Anaheim Ducks 2018-19 Grades: Ryan Getzlaf Faces His Toughest Season Yet

We’ve had a little bit of time to digest the Anaheim Ducks 2018-19 season, and we’re handing out our final grades. How did our Captain, Ryan Getzlaf, fare in his toughest season yet?

The 2018-19 season seemed exceptionally long for the Anaheim Ducks this year, especially for captain Ryan Getzlaf. For the first time in his 14 year career with the organization, Getzlaf had to jump over hurdles that he has never had to face during his time in the NHL. Extended losing streaks, a team that was willing to just roll over and accept a loss, and complete unorganized chaos are just a few issues he had to deal with during the 2018-19 season.

For a captain that has become so accustomed to playing for a team that has found success in one way or another was a difficult road to travel down for the seasoned veteran. Near the end of his season, he saw a decrease in ice time, a sure sign that the Anaheim Ducks are slowly starting to transition out of the Getzlaf era. His time in Anaheim is far from over, but this had to be his most difficult season yet.

The Up’s and the Down’s

Things really turned sour this year for the entire team, and we do not fault RG15 for that in the slightest. As the captain, he tried his best to maintain a suitable environment for his team in the midst of an absolutely chaotic season. He remained steadfast throughout the season, playing his hardest despite the circumstances.

Yes, he too was guilty of being accepting of the losing nature, and because he is the captain, the most influential player on the team, that is something we simply cannot look past. Unfortunately, we cannot see what happens behind the scenes, but once your captain walks around defeated, so will the rest of the team.

However, despite the fact that the Anaheim Ducks as a whole we willing to throw the entire 25th Anniversary in the dumpster and set it ablaze, Getzlaf still managed to maintain his position as the leader in points. He has always been known as a pass-first player, so it comes as no surprise that almost 3/4 of his points were on the assist; he ended the season with 48 points.

This is where things get a little complicated, however. Despite leading the Anaheim Ducks in points, the 2018-19 season has been Ryan Getzlaf’s worst season to date, not counting the lockout of 2012-13, outside of his rookie year.

The fact that not one player on the Anaheim Ducks topped 50 points, especially the captain who has topped 50 points every year since his second in the league, is a hard pill to swallow. Especially considering the fact that the Ottawa Senators, the worst team in the NHL during 2018-19, had a total of 3 players that topped 50 points.

Still, on nights when the Anaheim Ducks were dragging and didn’t seem to care about the fate of the game, it was Ryan Getzlaf who stepped up and took matters into his own hands. There were several games where we saw a fervency in his game that reminded us why he is the leader of this team.

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An Average Grade for an Average Season

His injuries, however, were his Achilles heel this past season. He missed 15 games due to injury, and that caused a lot of inconsistency throughout the entire lineup. Getzy would start the season off with a groin injury and would miss time with an upper-body injury three different times throughout the season.

The good news is, Bob Murray is taking significant steps in improving the overall health and wellness of his team. This will benefit Getzlaf tremendously and change the way he prepares for the 2019-20 season.

With a new coach behind the bench, he is well aware that Dallas Eakins is not here for him. He’s been adamant about the fact that as long as the front office is communicating with him, he is okay taking on whatever role suits the entire team next year. However, there are quite a few lessons the veteran center might be able to learn from their new coach.

With a change of pace and the entire team headed in the direction of a re-tool, there is no doubt that Ryan Getzlaf, along with the rest of the team, will have a much better season in 2019-20. To what extent? That remains to be seen. While he didn’t have the worst season, we know the captain can do better, and for such an average season, we’re giving him an average grade.

Final Grade: C

Do you agree with our analysis of Ryan Getzlaf’s season? What grade would you give him for 2018-19? Let us know by leaving a comment for us down in the comment section below!