Five Bold Predictions for the Anaheim Ducks 2019-20 Season
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.
4. Max Jones Will Start the Season in Anaheim and Lead the “Rookies” in Points
The Anaheim Ducks youth movement is in full force. Troy Terry, Sam Steel, and Brendan Guhle are shoo-ins for the opening night roster. However, with the shocking move of putting Daniel Sprong on waivers and sending him down to San Diego, this opens up the opportunity for both Max Jones and Max Comtois to snag a roster spot and begin their transition into full-time NHL players.
Currently, Max Jones has the edge over Comtois, but it looks like there is shaping up to be room for both of them. With that being said, it would be a reasonable argument to say that one of them will lead the “rookies” in points this season. While Comtois had an impressive start in Anaheim last year, he has struggled at 5-on-5, so to say that it could be difficult for him to maintain his production may not be far off.
Last season, Jones spent the majority of his season snake-bitten and really had a difficult time getting his first goal into the net. So much so that the pressure got to his head and it effected him rather negatively on the ice. When he finally scored his first NHL goal, a weight was lifted off of his shoulders. He returned to form and continued creating beautiful chances for his team. Unfortunately, he would only score one more goal before the season ended.
Entering preseason, Jones looked in tip-top shape. He is shaping up to be a great power forward who could even reach maturity a lot faster than his fellow teammate and power forward, Nick Ritchie. Goaltenders can’t leave him snake-bitten for too much longer. He’s going to learn their tricks the more time he spends in the NHL and if he starts the season alongside a center like Ryan Getzlaf, this opens up more opportunity for him to score those beautiful goals we know he can score.
Prediction: Max Jones has a 42 point season in his first full stint with the Anaheim Ducks, leading all of the “rookies” in points.
3. Brendan Guhle Will Lead the Defense in Points
Last year, Brendan Guhle’s season with the Anaheim Ducks was cut short due to the dreaded injury bug. The sample size was small, but he seemed to click with Cam Fowler, which is something we can’t really say for very many of the other defensemen who have been through the Ducks system. It was great to see that Fowler may have finally found a partner he really jived with, yet, we all approached the situation with caution due to the limited time we had seen Guhle perform at an NHL level.
Nevertheless, he came into the preseason with something to prove; he is NHL ready! For the foreseeable future, it seems like Fowler will be switched to the right side and Guhle will continue to play on his left. The two built on their chemistry from last season, and have been a rather impressive duo.
Of course, there are still flaws in both of their games that need to be ironed out throughout the duration of the season. But, the Anaheim Ducks blueline is looking less questionable the closer we get to the regular season. While he may be on the second pairing, I believe he’s going to be a lot like Brandon Montour with a little less risk, leading the defense in points during the 2019-20 season.
The 22-year-old defenseman had three points during his preseason campaign, including one goal and two helpers, which had him tied for second in points during the preseason with Ryan Getzlaf; both players just one point behind Jakob Silfverberg. If he can continue to build on his success with the club, there is no doubt that Guhle is going to be one of the Ducks go-to defenseman for the next few years.
Prediction: Guhle will continue to improve playing alongside veteran defenseman Cam Fowler. He will lead the blue line in points, registering between 30-35 points.
2. Jakob Silfverberg will Lead the Anaheim Ducks in Goal Scored… Again!
Going into the 2019-20 season, there are a few questions surrounding the Anaheim Ducks’ ability to generate offense. However, it was evident during the preseason that Jakob Silfverberg is going to be a tremendous asset to the team when it comes to scoring goals. Many people expect Rickard Rakell to lead the team in goals this year, and there is a very big possibility that he does, but, with the two of them on the same line together, it can really go either way.
The ink on Silf’s new five-year contract is still fresh, and he is going to want to show the organization and the fans why he deserves a contract that will keep him with the team when he is well past his prime. Putting him on a line with Rickard Rakell, Sam Steel, and to start the season, Isac Lundestrom, is a great way for Dallas Eakins to get the most out of Silfverberg.
While preseason doesn’t carry much weight, he outscored all of his teammates, leading the pack with four points throughout the exhibitions. Silf has been a cornerstone of the shutdown line for several seasons, however, in his new role, his offensive talent shines through. The Anaheim Ducks need more goal scorers, and with the 24 goals he scored last season, it is clear that he is going to be a big part of the solution.
As mentioned, Rickard Rakell is expected to lead the team in goals. There is no doubt that he is going to have a comeback season and will be of the top point produces for the Ducks. However, with the two of them on the same line together, they’re going to aid each other in their point production. No matter who leads, I have a feeling they will only be separated by just a few goals.
Prediction: Jakob Silfverberg will score between 29-35 goals this season.
1. Nick Ritchie will Have a 50 Point Season
Before everyone picks up stones to throw at me, hear me out. Nick Ritchie is a good NHL player. Now, let me say that again. Nick Ritchie is a good NHL player! While he may not ever live up to his Top 10 draft status, he has shown the potential to be a valuable asset to the Anaheim Ducks roster. Get rid of all his penalties and you’re left with the blueprint for a power forward who can slot in anywhere in the Top 9.
Yes, we cannot avoid the fact that Nick Ritchie led the Anaheim Ducks in PIM last season. He is in need of a huge attitude adjustment, but as mentioned in a recent article from Anaheim Calling, the entire team needs to change their undisciplined culture, not just Nick Ritchie. The addition of a player first coach such as Dallas Eakins has changed the culture in the locker room, and it has already begun translating on the ice. In time, we hope to see this change go even further in helping the Ducks transition away from their physical and sometimes bullying ways.
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As mentioned, Eakins is a player first coach. He values his players and uses their strengths to benefit the entire team. Randy Carlyle was set in his ways, predictable in his roster construction and almost unwilling to make changes even if that meant that a player wasn’t in a role that promoted healthy production and development. To further matters, there was absolutely no accountability for the team.
While we shouldn’t put much stock in preseason, Eakins paired Ritchie with Ryan Getzlaf more often than not. This will not only provide him with more accountability than he’s ever had on the team but should he continue to play alongside the captain, he will be playing top-line minutes. Eakins has also utilized him more on special teams, which will be great for his production.
If he is able to come to a place where he realizes that he doesn’t need to be a bully to play a good game of hockey we could see a different side of Nick Ritchie this season, a more improved version that will be better for the entire team. Last season, he was on pace to have a 42 point season. If he can stay healthy, stay accountable, and continue on the upward trend, the 24-year-old power forward is set to have a record-breaking season.
Prediction: Nick Ritchie still leads the Anaheim Ducks in PIM, but cuts down significantly. He continues his upward trend and ends the season with an even 50 points.
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