NHL division previews: 2017-18 Pacific Division
2nd in 2017-18 Pacific Division – Anaheim Ducks
As has been the case with the last few years, the Ducks are going to be in the running to win the Pacific Division, and they are seen as a Cup contender as well. It’s difficult to find a legitimate weak spot on their current roster.
They are a strong possession team, they have good special teams, their defensive corps is solid, they are in the top third in regards to their scoring line and shutdown line for forwards and their goaltending is solid as well. This is a recipe for success in both the division and into the playoffs.
Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Corey Perry, Rickard Rakell and Jakob Silfverberg make up a solid offensive front, with Silfverberg being the only one that didn’t break 50 points last season (he had 49).
Players like Andrew Cogliano, Nick Ritchie, Antoine Vermette and Logan Shaw make up some of the forward depth that is strong in Anaheim. There doesn’t seem to be any single player or line that looks to be a weakness.
Losing Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm to injuries is never an easy pill to swallow. Thankfully for Anaheim, both of them are expected to make a return relatively soon. Despite their injuries, Anaheim still has multiple names to fill in on the top four.
Josh Manson, Cam Fowler and Brandon Montour are all solid in their own ways. To a much lesser extent, they will be relying on Francois Beauchemin to fill in until Vatanen and Lindholm come back when he will then be back to the third pairing, his rightful spot on the Ducks roster.
The goaltending looks strong enough to ensure they challenge in the division and for the Cup at a later date. John Gibson is truly a very good, and very underrated, goaltender in the NHL. He has the 12th highest save percentage in the league from 2014-15 to 2016-17 (.9207) and 10th highest manpower-adjusted save percentage in that same time frame (.9212). This puts him among elite company. (All information from Hockey Abstract 2017, pages 134-140.)
Unlike other teams that came before the Ducks in this division, the back up goaltending is not an issue. Ryan Miller is someone who could still make a case as a starter, and his signing in Anaheim gives them one of the strongest duos in the league.
Player to watch in 2017-18: John Gibson. Gibson is finally starting to get league-wide recognition that he is a great goalie, and rightly so. If he continues on the upward trend he has the last few years, he could be a dark horse candidate come time to vote for the 2018 Vezina Trophy.