Anaheim Ducks Fans, Do You Believe Now?

Gibson for Vezina

John Gibson. What can I say about the goalie of the Anaheim Ducks. In my honest opinion, Gibson is the best goalie in Ducks history. To some, that comment can be a stretch, but to me, he’s more skilled than J.S. Giguere, Guy Hebert, Freddie Andersen, etc. He continuously bails the team out whenever called upon, something that had been an issue for the last few years. And despite his brilliance, Gibson hasn’t been given his due: the Vezina Trophy.

Whether its Pekka Rinne, Carey Price, Connor Hellebuyck or Andrei Vasilevskiy, the national NHL media has failed to give Gibson respect for putting the Ducks on his back over the last few years. This year alone, he’s carried the load for the Ducks, leading them to second place at the All-Star break (With numerous teams having games in hand admittedly.) However, that still should put Gibson in consideration because quite frankly, where would the Ducks be without him?

Thankfully, this year there have been nights where he can take the night off. That’s where having a competent backup comes in handy. Anthony Stolarz, in his thirteen appearances, has a 7-5-1 record, an average record, but it shows his importance because it allows Gibson to rest his body at times.

Another facet that also allows Gibson to be in the Vezina conversation is his defense. While still at times shows their inconsistency, overall has showed their willingness to play shutdown hockey. They’re thirteenth overall in GA/G, thirteenth in Goals against, tied for first in SV%, and tied for sixth in shutouts. Though they bend, they show they won’t always break.

One of the stellar Ducks D-man is Hampus Lindholm. Eighth in points and assists, Hampus’ is most effective on the defensive end. He’s the leader in +/-, with a +6. While he may not be a household name like Ryan McDonagh, or Victor Hedman, Lindholm has shown to be a reliable defensive captain for the Ducks. It’s safe to say that without his presence on the ice, the Ducks wouldn’t be as strong on defense as they are now.

Now of course, playing defense is a team game, and yes, they’re not the most dominant defense in the NHL. But considering where they’ve been the last few years, to see a marked improvement this year should give Ducks fans life. As the season goes on, so will the improvement on defense.

As for my reasoning as to why Gibson should be considered for the Vezina trophy, it’s plain and simple. Gibson has been the reason why the Ducks are relevant this year. Yeah, you can look at plenty of other goalies and say they may have the better stats. But, when you’re a goalie for a team that is filled with youth, not a ton of experience, and you’re the bedrock to the team’s success, there shouldn’t be any doubt left. Gibson shouldn’t be left out of the conversation one bit

Let the Young Guns Fly

Trevor Zegras. Troy Terry. Isac Lundestrom. Jamie Drysdale. Max Jones. The list goes on and on. The Anaheim Ducks’ youth movement is yet another reason why this team is flying to new heights. Picked to be in the bottom half of the Pacific division, this young Ducks squad has followed the mantra that Hans said in the OG Mighty Ducks movies: “They’re learning how to fly”.

Leading the way of the youth movement is none other than who I believe will be the future captain/alternate captain of the Anaheim Ducks, Troy Terry. First in points, first in goals, first in game winning goals, and fifth in assists, Troy Terry has been a revelation for this Ducks team. His creativity has brought everyone to their feet and his flair for the dramatic is another reason why people want to see more of Terry. It is no surprise he earned the right to represent the Anaheim Ducks for the All-Star game.

Though Terry is considered a catalyst, THE catalyst on this team is none other than “Run TZ”, Trevor Zegras. Whether it’s his lacrosse-style assist which set up the game-winner against Buffalo, or his lacrosse-style goal against Montreal a few nights ago, Zegras has shown the flair for the dramatic as well. His individual stats speak for himself, second in goals, assists, and points (while also adding some style points) has made Zegras a fan-favorite in the O.C. One critique for Zegras could be his play in the defensive zone. That being said, it is improving, and he will only be better as he progresses in the league.

One of my favorite underrated rooks is Isac Lundström. Lundy as I like to call him, is a guy that needs some shine on his name. Though he only has twenty points, Lundy has come through on the defensive end with plenty of stalwart moments. He may not get recognition of a Zegras, Terry or Gibson, but guys like Lundy fill in their roles nicely. And are needed cogs on a tem especially in the post-season. Think a new generation Sami Pahlsson.

The youth movement is HERE. It is NOW. And most importantly, it’s NOT going ANYWHERE ANYTIME soon. So, enjoy this Ducks fans, because while I don’t think they’re there yet, a Cup will soon come to the O.C.

Battle in the Wild Wild West

One marked improvement unlike the last few years is how the Ducks have matched up against the powers in the Western conference. Against their divisional foes, the Ducks have held their own. They’re 1-1-1 against the Vegas Golden Knights, a team the Ducks have mightily struggled against since their inception. They’ve also shown fight against teams like St. Louis, going 2-0-0 against them.

The Ducks have also shown their weaknesses against the Western powers. They’re winless against the Colorado Avalanche, the best team in the West in their three meetings. They also lost to Nashville, a team that has been a thorn in the Ducks’ side for years. With their season almost hitting the All-Star break, the Ducks need every point in their possession. Gaining points and more importantly, wins, against the tough teams in their division and conference can loom large, heading into the final stretch.

Heading into February, the Ducks will face a tough stretch. They’ll be playing seven games, and six of them will be against divisional foes, including games against Calgary, Edmonton, San Jose and Los Angeles. Wins against those teams could loom large if the Ducks want to solidify themselves as a top-3 team in their division and give themselves a shot of having a winnable first-round matchup come playoff time.

The Final Stretch

With 48 games played and now headed into the All-Star break, the Ducks can look to make some moves heading into the second half of the season. People have looked at the Ducks’ defense as an area to make a trade. A lot of rumors are swirling around the Anaheim Ducks to make a trade to bolster their defense. One person in particular that has been discussed for trades is Josh Manson. Yes, he hasn’t produced on the stats sheet, and no he hasn’t been always healthy. That said, despite his inconsistent play, I’m not on the trade block discussion just yet.

Of course, if a trade is fair and equitable for both sides, then I’m all for it. That said, I’m not willing to trade any valuable pieces that can be valuable for future seasons, all for giving this Ducks team a chance to compete now. This team is young, but competitive, and I’m not willing to risk the future for the here and now. They may not be perfect, but I’m willing to roll with this team and see where we make moves heading into the offseason.

What I do want to see is consistency on the forward lines. I would like to see Zegras and Terry playing together. To me, they are the newer version of previous dynamic duos that this franchise has had over the years. Not only do their styles complement each other, but so do their personalities. From the outside looking in, Zegras is more like Teemu Selanne, a guy whose bravado knows no bounds. Terry is like Paul Kariya, a more soft-spoken guy whose confidence is set by how the team produces.

I also want to see better play in front of Gibson. Last few games, the Ducks’ defense has been lagging. One could point to fatigue being on the road, while others can point to just being the norms of playing in the league. Either way, in order to preserve Gibson, the Ducks defense has to stand tall and play a more D3 style of hockey (reference to D3: The Mighty Ducks).

Finally, I want to see more support coming from us Ducks fans. This team is in first place in the division. 1st. This being in a division with Vegas, Edmonton, Calgary among the perennial contenders and OUR Anaheim Ducks are in first place and will probably stay inside the top 3 heading into the All-Star break. The fans need to step up and show the team that they will be there for them heading into the final stretch. #GODUCKSGO.