Anaheim Ducks: 3 Prospects Who Should Make the Team in 2019-20
The Anaheim Ducks have a crop of worthy prospects vying for a spot on the team, but at the end of the day, it is likely only three will make the cut.
Out with the old, in with the new. That should be the Anaheim Ducks mantra for the 2019-20 season. Randy Carlyle is out, and Dallas Eakins has assumed the position as head coach. There are several other changes to the coaching staff as well that will usher in the change needed to promote healthy development for the younger generation.
Of course, the team still needs their wise leaders that can be found in the core of veterans led by Ryan Getzlaf. However, the transition to a younger, faster, and more dynamic team begins this year. There are several prospects vying for a full-time spot on the roster, and many deserve it. Nevertheless, Bob Murray has made it clear that only three or four of the “Ducklings” will make the cut.
“I’m not going to put six, seven kids into our lineup right off the bat. You’re setting them up for failure and we have to set them up for success… So they’re fighting for three or four jobs. And they’ve been told that [at development camp.]” -Bob Murray, Anaheim Ducks General Manager
While Murray is taking a wise approach going into the new season, that means that Troy Terry, Sam Steel, Max Jones, Max Comtois, Keifer Sherwood, Josh Mahura, and Brendan Guhle are all competing against one another for a job. As much as we would like to see all of them in the lineup, it simply isn’t going to happen. They all deserve a shot, but what it all comes down to is the three players who outshine the rest.
Honorable Mention: Kiefer Sherwood
Although it is unlikely that the Anaheim Ducks have room to bring in a fourth prospect due to their current log jam on the wing, if they did move things around a little bit, Kiefer Sherwood would be the perfect player to slot in on the 4th line to make the team a little more well rounded.
Even though most people didn’t consider him to be anything more than an AHL acquisition, he impressed out of the gate last season and earned himself a spot on the roster. Yes, giving him a roster spot does take another spot away from the likes of Max Jones and Max Comtois, but he deserves it just as much as they do.
He has to work harder than any of the other prospects out on the ice just to prove that he belongs in an NHL lineup. Sherwood doesn’t back down and always has his nose to the grindstone. He brought energy to the lineup last season, especially the bottom 6, that the Anaheim Ducks could use as they proceed with their re-tool.
Prediction: Should Sherwood earn a spot on the roster, he will slot in on the 4th line. However, it is more than likely he will spend a majority of his season with the San Diego Gulls unless there is an injury in the big club, opening up a spot for him.
Troy Terry
It is almost guaranteed that Troy Terry will be on the Anaheim Ducks full time in 2019-20. For being a former 5th round draft pick, he has been impressive at every level he has played at. While he did start his NHL career off a little timid, Terry stepped things up during his second stint with the big club last season.
As the team transitions into this new, and what could be a rather difficult season, they need young players like Terry in the lineup who exude confidence and composure. Last year, Terry took a situation, that wasn’t ideal, in stride and overcame some difficult obstacles put in his way by both Randy Carlyle and Bob Murray.
Things seemed to somewhat turn around for the entire team last season after Bob Murray took over behind the bench. Had Terry been subjected to better coaching from the get-go and remained with the Ducks the entire season, he would have been on pace to have a 41 point rookie season. While those aren’t Elias Pettersson numbers, that would have put him among the Top 5 in scoring.
Now that the Ducks have a new coach that the young players are familiar with, there is no doubt that Terry will thrive in the environment created by Dallas Eakins and his coaching staff. He knows the style of hockey Eakins likes to play, and it has suited his development. Eakins is also aware of Terry’s strengths and how to utilize him for the betterment of his team.
Prediction: Terry will be awarded a RW spot in the Anaheim Ducks middle-six next to Nick Ritchie and Adam Henrique.
Sam Steel
Sam Steel’s first go around with the Anaheim Ducks last season was a little rough. Nevertheless, after spending some time with Dallas Eakins, he came back with a vengeance when he was called up later in the year. Who can forget about his hat trick, completed on a penalty shot?
Out of all the prospects who have a chance to make the team this year, I am most excited to watch Sam Steel. His raw talent shone through near the end of the season. Again, we can’t stop talking about his hat trick. His production picked up, and he proved to the organization that he belongs in the NHL.
With Ryan Kesler out on LTIR for the remainder of the season, this opens up a position down the middle. Whereas the other prospects are fighting it out for a spot on the wing, there is no other center in the Anaheim Ducks prospect pool who is as ready to take on this responsibility as Steel is. He is skilled, poised, and has incredible vision that will help lead the Anaheim Ducks towards their ultimate goal.
As the player who was considered to be Ryan Getzlaf’s heir apparent for the 1C spot, up until Trevor Zegras was drafted back in June, he will take on a lot of responsibility this season that will test him and take him to his limits. The good news is, Adam Henrique will be there for support in case he gets overwhelmed.
Prediction: Although I think he would fair better as the Anaheim Ducks third-line center, for now, the coaching staff needs to get a feel for what he can do. Sam Steel will slot in as the Anaheim Ducks second-line center.
Brendan Guhle
Brendan Guhle and Josh Mahura will likely be fighting for the open spot on the blueline up until the last minute. However, I believe that Guhle has a little bit of an extra edge that will send Mahura down to San Diego for yet another season.
Unfortunately, we don’t have a large enough sample size to accurately judge how he will perform in the Anaheim Ducks lineup after an injury kept him on the sidelines for a majority of his season with the team. Nevertheless, what we saw from him was rather impressive.
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After losing Brandon Montour, the Ducks are in need of another offensively-minded defenseman. While Guhle seems to be a decent two-way defenseman, his skill set is geared towards having more of an offensive instinct.
When he slotted into the lineup last season, he had instant chemistry with fellow defenseman, Cam Fowler. For years, the Anaheim Ducks have been looking for a partner who can both keep up and push Fowler to be his best, and Guhle could very well be that player as the Ducks look to transition to a faster-paced game.
Guhle, along with Troy Terry, could be one of the pieces that helps the Ducks fix their broken power-play units as well. He is fast, dynamic, and although he is young, he is incredibly smart on the ice. If his development continues to trend upward, he could be the perfect player to round out the Anaheim Ducks Top 4.
Prediction: Brendan Guhle will be given a position as one of the Anaheim Ducks Top 4 defenseman. It is likely that he will slot in as their second LD alongside Cam Fowler.
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