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Five Bold Predictions for the Anaheim Ducks 2019-20 Season

By Ciara Durant

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: Nicolas Deslauriers #20 of the Anaheim Ducks and Blake Lizotte #46 of the Los Angeles Kings get ready for the play during the third period of the preseason game at STAPLES Center on September 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: Nicolas Deslauriers #20 of the Anaheim Ducks and Blake Lizotte #46 of the Los Angeles Kings get ready for the play during the third period of the preseason game at STAPLES Center on September 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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No one knows what the new season holds for the Anaheim Ducks, but there’s always room for bold predictions!

We’ve been anxiously awaiting the return of regular season hockey, and after a summer that never seemed to end, only one day remains until the Anaheim Ducks kick off their season against the Arizona Coyotes. While this may not be the season the Ducks redeem themselves, it is bound to be full of exciting surprises.

What are those surprises, you might be wondering? No one knows, at least, not yet. Nevertheless, it’s always fun to take a wild guess at what the season before us may hold. Keep in mind, these are just predictions. There’s no telling whether they will be true or not until the season ends. Still, there’s no harm in trying to guess how the season might play out for a few of our favorite players. So, without further ado, here are five bold predictions for the Anaheim Ducks 2019-20 season.

5. Nicolas Deslauriers Will Have the Best Season of His NHL Career

When the Anaheim Ducks traded away a fourth-round draft pick for a fourth-liner who’s career-high was 15 points over five years ago, fans were not happy. There were plenty of players in free agency who were capable of doing the same job, for the same price, without costing the team valuable assets. Had Bob Murray finally lost his mind? Some might think so.

Nevertheless, despite a less than stellar season in 2018-19, with five points credited to his name in 48 games, Nicolas Deslauriers wants nothing more than a fresh start, just like the rest of his new teammates. His acquisition in the offseason is also a sure sign that Murray still loves his reclamation projects, and we can only hope that Deslauriers’ story will be similar to that of fellow linemate, Derek Grant.

The extra vitamin c, new scenery, and fresh perspective could be exactly what he needs to find his footing again. It seems as though he has snagged himself a spot on the fourth-line, and he will add some much needed forward depth to the bottom six. If preseason was a precursor to what we can expect from him in the regular season, it would suggest that the environment in Anaheim could be much more conducive to his productivity.

Now, that doesn’t mean that he will light up the NHL with impressive numbers that will put him up there with the likes of Connor McDavid or Alex Ovechkin. Keep in mind, he is a fourth-liner who likely won’t produce very many points for the Ducks. Nevertheless, with Derek Grant and Carter Rowney as his likely linemates, there is a good chance we could see Deslauriers have one of his best seasons in the NHL. I wouldn’t expect anything more than 15-16 points from him, but that’s 15-16 more points than the Ducks scored last year.

Prediction: Nic Deslauriers has a 17 point season, topping his current 15 point season record and becoming a solid fourth-liner for the Anaheim Ducks.

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