Revisiting My 2018-19 Anaheim Ducks Bold Predictions
The Anaheim Ducks 18-19′ season is finally and mercifully winding down. With that being said, it’s time to look back to the start.
Back at the beginning of the season, I wrote an article outlining 5 bold predictions for the Anaheim Ducks this season. With the season set to wrap up, it is time to take a trip back and rank my predictions. I will rank them on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being complete whiff and 10 being hit the nail right on the head. What’s fair is fair, so it’s time to take my victory lap or wipe the egg off my face.
5. Troy Terry is a Calder Candidate
So, Troy Terry did not have the Calder trophy I was projecting he would have. Terry started the season in Anaheim but there was a key component missing from his game. Terry was lacking the confidence needed to succeed at the NHL level. It was a flaw that was affecting all facets of his game. The skill, hockey IQ, and effort were there but he looked awkward and out of place at times.
This resulted in a demotion to the Ducks AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, for most of the year. Honestly, it was the best thing that could have happened to the young Duck. Terry flourished with the Gulls posting 41 points in 41 games. The time in the AHL allowed Terry to re-discover his confidence and be more NHL ready.
That was proven true following his mid season call-up back to the Ducks. Since returning in January-February he has posted a 4-9-13 line and looked more and more comfortable with each game. In Terry’s defense, he was supposed to come on to the Ducks with a veteran group ahead of him leading the way. Due to injuries, he was thrust into a spot he probably wasn’t ready for and it showed.
The time in the AHL was what he needed and he and the Ducks will be better off for it. Terry may not be a Calder winner but if he is a key cog in for the Ducks next year and going forward I think he would much rather his name on the Stanley Cup.
Verdict: 4/10: Didn’t call this right but expand Terry’s points over a full NHL season and he is in the top 5 for rookie scoring.
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 26: Brandon Montour #62 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on March 26, 2019 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
4. Brandon Montour Will Lead Ducks D-men in Scoring
I didn’t think we would be talking about Brandon Montour as a Buffalo Sabre when I made this list way back, but here we are. Brandon Montour was dealt to the Sabres just before the trade deadline for a young defenseman, Brandon Guhle, and a 1st round selection. Despite the fact that Montour is a very good player, and a Ducks fans favorite, this may go down as one of GM Bob Murrays best trades.
The Anaheim Ducks lost Montour, but Guhle looks to be a great catch and the Ducks will have two draft selections in the first 20 picks of the NHL draft by all accounts. With Montour being a 2nd round selection and the Ducks getting a former first round selection and a first round pick they may have got the better end of this deal. All of that aside, on to my bold prediction from this past fall.
Montour finished his Ducks campaign with 25 points in 62 games played. He has since posted 8 more points with the Sabres for a season total of 33 points. The Ducks current leader Hampus Lindholm has 28 points. Montour has more points than Lindholm and there is a better than good chance he would have picked up 8 points or more with the Ducks had he not been traded.
Montour is an offensive weapon and there is no question he will be missed. However, the Ducks have a summer of re-tool in mind and it’s clear that Montour was never part of that equation. Anaheim will be better off in the long run.
Verdict: 9/10 I’ll knock a point off as he was traded but I was spot on with this one, and I want to take the victory lap.
3. Corey Perry Will Be Back
This prediction is dependent on what you consider “back” to mean. At the time of writing the bold predictions in September, Perry hadn’t re-injured his MCL requiring surgery and him not suiting up until February 2nd. In my original post, I stated that it wasn’t unheard of to expect a 50 point and 30 goal season from Corey Perry.
I cited the noise surrounding him from the front office, fans, and media would be his fuel and we would see an almost return to form for #10. That ultimately didn’t happen as Perry has played almost 30 games and is good for a 6-4-10 line. Expand that over a full season and Perry is looking at a season of under 30 points. No way to sugar coat this one, but I missed it. Call it wishful thinking, call it betting with my heart, call it whatever you want, it just didn’t happen.
I am dug in on this one. I still think Perry can be a vital member of this team and have a somewhat return to form. Will he be a top line wing capable of potting 50 goals? No, absolutely not. Those days are unfortunately past Perry. However, with the right roster and putting Perry on a 3rd line where he is going against lower quality competition he can be a huge component of the team.
He can post 30 point seasons and score big goals in big spots. He makes the team deeper and more dangerous and with the window closing, he should be motivated to get back to a Cup before the sun sets on an incredible career.
Verdict: 1/10 Despite the injury, this wasn’t happening, complete whiff.
#2 Ryan Kesler and Patrick Eaves are 100% Back
Well, then there is this prediction. It started out with such promise and potential, and then it all came crashing down around us. Recent reports have suggested that Patrick Eaves is dealing with the same weakness and symptoms that he had two seasons ago. Symptoms from a post viral infection that seems to be difficult to diagnosis at this point.
Ryan Kelser has not played since he reached 1,001 games and recent reports suggest he Bob Murray and Kesler’s medical team have had a sit down to discuss the future. This prediction couldn’t have gone more wrong but at the end of the day, it goes far past my prediction, far past this site, and far past the Ducks/game of hockey.
This is about the overall health of two people. Two people with wives and families to take care of and be there for. As much as we would all love to see vintage Ryan Kesler and Patrick Eaves flying around the ice at Honda Center, scoring big goals, and part of huge moments, there are things more important than hockey.
These two need to get their health right so they could lead full and happy lives away from the rink and the game. I, for one, am happy the Anaheim Ducks and, seemingly, the players are taking that approach. This may have been the last we have seen of them in the NHL, and if it is, and they get back to 100% healthy, that is what matters first and foremost.
Verdict: 1/10 Not right at all, and in light of recent developments they just need to get their health right overall.
1. Rickard Rakell leads the Ducks in points
Admittedly, this one would have looked a lot worse had I wrote this article last week. Rickard Rakell has not had the season most Ducks fans were expecting and hoping for. Coming off his All-Star, 69 point season, fans were excited to see Rakell take the next step forward.
Unfortunately, like the rest of the Ducks this season, Rakell has had a disappointing year. To this point, Rakell has a 18-23-41 line in 67 games played. This isn’t terrible but for a guy coming off a virtual 70 point campaign last year, but he needs to be better. His numbers are also skewed as 15 of the 41 points he has came during the month of March alone. The positive to take is hopefully this resurgence will carry over to next season.
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This prediction hasn’t been mathematically eliminated. Rakell’s 41 is good for third on the team right now behind Ryan Getzlaf‘s 47 and Adam Henriques 42. 6 points in 2 games is no small feat, but based on how Rakell has been playing the last month, it isn’t completely out of the realm of possibility.
He could take the lead or, at the very least, finish ahead of Henrique for second. Nevertheless, whether he does or doesn’t, Rakell needs to be a leader and return to form next season. By no means should the Ducks give up on him after one down year, especially a year like this. But as the Getzlaf, Kesler, Perry guard passes the torch Rakell needs to take it and lead. Come next season, I think that is exactly what he will do.
Verdict: 7/10 He is a top 3 scorer and could top overall, but he needs to be better just like the team.
Next. Is Max Comtois a Key for the Ducks?. dark
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