2014-2015 Player Previews
The Pucks of a Feather staff is gearing up for the 2014-2015 regular season by giving you the best previews and analysis for the upcoming season.
Take a look at our season outlook for each player below. We will continue to add more scouting reports throughout the month of August.
Forwards
Kyle Palmieri
“With the retirement of Teemu Selanne and departure of Daniel Winnik, Palmieri should get regular minutes and should be in the conversation for the other three forward spots in the top-six.”
Matt Beleskey
“Beleskey is a rugged player who plays a mean, gritty game for a Ducks team that doesn’t really have too many players with that type of bite and snarl.”
Patrick Maroon
“Maroon may never put up the numbers that Milan Lucic does for the Boston Bruins, but having another player with that intimidating size and strength can definitely help the Ducks be a better team.”
Player Preview: Patrick Maroon
Defensemen
Hampus Lindholm
“Hampus Lindholm proved last season that he is here to stay at the NHL level. He earned every bit of his ice-time and that should only increase next season.”
Player Preview: Hampus Lindholm
Sami Vatanen
“I expect Vatanen to be a major contributor on one of the power play units as a quarterback and puck-handler, and he should be a force to contain offensively from the back end.”
Goalies
Jason LaBarbera
“The Ducks are hoping LaBarbera’s experience can lend a hand to their budding stars Frederik Andersen and John Gibson in between the pipes.”
Player Preview: Jason LaBarbera
Igor Bobkov
“Bobkov has been caught up in a bottleneck of excellent goaltenders in the Ducks’ system. This season, he can take more time in the minors to improve his game and nail down consistency needed to become a starting goaltender in the future.”