The Ducks Are Drowning
It has been a brutal stretch for the Anaheim Ducks, who sit in last place in the Pacific Division (10-11-3)—and we aren’t even halfway through the 2024 season yet. Ducks fans undoubtedly miss the days when Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry brought smashmouth hockey to Anaheim, making games exciting to watch even when the team wasn’t winning.
This is a young team with a few solid veterans, including Radko Gudas, Cam Fowler, and Ryan Strome, yet Anaheim continues to struggle to find its identity. The Ducks have been constantly shuffling their roster, with new players coming and going, while others land on injured reserve (IR). The front office appears to be stockpiling former draft picks without fully utilizing their potential, and it’s becoming increasingly evident as the season progresses.
The Ducks have also suffered significant setbacks that have hindered their ability to gel as a team. Young blueliner Urho Vaakanainen has played just five games this season, missing the last eight due to an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, All-Star Trevor Zegras, who had played 24 games, was just placed on IR after an awkward fall in front of John Gibson during the second period against the Vegas Golden Knights. Zegras, one of the league’s most electrifying young skaters, has 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) this season. His absence will undoubtedly be felt while he recovers.
On a positive note, Anaheim finally gets Cam Fowler back on defense after spending a month on IR with an upper-body injury. Fowler’s return will provide a much-needed boost to the blue line, where he’ll be paired with Radko Gudas on the top defensive unit. His presence should help create more offensive opportunities, especially for Troy Terry, whose scoring production could be key to reigniting energy in the locker room.
Anaheim’s next challenge comes on Friday night when they face the red-hot Minnesota Wild, a team with a high-powered, dynamic lineup. With Fowler back on defense, the Ducks will hope to slow down Minnesota and pull off an upset victory to inch back toward a .500 record.
- – Dante Robinson | Senior NHL Analyst for TheNSR Network
