Anaheim Ducks Rickard Rakell/Hampus Lindholm To Have Instant Impact

Anaheim Ducks can get back to focusing on hockey after re-signing restricted free agents Rickard Rakell and Hampus Lindholm to long-term deals.

Anaheim Ducks have struggled in the early going and sit 10th in the Western Conference with a record of 3-4-2. They have plenty of young players taking up roster spots, but only few have merited long-term looks at the NHL level. Players like Joseph Cramarossa and Michael Sgarbossa seem like unlikely to maintain their spots, and the same can be said for defenseman Josh Manson as the Ducks try to improve their roster.

Rickard Rakell and Hampus Lindholm were big reasons for the Ducks success last year, and bringing them back was clearly a priority. The Ducks have tried to manage with the talent they have, but there is a clear difference in the overall production on the ice. While Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry have looked good in the early going, the team success has been limited.

Rickard Rakell

Playing primarily the top line wing or second line center last season, Rakell finished the year with 20 goals and 23 assists with 169 shots on net in 72 games. He developed some chemistry with Getzlaf and garnered some power play time as well. With Getzlaf, Rakell, Antoine Vermette and Ryan Kesler down the middle, the Ducks have one of the deepest rosters at the center position.

As it stands, Nick Ritchie has found some chemistry with Getzlaf and Perry, and the young power forward will get every opportunity to keep that spot. Kesler is doing well with Andrew Cogliano and Jakob Silfverberg, but could drop down to the third unit when Rakell is in game shape. The bottom two units have been wide open, and there is a good chance things get shaken up once Rakell starts to have an impact.

Whether Rakell plays the wing or center remains to be seen, but the Anaheim Ducks need to find consistency in the offensive zone. Rakell’s return should give the coaching staff some confidence to juggle their top three lines before they find the best units.

Hampus Lindholm

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Even more than Rakell’s return, Lindholm making his way back is much more important for the Ducks success this season. He is a defensive anchor and proved his worth over the past two seasons. Even with his offensive production going, it’s his play on the defensive end that makes him so valuable.

Defensemen of Lindholm’s caliber are one of the most sought after commodities in the NHL, and acquiring them is becoming increasingly difficult. The Ducks were able to lock him up at a reasonable price on a long-term deal. He was a major part of their success over the past few seasons, and he should have an immediate impact in improving their defensive game.

At just 22-years-old, Lindholm is a sound defenseman with improving offensive skills. Despite finishing with a career low in points, Lindholm set a career high in goals with 10, and performed very well on the power play with 15 points. Expect Lindholm to be the Ducks best defenseman down the stretch, and prove why he is the focal point of their entire defensive unit.

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Even though the Anaheim Ducks have struggled early on, the return of Rakell and Lindholm is a huge positive for their team now and in the future. While it should take some time to get into game shape, both Rakell and Lindholm bring major improvements at both ends of the ice.

Barring major setbacks, the Ducks should return to form with the arrival of Rakell and Lindholm back to the lineup.

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