5 current NHL playoff teams poised to miss out in 2018-19
By C.L. Kohuss
3. Anaheim Ducks
This was almost a toss-up between the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings, mainly since these two always seem to be battling for final berths near the end of the year. The Ducks could miss the playoffs for the basic fact that they don’t have enough money to sign quality that will keep them in contention. If the cap rose to $80 million, Anaheim would have $15 million to spend on restricted free agents and then to either resign four guys at or mid-thirties or fill those gaps with quality.
Figure that defensemen Francois Beauchemin and Kevin Bieksa aren’t retained. So the Ducks have to fill holes on the blue line. Between that and signing restricted free agents, which includes defenseman Brandon Montour who will be getting paid at least $3 million to $4.5 million, this team figures to have $8 million on the high end. They were 19th in goals scored last year. Resting on laurels won’t cut it with everyone else getting better.
What Anaheim could do is make a few moves or trades to clear cap space and sign younger pieces that would boost the offense. But it has a lot of decisions to make on who stays and who goes this summer. The pieces are still in place with Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Cam Fowler and Co. to make another run, though again, sitting idle simply because you made it to the postseason a year ago won’t do. The Ducks will have to walk a thin line to make this upcoming year work in their favor.