The Anaheim Ducks are somewhere they haven’t been in sometime, in the hunt for a playoff spot. Although they are currently on the outside looking in at a potential playoff berth, they are absolutely in striking distance. So why is their leading scorer from just a season ago not in the line-up consistently?
Let’s call a spade a spade. The 20-21′ Anaheim Ducks season had little to be excited about. Yes, the arrival of Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale for a handful of games showed a glimpse of the future. Yes, it was nice to see the youth movement embraced to a point. But beyond that there was not much to enjoy or like. The one sliver of joy came in what appeared to be the first of the Ducks next wave taking that big developmental step forward. Max Comtois had a breakout year, leading the Ducks in goals (16) and points (33). Though these are not lofty totals the goals and points were triple his previous career highs, and it was more of a sign this could just be the start. Ducks front office felt the same way, as last off-season he was re-signed from his entry level deal of 925k to just shy of 4.1 million over 2 years. It was no doubt a bridge contract but a sizeable bump from his entry level. Unfortunately, that’s where the bright spots have stopped for Comtois.
Comtois only registered one point in his first 13 games in the 21-22′ season before a hand injury on November 11th. That injury required surgery and sidelined him for 6 weeks. Since return from injury Comtois has played sparingly and only seen the ice for 32 of the Ducks currently played 58 games. Managing just a 2-4-6 line since coming back from injury Comtois has been a healthy scratch more than anything else. So, what gives? Where is the player, we saw just a season ago?
It is difficult to pin-point who is the blame in the Comtois conundrum. The injury which required surgery was to his hand. So, despite his return to action is the hand still not, right? Has the strength not returned? Is pain still present causing the Ducks to use him so sparingly and allow him to rest? There has been no reporting to suggest that, and you would assume if it was health related and especially with a young player the Ducks would just shut him down. Recognizing the need to get the hand right especially as the post-season this year is possible but no guarantee. If it isn’t health related the attention needs to turn to the coaching staff.
If Dallas Eakins believes he cannot help the team, then that is his call and what he is paid to decide in part. However, I can only support this if the 12 forwards on the ice give you a better chance to win then Comtois. The Ducks continue to push the likes of Derek Grant, Nic Deslauriers, Sam Steel and Buddy Robinson over Comtois. Comtois even with his low point totals in a far superior player to all four of them. Even if you want to use the argument that Comtois is a wing and not a center that’s fine. Pick one of Grant or Steel to put in the middle. Comtois is still a far better wing then any of the four, brings more offensive upside and is just as responsible in the defensive end. Benching a young player to allow him to gain some perspective and see the game from a different view is one thing. Yo-yoing him in and out of the lineup can really mess with his head and stunt him from finding his game. If the Ducks do not see him as a long-term part of their plans, then they need to get something for him and move him at this deadline.
A problem that Verbeek and the Ducks have is one that is self-inflicted. Comtois hasn’t played and therefore teams have not been able to gauge if last year was nothing more than a fluke. With that said was Comtois going to bring the Ducks someone such as Claude Giroux? No but it does hurt their ability to deal from a place of strength. The Ducks may need to look at teams with similar players looking for a change of scenery. One of those options could be recent frequent trading partner the Boston Bruins.
It is no secret in Boston that young winger Jake DeBrusk wants out. The Ducks could look to pluck the streaky, rugged winger as the Bruins would most likely trade out of the Eastern Conference. Despite what some media outlets are reporting, the Bruins can’t really “sell high” on DeBrusk. Despite his most recent hot streak (which has come while playing with Patrice Bergeon and Brad Marchand, on top of playing on the West Coast where he was most likely elevated as a “showcase”), Debrusk is streaky. He has struggled with consistency issues as well as looking unengaged at times. Even still when locked in DeBrusk is a good young player that could be looking for a better opportunity and the Ducks could be that for him.
If the Bruins aren’t the suitors, the Ducks could turn to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jackets are technically just outside the playoffs however they are 10 points out of the last wild card and 18 points out of a spot in the top 3 in the division. Needless to say, their playoff chances are slim, and they could be looking to next season. Max Domi is reportedly on the market but at 27 he may be too old for the Ducks to target. The better player to target in a Comtois deal is Jack Roslovic. Roslovic is a 25-year-old center/wing who currently has 26 points in 56 games. He is 6th in goals and 8th in points on a middling Blue Jackets team. He will be an RFA at seasons end and could be a cheaper, young option on the second or third line. This would also allow the Ducks more flexibility in cap space in the off-season as well. Having Roslovic as a 3rd line winger that can also center on a line with Isac Lundestrom would be a great depth move.
Verbeek has let other teams know he is gauging interest on all the Ducks pending free agents per SportsNets Elliotte Friedman. I am sure he is taking calls on almost everyone and Comtois is most likely part of that list.