March 29, 2024

Acage

Outstanding health & fitness

Ducks begin life after Getzlaf with 4-year playoff drought

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ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Ryan Getzlaf’s retirement from the Anaheim Ducks alerts the start of a new era, both for the star centre and for the group he’s leaving powering.

Although Getzlaf operates on his golfing game and raises his household time, the Ducks hope subsequent calendar year is when they are going to finally be contenders again.

“I sense like we are earning the progress, even if it really is not constantly coming by means of in the outcomes,” Getzlaf claimed. “There’s far better days in advance for this franchise, and I’m going to be delighted to see it.”

The Ducks have missed the Stanley Cup playoffs in four consecutive seasons for the initially time in franchise historical past, but their escalating wealth of youthful talent indicates they’ll before long have the players who can conclude the drought. They confirmed that capability intermittently this period, but ultimately fell very well shorter of each preseason goal even though ending 31-37-14 and in seventh location in the Pacific Division.

The Ducks had been in playoff competition until the All-Star break, and then they flopped mightily. Anaheim dropped 27 of its closing 35 online games overall, and an 11-video game losing streak in March erased the Ducks from playoff rivalry right before the skid ended a person small of the franchise document.

The season wasn’t all disappointment, however.


Trevor Zegras cemented his standing as a person of the most interesting young players in hockey with his franchise-report 61 factors as a rookie. The playmaking center and grasp of the lacrosse objective is a Calder Trophy candidate and just one of the NHL’s leading need to-look at players.

Most Ducks admirers hope Zegras will be lining up far more typically following time alongside Troy Terry, who capped his breakthrough All-Star season with 37 ambitions — the most by an Anaheim crew chief considering the fact that Corey Perry scored 43 in the 2013-14 period.

Anaheim has a good blend of youth and encounter throughout its roster. New general manager Pat Verbeek has the belongings to add considerably much more of each to the blend this summer season, putting the Ducks in place for extra sustained accomplishment.

Massive Parts

Verbeek acknowledged the Ducks are continue to in rebuilding manner when he bought the work in February, and he hopes he accelerated it at the trade deadline when he dealt defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson and forwards Rickard Rakell and Nic Deslauriers right after deciding he could not indication any of the pending totally free agents to new contracts. All four were being veteran contributors to Anaheim, but all four brought in picks and players that could be beneficial in the Ducks’ following period. How Verbeek deploys his assets will identify Anaheim’s fate.

He’s Back again

Verbeek by now solved a key offseason question very last month when he announced mentor Dallas Eakins would return for a fourth season driving the bench. Eakins has in no way experienced a successful record in parts of six seasons as an NHL mentor, and he has little accomplishment to show for his function with the Ducks. But Verbeek noticed more than enough to select up Eakins’ agreement possibility for 2022-23, trying to keep continuity for a franchise producing important alterations in other spots. Eakins’ a few assistant coaches — Mike Stothers, Geoff Ward and Newell Brown — are also returning.

IN Internet

John Gibson’s long term remains a tantalizing dilemma. The longtime Ducks goalie is less than a very long-phrase agreement paying out him $6.4 million in every single of the future 5 seasons. His price on the trade sector is unclear, and he has a no-trade clause. He is among the the NHL’s very best when healthy and in type, but backup Anthony Stolarz posted top-quality stats this season. Gibson, who turns 29 this summertime, has nevertheless to convey any substantial disappointment about investing the key of his profession on a losing workforce.

DEFENSIVE GAPS

Verbeek have to bolster an unimpressive protection that struggled immediately after Lindholm and Manson ended up traded. Cam Fowler and inconsistent Kevin Shattenkirk are beneath agreement for future yr, and youngster Jamie Drysdale carries on to develop. Virtually each individual spot on the blue line could stand an enhance, and Verbeek will have multiple paths to do it.

Next CAPTAIN?

The Ducks should pick a crew captain for the very first time given that 2010, when Getzlaf took the “C” subsequent Scott Niedermayer’s retirement. Fowler is the clear decision with his 12-year job used totally in Anaheim, but the group could go leadership to a new era by picking out Zegras or Terry.

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Extra AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports



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