Record - 31-37-14 (76 points), 7th in the Pacific Division
Goals For: 232 (22nd in the NHL), Goals Against: 271 (23rd in the NHL)
Leading Goal Scorer - Troy Terry (37)
Leading Point Scorer - Troy Terry (67)
2022 was the definition of an up and down season for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. They opened up on the downside winning just 2 of their first 9 games. Then they went on a tear winning 8 straight, planting themselves in the top three of the divisional standings early in the season. From there the Ducks would have runs of 4 losses in 5 games, 4 wins in 6 games, and 10 losses in 14 games. Despite it being an absolute roller coaster for them going into the All-Star break, the Ducks were still somewhat in the mix. After the break, however, is where things really went downhill for them. The Ducks won just 8 of their last 34 regular season contests, and fell all the way down to 7th in the divisional standings. In a way, they kind of fell back to earth, as they weren't expected to be a playoff team coming into the season. It wasn't exactly the storybook ending captain Ryan Getzlaf had in mind, nor the ending the team had in mind for him.
I'm sure I'm alone when I say that I really didn't think the Ducks would be as good as they were in the first half of the season. They took everyone by surprise, especially with that 8 game winning streak early on. One guy in particular that was nowhere on my radar was Troy Terry. Like Tage Thompson of the Sabres, he had a massive breakout year leading the Ducks in goals and points. A 5th round pick in the 2015 draft, Terry had only scored 15 goals in his first 127 games. He scored 37 last year. It's not too often you see a player have that kind of an uptick in production, let alone having it happen to two in the same season. Aside from Terry, Trevor Zegras was marvelous in his first full year as a pro. Tallying 61 points, he was second among rookies in scoring as well as Calder voting. Every single game, this human highlight reel was making plays that drew plenty of "Oos and Ahs" from both the fans as well as the players on both benches. His flashy style of play, along with his easy going personality earned him a spot as one of the cover athletes of the latest NHL 23 video game. The moves Zegras pulls off, players maybe try once or twice a season. This kid does them once or twice a night. He's someone that will change the way the game is played whether you like it or not. I can't wait to see what he's able to pull off next year.
Another highly skilled player for the Ducks that had his best year as a pro was Sonny Milano. It's been quite the journey for Milano since he was taken 16th overall by the Blue Jackets in 2014. He never got much of a chance in Columbus, going back and forth between the pro team and their AHL affiliate. Then he comes over to Anaheim and it was sort of the same story. He couldn't stay healthy, nor could he consistently produce in his limited role when he was with the team. He was placed on waivers before the start of the season, and was then assigned to their AHL team once he cleared waivers. After being recalled to the team in late October, Milano made the most of the opportunity. Playing on a line with Zegras, he was playing at a point per game pace after the first quarter of the season. Like the team, however, he production dropped significantly putting up just 12 points over the remainder of the year. The Ducks did not tender Milano's qualifying offer making him an unrestricted free agent. He's one of the few UFA's that hasn't been signed this offseason so the Ducks could, in theory, bring him back. I think they should simply for the chemistry he has with Zegras.
Back in February, the Ducks hired former player Pat Verbeek to be their new GM. Since his hiring, Verbeek has been very active, specifically at the trade deadline. The Ducks weren't totally out of the Wild Card race at the time, but it was pretty apparent they were going to miss out on playoffs with how they were playing. Verbeek recognized this and had a fire-sale. He traded defensemen Josh Manson and Hampus Lindholm along with forwards Rickard Rakell and Nic Delauriers. In return the ducks received a plethora of draft picks and prospects, two things that are always good to have when you're rebuilding a team.
When the offseason rolled around, Verbeek stayed on the active side, bringing in three players that I'm sure will be a good fit for their locker room. First of whom is Frank Vatrano. Traded from the Panthers to the Rangers last season, Vatrano came into his own under the bright lights of Broadway, putting up 13 points in the 22 games he played in with New York. He also had another 13 points during the Rangers conference finals run, making big plays in big moments. What lacks in size, he makes up for in hustle, and he's not afraid to fire the puck on net. He's a nice addition for a Ducks team that's looking for production up the wing outside of what they get from Troy Terry. Next up is another former Ranger in Ryan Strome. Those who know me know that I am far from the biggest Strome fan from a standpoint of skill and production. I will say, however, that he was a beloved player in that locker room and had a significant impact on the team's chemistry. I have to assume he'll play a similar role with the Ducks that he had with the Rangers. The third notable signing made by Verbeek was landing Stars d-man John Klingberg. Though it was just a one year deal, Klingberg provides size, skill and experience to a backend that needs a bit of everything to improve. Overall, these are three solid additions for this Ducks squad.
Where does all of this leave them, though? The Pacific division is much more open than it has been in years past. The Oilers and Flames are easily the top two teams in it. After that, though, I don't believe there is a clear cut team for that third place spot. Vegas won't be as good they have been in years past. The Kings will probably improve from last year with the additions to their team, but injuries are always concern for them. The Canucks have essentially the same team as they did last year, as does San Jose. And while the Kraken improved their roster from last year, they still aren't exactly a force to be reckoned with just yet.
With that said, the Ducks could find themselves in the mix for that third place spot in the divisional standings come springtime. They surprised teams last year. Maybe they can do it again. I personally don't think they have a strong enough team depth wise, but I wouldn't be shocked if they proved me wrong. Zegras will surely put up more points, as will second year defenseman Jamie Drysdale. We'll get to see Mason Mctavish, the 3rd overall pick in the 2021 draft, play in his first full season in the NHL. After seeing what he did at the World Championships in leading Team Canada to a gold medal with the "C" on his chest, he's my favorite to take home the Calder Trophy this year.
For them to be a playoff team in 2023, though, HC Dallas Eakins will need to see more out of guys like Max Comtois and Jakob Silfverberg. Their drop in production was definitely costly for the Ducks down the stretch in 2022. They need to support their goalies better as well. John Gibson is too talented to be putting up such sub-par numbers, and he isn't getting any younger. Then there's the question of leadership. Who will assume the role as the team's true leader now that Getzlaf has retired? This will the first time in the team's history that they won't have anyone wearing the "C" on opening night, and their first season without Ryan Getzlaf on the roster since 2005. It'll certainly take some time adjusting to a life with Getzy in the locker room, but he left his mark on that organization that will help carry them into the future.
I do think if these Ducks fly together, then they have a chance at sneaking into playoffs. It's not the greatest of chances, but there's definitely a chance. Many things will have to go their way, and they seriously need more contributions offensively to get the job done. But for the first time in a bunch of years, it's not totally out of the question for them to be a Cinderella team and make the post-season. We'll have to wait and see how things play out in the Pacific.
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