Anaheim Ducks: Five Bold Offseason Predictions
The Anaheim Ducks offseason often holds a lot of unknowns, but it doesn’t hurt to make a few bold predictions.
As the calendar pages flip to June, things are about to heat up around the NHL. Once the St. Louis Blues or the Boston Bruins win the Stanely Cup, the craziness of the offseason begins. The “official” offseason brings about new and exciting changes including, but not limited to, the NHL Draft, Free Agency, and, for the Anaheim Ducks, a new coach.
However, right now, the Anaheim Ducks are a big mystery, especially to their fan base. The only thing that seems to be 100% guaranteed at the moment is an excellent draft. Bob Murray and his scouting staff have an excellent track record of drafting in the late 20s of the first round, and with a 9th overall pick as well as the 29th overall pick (the San Jose Sharks first round draft pick acquired in the Brandon Montour trade with the Buffalo Sabres), they are sure to strike gold and fill the major holes in their prospect pool.
Many questions have arisen and it’s only a matter of time before we are given answers, and it may not be the answers we necessarily expected. Who is the next head coach? Which free agents are the Anaheim Ducks going to re-sign? Will any major trades be made? How Bob Murray is going to handle the re-tool, only time will tell. In the meantime, we’re taking a gamble and making 5 bold predictions about the Anaheim Ducks 2019 offseason.
The Anaheim Ducks Will Resign Ryan Miller to a 1-Year Contract
This is not exactly what you would call a “bold prediction”, but it is a prediction nonetheless. Ryan Miller was the unsung hero of the Anaheim Ducks 2018-19 season, and for good reason. It is almost unheard of for a goaltender to reach the age of 38 and still have success at the same level as Miller. Especially in a backup role and even more so in a league that has changed significantly over the course of his 16-year career.
The Anaheim Ducks have one of the best goaltending tandems in the league, and unfortunately, due to the team in front of them, they are not recognized as such. Nevertheless, with a re-tooled roster, a new coach, and a complete overhaul of their stale old dump and chase system, John Gibson and Ryan Miller will likely find themselves in an even better position than this past year.
Miller only played in 20 games this season, but he played with finesse. Among all backup goaltenders who played between 15-30 games this season, his save percentage of .912% is second to only New Jersey’s 22-year-old MacKenzie Blackwood.
He has been a great mentor to John Gibson over the past two seasons as well. Miller may have been reduced to a back-up goaltender over the years, but when he’s in the net, he still plays like he’s in the starting role. His work ethic is admirable, he has a strong moral compass, is level headed, and he plays his heart out.
While the Cup in any NHL player’s number one goal, it is very unlikely that Miller will want to move to a team outside of Southern California, and he has expressed as much. His family is here and at his age, family comes first, and he would likely retire before leaving. So, while the Anaheim Ducks may not be headed for the Stanley Cup Finals next season (anything is possible, but let’s be realistic) a 1-year contract would be perfect for both parties.
Confidence in Prediction: 9/10
Nick Ritchie Won’t be a Duck in 2019-20
Let’s face the facts, changes need to be made, and Nick Ritchie will likely draw the short stick and be relocated prior to the 2019-20 season. Not only does the fan base want him gone, but his contract is one of the easier ones to move.
Troy Terry, Max Jones, Daniel Sprong, Kiefer Sherwood, and Max Comtois are all vying for their shot at a full-time NHL position next season. With a re-tool on the horizon, Bob Murray and the coaching staff would be foolish to trade any of their young and very promising prospects at this point. Plus, keep in mind that Jakob Silfverberg just signed a new contract. It is also very unlikely that Rickard Rakell goes anywhere unless Bob Murray is prepared to face the wrath of Ducks Nation.
Corey Perry, Ondrej Kase, and Devin Shore are currently unknown’s at this point, and unfortunately, there is a possibility at least one of them has to go, but the Anaheim Ducks would likely be a better team with them than without them. So, that leaves Nick Ritchie at the mercy of Bob Murray and a severely overcrowded roster.
The one thing Ritchie has going for him is his point production for the 2018-19 season. While it is arguable that he had a bit of luck on his side, considering the state of the entire team, we cannot avoid the fact that he was indeed one of the top 5 points producers with 31 points registered this season (9g, 22a.)
There has been a significant improvement to Nick Ritchie’s game, especially this season. However, we cannot avoid the elephant in the room, and that is his explosive temper. He played only 60 games this season, yet he led the entire team in PIM by leaps and bounds. That is not something to be proud of.
Yes, every team can benefit from being a little physical, especially when playing the likes of a team like the Boston Bruins, but when his temper flares, he takes unnecessary penalties that tend to hurt his team rather than help them. He is unpredictable and you never know when he’s going to explode.
With two years and a little less than $3M left on his current contract, he would be the easiest player to move. While he does have a temper, and that could steer some teams away, keep in mind, he is still young and he can produce upwards of 30 points per season, especially if he is traded to a team that suits him, his style, and his personality.
Confidence in Prediction: 7/10
Dallas Eakins Will Not be the Next Head Coach of the Anaheim Ducks
Dallas Eakins is the perfect candidate to take over as the Anaheim Ducks next head coach. He already knows the kids, and how to best utilize their flaws and their strengths. In San Diego, he did a fantastic job helping them progress in their development and grow in their confidence. Plus, the Samueli’s and Bob Murray know him and his character. He is everything the Anaheim Ducks could want in a coach and more.
However, while he may be the coach they want, he may not necessarily be the coach they need. From the way things are transpiring, it seems as though Bob Murray may have come to that conclusion himself. If he was confident in Eakin’s abilities to take over as head coach of the Anaheim Ducks, wouldn’t he have done that already? Instead, he’s interviewing at least three other candidates.
If Randy Carlyle had remained with the Anaheim Ducks until the end of the season, I have no doubt that Bob Murray would have announced Dallas Eakins as the new head coach as soon as the San Diego Gulls Calder Cup run was over. Nevertheless, GMBM had the unique opportunity to coach his team and get to know the players on a deeper level and really learn how they operate.
While no one can put all of the blame on Dallas Eakins for what transpired in Edmonton during his two-year tenure as their head coach, the facts still need to be examined. He went in with guns blazing and really had nothing to show for it. He may have only had two years to prove himself, but he has one of the worst coaching tenures in Edmonton’s recent history. What does that prove? If he can’t coach a team like Edmonton at their worst, can he coach a team like the Anaheim Ducks at theirs?
Murray knows what this team needs to right the ship, and while the Samueli’s are pushing for Eakins, GMBM is making sure that he leaves no stone unturned because it is very likely that this will be his very last coaching hire as General Manager of the Anaheim Ducks. He may have doubts, and rightfully so.
Confidence in Prediction: 5/10
The Anaheim Ducks Will Have a Change in Leadership
Leadership has been a big issue for the Anaheim Ducks this past season. It certainly didn’t help that one of their alternate captains sat out for a majority of the season and the other one was dealing with a debilitating lower-body injury. The leadership shifted several times, and between several players, offering little to no stability for the rest of the team.
The inevitable re-tool would be the perfect time to begin the transition of the changing of the guard. It is unlikely that Ryan Getzlaf will be stripped of his “C”, at least, for the time being. Nevertheless, it is time to start making that transition and it starts with Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler passing the baton.
Ryan Kesler will spend the 2019-20 season on the sidelines, so assigning his “A” to someone else is something that cannot be avoided. This past season, Josh Manson and Adam Henrique really stepped up in his absence, and it would not be surprising if one of them earned this promotion permanently. Both are a great option, but Henrique seems to assert his authority on the ice a little better than Manson.
Corey Perry has been Getzlaf’s right-hand man for several years. They were drafted together, won the Stanely Cup together, and have been leading the Anaheim Ducks together since 2014. While stripping Perry of his “A” would be tough to see, I believe it is necessary going forward.
He needs to really focus on his game, especially with his steady decline over the past few seasons, and get back into the good graces of Ducks Nation. He’s been a terrific second in command, but with the impending retirement of CP10 and RG15 in the next few seasons, it would be foolish to throw someone into the captain position unprepared.
Cam Fowler is the heir apparent to Ryan Getzlaf, and in Corey Perry or Ryan Kesler’s absence, he has taken on the role of alternate captain. However, he still has a lot to learn about what it takes to lead a team. Having a permanent position under Getzlaf would give him the opportunity to really study and learn leadership traits that he has not quite perfected.
Confidence in Prediction: 8/10 (we know that someone will need to replace Ryan Kesler, the question is, will Corey Perry remain an alternate captain?)
Bob Murray will Make a Major Trade
This prediction is very vague, but Bob Murray has made it clear that change is coming. You cannot institute a re-tool using all of the same pieces. That, in itself, is the definition of insanity: trying the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.
Adam Henrique and Ryan Getzlaf were both connected to trade rumors during different points of this last season. I highly doubt Getzlaf would want to go elsewhere, but Henrique is a trade that is not impossible.
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It has also been speculated that Bob Murray hasn’t exactly been happy with Corey Perry’s performance over the past few seasons. Granted, his performance can be attributed to his knee injury. However, it is unlikely that a team will take on his contract, especially considering his age. Plus, Perry has something to prove and it is not likely that he will waive his no-movement clause.
Cam Fowler is also another name that has been on the top of many of our trade lists. He showed significant improvement near the end of the season but has struggled significantly the past few years, especially without a consistent linemate. Trading him is certainly not out of the question, but does Bob Murray really want to trade the veteran anchor of the blue line and Ryan Getzlaf’s successor?
Now, who will Bob Murray trade? That is unclear. What is clear, however, is that there is a major piece to the Anaheim Ducks puzzle that doesn’t fit, and while forcing it may work momentarily, when you look at the bigger picture, it doesn’t work. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bob Murray makes a trade that absolutely rocks Ducks Nation, and while it may not make sense at the moment, it just might be what they need to complete their re-tool.
Confidence in Prediction: 6/10
Next. Free Agents the Ducks Should Avoid: Erik Karlsson. dark
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