May 30, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen (31) stands behind teammates on the bench as the Ducks play in an empty net situation against the Chicago Blackhawks in the third period in game seven of the Western Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Number 1: Anaheim Ducks
Sitting at the top of my 2015-16 NHL season rankings are the Anaheim Ducks. Last season a tough Game Seven loss kept them from reaching the Stanley Cup Final. The Ducks young players gained valuable experience from that process. I see them ready to be the best team in the NHL.
Anaheim will look different when compared to last season. Carl Hagelin gives the Ducks extra speed on the outsides to push tempo more than in the past. Chris Stewart fits more the big, physical player with scoring touch mold the Ducks are used to. And Kevin Bieksa gives Anaheim another solid, veteran defensemen with playoff experience.
Anaheim Ducks
All three only add to Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler leading the offensive charge. Consistently good and tough to play against, the Ducks will roll out deeper forward lines capable of greater production with Stewart and Hagelin.
Bieksa is the veteran on a defense filled with studs. The Ducks boast Sami Vatanen, Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm, Clayton Stoner and Simon Despres in his first full season with Anaheim. Vatanen is the most offensively gifted while Stoner and Lindholm also provide support. Bieksa is the only defenseman I’ve named that are over 27 years old. This unit will grow together and be among the best for years to come.
My only real question about Anaheim is their ability to keep the puck. The Ducks finished an alarming 22nd in Corsi For last year. Not keeping the puck in the playoffs is a certain way to get you beat. Anaheim almost overcame that anyway. They should be better depending on how you feel about Bieksa and Stewart.
Bieksa traditionally has good possession numbers but declined as the Canucks fell off. Stewart was a possession disaster in Buffalo (who wasn’t?) but posted career best numbers after his trade to Minnesota. Both players will benefit from a stronger team around them.
The beneficiaries of that will be Frederik Andersen and John Gibson. Andersen is the starter heading into the 2015-16 NHL season. Both goaltenders put up the same save percentage while Andersen posted a better goals against. Andersen is 25 and heading into his prime coming off a year gathering great experience. I expect him to be better in the 2015-16 NHL season. That’s a big reason the Ducks sit on top.
Anaheim has been tortured by Los Angeles winning two Stanley Cups and Chicago getting three. The Ducks have been a bridesmaid in the West for years now. It’s time to step up and take the vows themselves.
The Anaheim Ducks will make the playoffs if: As long as California doesn’t break away from the lower 48 and players need new ID to get back in the country, they’re a lock.
A successful 2015-16 NHL season looks like: Beat the Kings. Beat the Blackhawks. Beat them all and bring the Stanley Cup back home. Nothing else will do.
Player to watch: Jakob Silfverberg. The big Swede posted career highs in goals and points. He also busted out with more than a point-per-game pace in the playoffs. I see Silfverberg as a real weapon in the 2015-16 NHL season, passing 20 goals and 60 points as the upgraded talent around him gives him more opportunities.
Agree with the rankings? Disagree? Can we drop the puck on the 2015-16 NHL season and watch it play out already?
Next: Bold Predictions for 2015-2016
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