Pucks of a Feather
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Anaheim Ducks: Five Players Who Will Make a Comeback in 2019-20

By Ciara Durant

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Ryan Getzlaf #15, Rickard Rakell #67, Troy Terry #61 and Josh Manson #42 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrate Terry's first-period goal during the preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on September 29, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Ryan Getzlaf #15, Rickard Rakell #67, Troy Terry #61 and Josh Manson #42 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrate Terry's first-period goal during the preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on September 29, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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UNIONDALE, NY – JANUARY 20: Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks skates against the New York Islanders at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on January 20, 2019, in Uniondale, New York. New York Islanders defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-0 (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Ryan Getzlaf

Our fearless leader led the Anaheim Ducks in point this season, so why should he be a player we expect a comeback from? Ryan Getzlaf had one of his worst seasons point wise since he broke into the league in 2005-06. His Corsi For and Fenwick For stats were also both barely above 50%. Not to mention, he spent 15 games on the sidelines due to injury. The Anaheim Ducks adopted an attitude that allowed them to be okay with losing, and as the captain, he should have put an end to that.

Under the reign of Randy Carlyle, Getzlaf’s leadership skills were squandered. In his 14 years with the Anaheim Ducks, he faced hurdles he had never had to jump over before. He mentioned in his exit interview just how difficult things were for him during the Ducks 12 game losing streak. No one knew exactly what went wrong, it was a myriad of different issues. Nevertheless, you could see the negative effect it had on our captain.

His confidence seemed almost non-existent throughout the season aside from a few bursts of vibrancy here and there. It also didn’t help that the rest of his team seemed to have no desire to win while Randy Carlyle was coaching and things were constantly changing, offering absolutely no consistency.

Getzlaf was forced to play a style of hockey he wasn’t used to that was mixed with a style he had become accustomed to over the past 14 seasons in the NHL. It didn’t work for anyone, but for a veteran who has played for the same team during his entire career, he seemed to really struggle.

Although a new coach is coming in, Getzlaf is well aware that Dallas Eakins isn’t here to benefit him. However, that doesn’t mean that Eakins’ coaching style can’t benefit a player like Ryan Getzlaf too. With more consistency throughout the lineup and everyone on the same page, it will allow RG15 to get back to doing what he does best, setting up his teammates for success.

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