Anaheim Ducks: 2019-20 season preview, predictions

Strengths

Every good team has at least one strength they can rely on to get them through tough times. Most good teams have multiple strengths. What are the Ducks strengths?

Goaltending

In the NHL, goaltending can be a huge factor. It can save your season or it can ruin it, depending on who you ask. For the Ducks, their goaltending will likely be saving it, as they have an impressive goaltending tandem.

Their tandem is led by arguably the best goaltender in the world, John Gibson. In each of the past three seasons, he has been in the top four in goals saved above average, according to Corsica. Gibson has a GSAA of 83.03 during that time, which is the highest in the league.

Even during an off-year, he still stopped .917% of the shots he saw, despite seeing a lot of shots from high-danger areas. Gibson’s capable of carrying the Ducks for long stretches. And if the Hart Trophy truly goes to the player who is most valuable to his team, you could make a really good case for Gibson.

Over the past three seasons, Miller ranks ninth in GSAA. No other team has two goaltenders in the top 10. Stolarz has proven to be a capable goalie in the past but got lost with the Flyers. Perhaps a move out west will be good for him.

Blue Line

The Ducks defense struggled under Carlyle, but I’m optimistic they’ll do better with Eakins as their coach. Hampus Lindholm is one of the best defensemen you’ve never heard of. Josh Manson has put up some promising numbers and Cam Fowler struggled mightily under Carlyle.

Brendan Guhle is an interesting piece and despite his inability to win a consistent spot with the Buffalo Sabres, I still think he’s an NHL guy. Jacob Larsson has bloomed quite a bit under Eakins in the AHL. Maybe the trend continues at the next level.

It’s not a guarantee, but the Ducks blueline ought to be better than a lot of people think.