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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, CA – NOVEMBER 01: From left, Korbinian Holzer #5, Sam Steel #34, Josh Mahura #76, and Max Jones #49 of the Anaheim Ducks during the game at Honda Center on November 1, 2019, in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Sam Steel’s Struggles Could Make Him a Trade Candidate

Alternatively, could Steel be the one superfluous to needs? While he’s certainly looked good on the power play, that has not been consolidated into much of anything on the score sheet in that aspect of play. Although it should be stated his 5 assists are not nothing. Whether or not those 5 assists, the majority of which have been secondary (in fact all of the even-strength assists have been secondary), are enough to counter his high penalty rates is up for debate.

Given the poor penalty killing the Anaheim Ducks have suffered from, it could be considered that Steel is, in effect, a net negative at this stage of his career, though he certainly shows more potential as a playmaker than his predecessor on this list, Troy Terry. It should be noted that Steel did shoot ~18% from the field last season, so some regression was bound to occur. It’s likely over time his shooting stabilizes somewhere between that, and the 0% that he’s currently showing.

With all of that said, Steel plays an important position as the center iceman. His pedigree through junior was spotty at times due to injury and other factors, yet when he was on the ice he produced in spades. It would be a tough call to let go of Steel, given he may have the highest upside of the current group of youngsters. The Ducks would be targeting high upside youth, and while they would be targeting a shooter, it’s unlikely they would be able to find someone with the upside of Steel on the market.

Could the Anaheim Ducks be Forced to Move Max Jones?

Max Jones, however, looks like he could also be surplus to needs going forward. Of all of the youth, he is my personal favorite to watch. Strong and fast, he’s a bull. But, he has no hands and no indication that he may develop any. The Ducks themselves have seemingly locked him into a bottom 6 (at least 3rd line) role with no indication they’ll waiver from that decision. Even last season, with the crippling number of injuries they had sustained, Jones was not given top 6 minutes. Truthfully, Jones may have the lowest trade value of the current youngsters.

A bottom 6 player with a lack of scoring to his name and a high propensity to succumb to penalties, is not typically high on most team’s “need-to-have” list. He may be a very good piece for the Ducks to have themselves in future years, as quality bottom 6 pieces are always in demand. However, with a lack of top 6 options, the Anaheim Ducks are going to eventually be forced to make a move. Moving Jones may be the path of least resistance.

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