The Avengers Recast as Players from the Anaheim Ducks
The Avengers phenomenon has captured us since the release of their first film in 2012, but who would represent our favorite superheroes if they were recast with the players from the Anaheim Ducks?
Marvel Studios has become one of the largest grossing film studios in the world, growing into a multi-billion dollar cooperation since the release Iron Man in 2008. For over a decade, we have been captured by the stories that have come from the incredible mind of one Mr. Stan Lee. It wasn’t long before the Walt Disney Company, also the parent company of the Anaheim Ducks at their inception, inquired about the franchise and purchased Marvel Studios in 2009.
Since the production of the MCU began in 2007, there have been 22 films released, with several more currently in production. With each film, new characters have been introduced, plot holes have been filled, and our favorite characters have continued to develop. However, in an alternate universe, who would represent some of our favorite superheroes if the Avengers were recast using only the players from the Anaheim Ducks roster?
We have chosen eight of our favorite Avengers characters to “recast”: Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Ant-man, and Spiderman. While this is purely meant for entertainment purposes, we hope that you will play along and leave us a comment with the players you think best represent the superheroes in the MCU.
**Disclaimer: Before you read on, we must note, there will be absolutely no Endgame spoilers in the following body of work. We understand that not everyone has the ability to see the movie on opening weekend, and we know all too well that we would want others to return the same courtesy if it were us in the same situation.
Honorable Mention — Andrew Cogliano
We all know who the real Iron Man is, Andrew Cogliano. We saw him reach an incredible feat during his time with the Anaheim Ducks, and although his Iron Man streak was ended at 830 consecutive games played, his two-game suspension is not recognized by Ducks Nation.
However, because of Cogliano’s relocation to the Dallas Stars in January, the title of Iron Man went with him. His streak “officially” ended, at least in the eyes of Ducks Nation, in February when an upper-body injury kept him off the ice for four games. Nevertheless, despite his streak ending prematurely, those of us who have seen his dedication on and off the ice first hand, we know that Andrew Cogliano is and always will be Iron Man.
Iron Man — Ryan Kesler
Ryan Kesler has earned the title of warrior this season after his heroic’s on and off the ice. Much like Iron Man, Kesler is known as being snarky and can easily get under the skin of his opponents. However, when it comes to his teammates he is one of the first players to encourage, cheer for, and lead the “troops.”
We saw a different side of Kes this season when he opened up about his hip injury and everything it took for him to get back out on the ice after his surgery. Another quality that similar to that of Tony Stark, RK17 is the perfect representation of perseverance in the midst of difficult circumstances.
He refuses to give up and keeps fighting, even when things seem hopeless. He shows incredible bravery and most importantly, he isn’t afraid to be his own person. Not only is he kind, compassionate, and generous, but he isn’t afraid to be sarcastic, snarky, and cynical when it is appropriate.
Nevertheless, one of the most impressive traits that Kesler shares with Iron Man is his ability to adapt. No one thought he would be back this season, especially after rumors ran rampant around the NHL that he would spend the season on the sidelines. Still, he figured out a way to work with his injury and he forged his own path to 1,000 NHL games despite the fact that basically everyone around him told him it was impossible.
Captain America — Cam Fowler
Some of you may be wondering why Ryan Getzlaf was not chosen for Captain America. Getzlaf is a terrific leader. However, when it all comes down to it, Cam Fowler is an even better representation of Captain America, and in my opinion the perfect candidate for the Anaheim Ducks next captain.
Fowler is often the moral compass for the rest of his team. He leads by example, always staying calm, cool, and collected under pressure. Due to the fact that he is so respected and admired by his teammates, they also follow suit, looking up to him and his strong moral fiber. However, he is also willing to stand up for his teammates and defend them when he is needed.
Cam Fowler is also always willing to improve himself. Earlier in the season, he was struggling significantly playing on the left side. He had mentioned years prior that playing on the right was awkward for him, and therefore, trade rumors abounded. However, he switched sides and did it with humility and grace. His game improved significantly, and despite his previous comments, he quickly became comfortable with his new role on the blue line.
It is also important to note CF4’s integrity. When he stands for something or has a strong conviction, he isn’t going to let anyone change his mind or sway his opinion. He is also extremely humble. He isn’t afraid to admit his weaknesses and improve upon them. Another quality Fowler shares with Captain America is his extraordinary positivity, even when things aren’t always going right for him and his team.
Hulk — Nick Ritchie
This comparison comes as no surprise. Nick Ritchie would be the perfect player to represent the Incredible Hulk, and not always necessarily in the best way. Nevertheless, there are still positive qualities that Ritchie shares with Hulk and Bruce Banner.
Despite only playing 60 games this season, Nick Ritchie led the entire team in PIM (penalties in minutes), with 82 minutes total spent in the sin bin. While there are moments when penalties are unavoidable or not done purposefully, he often lets his temper and hot-headedness get the best of him, which is very reminiscent of Bruce Banner when Hulk takes over.
However, much like Hulk, Nick Ritchie can be misunderstood by the Anaheim Ducks fans. The fact that he was a Top 10 first round selection is often held over his head, and although his anger did get the best of him at certain points this season, he still took great strides to improve himself over the summer and is, in my opinion, in a constant state of trying to improve and prove himself.
He is known as a power forward and isn’t afraid to use his body and his power when he is on the ice. Ritchie is also incredibly durable. While he may not be a consistent goal scorer, Ritchie still managed to slot into the top five in points this season for the Anaheim Ducks.
NR37 was still a great asset to his team despite the areas he needs to work on. He seems to have the ability to be in the right place at the right time to set up his teammates for victory. While many are still calling for Ritchie to be traded, it is important to note that he is willing to try, and while he may not always succeed, at least he’s willing to improve himself and not stay stuck in a temper fueled rage. As the seasons go on, and if he remains a Duck, it is safe to assume that he will continue to develop and improve himself until he can control that part of himself.
Thor — Hampus Lindholm
There are many qualities that Hampus Lindholm shares with Thor aside from his long locks of flowing blonde hair. With the exit of players like Shea Theodore, Brandon Montour, and Sami Vatanen due to trades over the past few years, Lindholm has become an anchor of the blueline.
From the time Thor entered the MCU, he went on a journey to finding the balance between being a leader and a warrior. It is easy to see those qualities in Lindholm as well. While he is not quite a veteran yet, he has found his balance between being a leader among his teammates and one of their stronger, defensive weapons. He is also one of the most equally balanced defensemen on the team, having the incredible quality of being both offensively and defensively minded.
Although he is not overly physical, he also isn’t afraid to “bring down the hammer” when it is appropriate and uses great discernment. Aside from a major shoulder injury he dealt with last season and the season prior, Lindholm has managed to stay immune to serious injury and plays upwards to 70+ games most seasons.
He is also extremely agile, and while Lindholm may not have the ability to summon lightning, he can certainly be lightning on his skates. With the increase he has seen in ice time this season, he has proven that he also has incredible endurance and can stand up under the pressure.
Black Widow — Corey Perry
Corey Perry has earned a reputation for himself as the player that other teams love to hate. However, much like Black Widow, Perry is trusted by those who are closest to him. Despite that fact, he still isn’t afraid to figure out his opponent’s weaknesses and use it to his advantage. He is a pest to other NHL teams and makes the blood of other fans boil.
One quality that is particularly admirable about Perry when comparing him to Black Widow is that he has to sometimes work twice as hard as his teammates to succeed. Unlike the other Avengers, Black Widow was not gifted with these “superpowers” and relies on her own strength and tenacity to get her and her teammates out of sticky situations. Perry is definitely not the best skater and has received criticism over the past few seasons for his decline.
Nevertheless, he came back this season and worked harder than a lot of his teammates to prove that he still belongs with the Anaheim Ducks franchise. He is both strong and tenacious, unwilling to give up easily. Perry is also a fighter and unbeknownst to all of us until this season, a warrior in his own right.
Even if it seems like his opponent has the upper hand, Perry has proven time and time again that it is a big mistake to count him out. His confidence is evident, as well as his intelligence, and he is often one of the most fearless players on the ice.
The Underrated Avengers
Hawkeye — Daniel Sprong
Hawkeye is best known for his expert marksmanship with a bow and arrow. While Daniel Sprong may not be an expert in the field of archery, his weapon of choice is his hockey stick. At the young age of 22, Sprong easily has the best and most accurate shot of anyone else currently on the Anaheim Ducks.
One of the biggest criticisms of Hawkeye is that he was underutilized in the MCU with his absence in Avengers: Infinity War. Before coming to Anaheim, Daniel Sprong also suffered from being underutilized by the Pittsburgh Penguin organization. However, both of them made their triumphant return, Sprong to the NHL and Hawkey to the MCU, and were better than ever.
Ant-Man — Sam Steel
Sam Steel is one of the smallest players on the Anaheim Ducks roster but he is still incredibly strong and plays a mean game of hockey. Fans sometimes underestimate him and his talent, but he always ends up proving himself. Plus, he’s an absolute criminal with the puck.
Spiderman — Kiefer Sherwood
Kiefer Sherwood was one of the more inexperienced rookies that came onto the scene this year. Undrafted prior to being signed by the Anaheim Ducks last season, he has not received the training his fellow prospects have with the Ducks over the past few years. Yet, still, he has held his own.
Nevertheless, he still packs a punch and has saved the Anaheim Ducks from a few sticky situations. An added bonus is his exuberant enthusiasm, very reminiscent of Spiderman portrayed by Tom Holland.
Thanos — Bob Murray
You cannot have the protagonists without the antagonist, and while Bob Murray isn’t exactly the “bad guy” of the 2018-19 season, he definitely aided and abetted in Randy Carlyle‘s reign of terror. However, due to the power Murray has as the Anaheim Ducks General Manager, and eventually interim head coach, he fits the persona of Thanos much better than Randy Carlyle ever could.
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First of all, he made us suffer through the reign of Randy Carlyle. That is his first offense. Thanos caused a lot of suffering in the MCU, and he used his “minions” who ended up causing almost as much damage as he did.
Secondly, Bob Murray has to power to get rid of any player with just the snap of his fingers. A perfect example was the Andrew Cogliano trade that happened in January. He made a statement the night before and stayed true to his promise that change was coming and traded Cogliano the next day. While the Cogliano trade is understandable and he seems to be thriving much more in Dallas, he was a fan favorite and his absence has caused a lot of heartache throughout Ducks Nation.
Lastly, and I know this is a stretch, but Bob Murray just looks the part. If you take away his sweater vests, shave off what little hair he has left on his head, and give him a little bit of body paint, he could pull it off.
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Do you agree with our list? Which players do you think best represent each of the Avengers best? Let us know by leaving a comment for us in the comment section below!