Pucks of a Feather
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Anaheim Ducks: It’s Time for the Franchise to Make a Hard Decision

By Ben Thomasian

ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 03: Anaheim Ducks Head Coach Dallas Eakins behind his players on the bench during the first period of a game against the Arizona Coyotes played on October 3, 2019 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 03: Anaheim Ducks Head Coach Dallas Eakins behind his players on the bench during the first period of a game against the Arizona Coyotes played on October 3, 2019 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Anaheim Ducks
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 16: Victor Olofsson #68 of the Buffalo Sabres reacts to his power-play goal, to take a 2-0 lead over the Anaheim Ducks, during the first period at Honda Center on October 16, 2019, in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Lack of Discipline is not Ideal for a Team with Subpar Special Teams

Obviously, with the subpar results that they have accrued, there are some fundamental issues within the team. Firstly, special teams are anemic. Let’s start with the penalty kill. Ranked 14th in the league, with one of the best netminders in the world backstopping it, the porous nature of this unit has to be concerning for the Ducks. Particularly in the light of the increasing number of penalties being taken by the Ducks skaters.

Already this season they’ve increased their penalty minutes by ~50 seconds per game over last season, but they’re already a third of the way towards their bench totals, and a quarter towards their majors. Nick Ritchie‘s game misconduct has them halfway to that total as well. This is not a well-disciplined team and with mainstays of the penalty box, Ryan Kesler, Kevin Bieksa, and Corey Perry, no longer with the team, the fault has to lay at the feet of the coach. Particularly the increase in the bench infractions.

Perhaps, there is a case to be made in three parts here: 1.) The Ducks could use some penalty killers who are somewhat better at preventing goal-scoring. 2.) The Ducks could move the players taking the most penalties and acquire players who possess the puck more, thus cutting down their minor infractions. 3.) Hire a coach who is capable of correcting the systemic errors which may be occurring while short-handed.

Perhaps more important than goal prevention, given the Anaheim Ducks are currently the 6th ranked team for goals allowed per game, is goal scoring. Wallowing near the bottom of the table, the Ducks offense has been largely run by aging veterans, while getting little-to-no support from the highly touted youth movement. The premier disappointment has to be the 30th ranked power-play unit. However, this disappointing special teams is merely an extension of what is apparent at even strength as well.

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