has managed to stray away from debilitating injuries.
Although he has suffered from quite a few injuries this season, a broken finger and lower body injury to name a few, he has only missed 9 games. Since he was acquired by the Anaheim Ducks, he has only missed more than 10 games once, and that was in his first season.
While the rest of his teammates have gone quite a few rounds with the injury bug the past few seasons, Silf has been a mainstay for the Anaheim Ducks. This brings us full circle back to our first points. When leaders like Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Ryan Kesler are out with injury, although he does not wear the “A” on his jersey, he is always willing and able to step up and take on extra responsibility.