Anaheim Ducks Struggling up the Middle
By Ryan Ritchie
Anaheim Ducks: Ryan Getzlaf/Ryan Kesler Struggling up the Middle
Sitting at 19-18-7 with 45 points in 44 games, the Anaheim Ducks are starting to play better hockey after coming out of the gates as the next worse team to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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Keeping the puck out of the net hasn’t been an issue at any point in 2015-16 – scoring goals on the other hand, is a complete different story. Their 88 goals for (GF) sits 30th, 12 goals behind the 29th place Philadelphia Flyers (100).
After going into the season as Stanley Cup favorites by many, the Anaheim Ducks currently sit outside of a wildcard spot.
The only player in double-digits for goals is Corey Perry with 17. Next highest is Rickard Rakell with nine. Below are Anaheim’s goal leaders:
Corey Perry, 17 (44gp)
Rickard Rakell, 9 (41gp)
Ryan Kesler, 8 (44gp)
Shawn Horcoff, 6 (43gp)
Chris Stewart, 6 (38gp)
David Perron, 5 (44gp)
Jakob Silfverberg, 5 (44gp)
Andrew Cogliano, 4 (44gp)
Ryan Getzlaf, 3 (40gp)
Three goals in 40 games? The only word for explaining this is unacceptable.
He’s been a 30-goal scorer once (2013-14), but usually resides in the 20-goal range. His single-season career low came in 2011-12 where he scored 11 goals (57 points) in 82 games. Getzlaf is currently on pace for roughly six goals. Now obviously, a productive stretch of games can change things dramatically, but three goals in 40 games is alarming.
For a player who chews up top-line and special teams minutes, Getzlaf needs to be more productive. [hockeydb]
Some blame can be pointed towards GM Bob Murray, who decided Carl Hagelin, Patrick Maroon, or Nick Ritchie would need to fill that top-line role heading into 2015-16. It seems that Rikard Rakell is the only one finding any type of chemistry with the duo of Getzlaf and Perry.
Some leniency is given for a drop in productivity based on linemates, but it doesn’t excuse the goal total. Even if Anaheim had John Scott playing on their top line, players generating the type of minutes Getzlaf and Perry receive should be scoring at a much higher rate.
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A regular 20-goal scorer, Kesler is barely below pace of hitting 2014-15’s goal total of 20. He topped 25 goals four times in Vancouver, with a single-season career high 41 in 2010-11. Although arguments can be made for a slight dip in productivity in 2015-16 (which could ultimately result in a single season career low in points), Kesler’s issues run deeper.
It’s worth noting that Vancouver teams earlier in his career were typically President’s Trophy nominees, year in-year out. Ryan Kesler was a +45 rating in his first 8 NHL seasons with Vancouver. In his last four (two with Vancouver, two with Anaheim), Kesler is a -39 rating (-14 in 2015-16). [hockeydb]
Were his defensive deficiencies that well hidden in Vancouver, or is he losing a step with age? No one would ever put Ryan Kesler in the same conversation as some of the best two-way center’s such as Pavel Datsyuk or Patrice Bergeron, but he did win a Selke Trophy back in 2010-11. He’s generally regarded as a responsible two-way center.
Kesler carries a $5 million dollar cap hit for 2015-16 before his new deal kicks in next season, which pays him $6.875 dollars/year through 2022. It also carries a full no-movement clause. The recent trend suggests Ryan Kesler’s new contract may quickly become a hot-button issue for Ducks fans if he can’t turn things around.
Next: Ducks Trade Hagelin to Pittsburgh for Perron & Clendening
So which should be most concerning to Anaheim Ducks fans? Ryan Getzlaf’s embarrassing goal total, or Ryan Kesler’s trending numbers with a large contract set to kick in 2016-17? Are these issues that can work themselves out, or does Bob Murray need to do something to help these motivate these guys?
On a side note, defensive call-up, and top prospect Shea Theodore is on a three-game point streak after going pointless in his first seven career NHL games. He’s starting to look more comfortable and find his groove, which is great news for Anaheim moving forward. The Ducks have plenty of offensively gifted puck moving defenseman, but the addition of Shea Theodore will be a nice boost for the back half of 2015-16. It may even help make one of Sami Vatanen or Cam Fowler expendable on the trade market.