Each NHL team’s biggest burning question in 2018
By Simon Vacca
As we reach the quarter mark of the 2018-19 campaign, let’s consider each NHL team’s biggest burning question going forward.
Just a quarter of the way into the 2018-19 campaign, the National Hockey League has again proven to be one of the most compelling mediums of excitement in the world of contemporary sport.
Fans of the Nashville Predators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets currently celebrate in the spirit of excitement, while supporters of the Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers surely yearn for better days. Somewhere in the mushy middle lie the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche — and then some, for lack of a better phrase.
As we approach the quarter mark of the 2018-19 season, let’s take a look at each NHL team’s biggest burning question going forward.
Anaheim Ducks: Is this the moment in which they fall?
For years on end, the Anaheim Ducks have served as one of the ultimate powerhouses of contemporary hockey — marrying an intensely physical game with two-way responsibility in a manner that is comparable to few other organizations in the NHL. The past five seasons, in particular, demonstrate the extent of the Ducks’ dominance, as a glance at the league’s standings reveal that the franchise has ceased to fall below 100 points between the 2013-14 campaign and the present moment. But believe it or not, the club looks to be treading the edges of a downward trajectory.
Coming off a regular season in which they tallied 101 points, the Ducks entered into contention for Lord Stanley’s trophy with expectations abound. Few would trouble the notion that reaching the postseason was both remarkable and somewhat unexpected — especially in light of the multitude of injuries to many of the team’s core set of players during what was surely a gruelling 82 games. But the dream came to a rapid conclusion for the battered and bruised Ducks, who were eliminated from the playoffs just four games into their first round series against the San Jose Sharks.
The question of blame for the Ducks’ ill fate is especially multifaceted. Some are quick to deem Randy Carlyle — the chief architect of Anaheim’s operation — a relic of the past, careless and lacking in awareness in his deployment of players. Others will point to statistical decline across the team’s blue line as the central reason behind the club’s dip in form. And of course, Ryan Kesler’s injurious state, coupled with the fact that Corey Perry is failing to put up Corey Perry-esque numbers is beyond concerning.
Nevertheless, there are reasons to believe that the team is still in a position to seriously compete for hockey’s most esteemed prize. Ryan Getzlaf manages to rack up terrific totals in the face of injury, Rickard Rakell is a consistent threat, Ondrej Kase has proven to be everything that fans could have hoped for and the likes of Brandon Montour, Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson are more than capable of devastating opponents on a nightly basis. Not to mention the fact that that John Gibson and Ryan Miller are one of the sport’s better — and uniquely underrated — goaltending tandems.
Indeed, the 2018-19 season has the potential to act as a watershed moment for Carlyle & Co. But only time will tell if the Ducks are still in the running for legitimate playoff contention.