Pucks of a Feather Awards: Anaheim Ducks Rookie of the Year— Troy Terry

The Anaheim Ducks had quite a few rookies join the big club for extended periods this season, but none as impressive and poised as Troy Terry.

After only a few games played, 2018-19 quickly became the season of empty promises, disappointment, and defeat. The Anaheim Ducks had transformed into an unrecognizable team that was on the verge of internal combustion. However, one of the few bright spots this season was the rookies.

Although most of them started off on the completely wrong foot, no one blames them with Randy Carlyle at the helm of the sinking ship. Sending them down to San Diego was the best thing Bob Murray could have done for each and every one of them. Under the guidance and leadership of Dallas Eakins, the rookies blossomed in their confidence and began to look as though they were NHL ready.

While there were many rookies who had stellar performances with the Anaheim Ducks this season, only four were chosen as nominees for the Pucks of a Feather Rookie of the Year Award. We allowed you, the readers, to vote accordingly because we wholeheartedly believe that your voice matters. You voted, we listened, and it is no surprise that Troy Terry came out on top.

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Rookie of the Year Honorable Mentions

Jacob Larsson (8% of the vote): Jacob Larsson isn’t new to the Anaheim Ducks roster, but this season he took on a lot more responsibility than seasons prior. Playing 49 games with the big club this year, 21-year-old Larsson registered 5 points. He showed vast improvement from his 4 games with the Ducks two seasons prior. His chemistry with fellow blueliner, Josh Manson, was evident as well and all of his hard work was rewarded by spending over half the season in Anaheim.

Sam Steel (20% of the vote): Sam Steel registered 11 points in 22 games with the Anaheim Ducks. Like all of the other rookies, he got off to a rough start at the beginning of the season. Due to his struggles, he spent a majority of his season with the San Diego Gulls where he honed his craft and his confidence grew. Later in the season, he rejoined the club, becoming the youngest player to register a hat trick, and one of the youngest players in NHL history to finish on a penalty shot. With every game, he began to look more and more NHL ready.

Max Jones (26% of the vote): Unlike his fellow prospects, Max Jones didn’t start the season off with the Anaheim Ducks due to injury. Once he was ready for action, he started his season in San Diego. When the injury bug struck the Ducks, however, Jones was waiting in the wings for his shot with the big club and didn’t disappoint.

From looking at his point production alone, 5 points in 30 games, it wouldn’t seem like Jones had the best season with the Ducks. However, every game, he created opportunity after opportunity for his team. Being snake bitten certainly took its toll on the young forward, but once he scored his first goal, he went right back to being a nightmare for the opposing teams.

Rookie of the Year— Troy Terry (46% of the vote)

Troy Terry started off the season coy and unsure of himself. He lacked the confidence that he was so well known for during his time with the University of Denver. His first go around with the big club was rough and one he most likely wants to forget. The only thing he had to show for it was a shoot out win with the classic Troy Terry five-hole goal against Detroit in the home opener.

Whether it was first season jitters or the mess of a system the Anaheim Ducks were using at the time, the only logical move was to send him down the 5 to develop with the San Diego Gulls. From the very moment he stepped onto the ice he took the AHL by storm.

Before our very eyes, he transformed, growing in his confidence and becoming, on average, a point per game player (41 points in 41 games) under the direction of Dallas Eakins. So, when injury hit the Anaheim Ducks once again, Troy Terry, along with Max Jones, was the first name called to rescue the sinking ship in Anaheim.

In 34 games with the big club, Terry registered a total of 13 points, including 4 goals and 9 helpers. Seven of those points were collected in just one week when he scored 2 goals and 5 assists in 4 games. That week, he earned his first, of what will likely be many, nomination as the NHL’s third star of the week.

Unfortunately, Terry’s season in the NHL was cut short after blocking a shot against the Calgary Flames led to a broken tibia that would keep him sidelined for several weeks. Fortunately for Terry and Ducks Nation, he is eligible to return to the AHL playoffs. With the San Diego Gulls moving onto the Calder Cup Western Conference Finals and Terry’s projected timeline on the sideline almost up, it wouldn’t be a surprise if we saw Terry make his return to the Gulls and aid them in their flight to the Cup.

Stay tuned as we announce the winners for our other awards. Thank you for getting involved in the voting process and helping us determine each player who is deserving of winning each award in the Pucks of a Feather Awards “ceremony.”