5 Takeaways: Beheaded by a Knight and a King
This takeaways piece will be another rare split series covering the games against the Los Angeles Kings and the Vegas Golden Knights. Though, to be honest, there wasn’t that much of a difference between the two matchups, other than the jerseys of the Ducks’ opponent.
So let’s do this. Hooray.
1. The Ducks are bad, mkay
Yeah I’m just filling time at this point. We’ve written exhaustively about all the different ways this team is just a plain bad NHL team. The games against the Kings and the Golden Knights were just another pair of bad losses from a bad team. I’m really not sure how much more I can add. But I guess I’ll try so here we go.
2. Troy Terry is pulling away for the title of Ducks’ best skater
Troy Terry has now doubled up second place Adam Henrique for the team lead in GAR. With 6.2 compared to Henrique’s 3, it is clear that Terry is clearly the most valuable skater on this squad as far as all-around game is concerned.
Now, as soon as he figures out how to get the toe-drag shot on net instead of into a defender’s shin, it’s over for y’all.
3. Finally, Drysdale gets put back to his strong side
Unfortunately it took an injury to Josh Manson to force Eakins to put Drysdale back on the right side, despite weeks of burning wood and blaring fire sirens that were somehow ignored for a few weeks. Time to see if this new pairing with Hadyn Fleury works any better. The kid could use some success.
4. Is this an outright tank now?
That’s the only way I can logically comprehend these lineup decisions. Even a casual fan could build a lineup that makes more sense than whatever is happening right now.
5. Sam Steel issues finally being addressed
I have no idea what took this team so long to start benching Steel and working on his issues. He’s seemingly had an infinite leash to make mistakes for so long while other players like Troy Terry and Max Jones have been sent back to the AHL at the first sign of trouble.
To be clear, I don’t place a single ounce of blame on Sam for this. He’s trying his best and giving his best effort night in and night out. The coaching and development staff is what has failed him. Luckily he is still young enough to figure some things out, but I’m increasingly beginning to worry if the Ducks dashed any hope of him turning into even a legitimate middle six center. We’ll have to see if anything changes with this renewed focus.