5 Takeaways: Buried in the Snow
Another series, another sweep. I feel like at this point in the season most have accepted the fact that this is another losing year. Congratulations on making it to the final stage of grief, everyone!
The on-ice play may suck the life out of everyone, but believe it or not, there are actually some things to look forward to! My therapist always told me that letting yourself experience the entire range of human emotion, both good and bad, is the healthy way to live life. She obviously meant that advice for me, personally, but I feel like it applies very well for fans of a team like the Ducks.
So let’s feel all the feelings!
1. Gibson was good again
John Gibson has certainly had his ups and downs the past couple of seasons. To be honest, if I had to play behind this defense I’d probably phone it in occasionally too.
But these games against Colorado, especially on Friday, the Ducks’ best player turned it on again en route to a 2.6 GSAx according to Evolving Hockey. Yes, they lost both games, but Gibson did everything in his power to give his team a chance. If the NHL rules committee allowed goalies to cross the center red line at some point I wouldn’t be surprised to see him jump into the rush in the final five minutes of a 2-1 game.
2. Focus on the youngins
By now, it’s crystal clear that outside of the occasional John Gibson extravaganza, the players 23 and younger are the bulk of this team’s entertainment value. Troy Terry seems to do something cool every night. Jamie Drysdale picked up his second career goal on Sunday and has looked more and more comfortable in the NHL. Max Jones is ripping off shots like a sorority girl on her 21st birthday with a bottle of Fireball. Max Comtois still doesn’t know that you can pass the puck backward. It’s true, Max! They can’t arrest you for it!
If this wasn’t even more of a sign for Bob Murray to move some veterans at the deadline tomorrow, then I’m fresh out of ideas. Outside of Getzlaf and Backes and maybe a couple of others, let all the kids loose for the rest of this shortened season. Go full Lord of the Flies. I want a Drysdale goal and then a shot of him skating by the opposing team’s bench screaming “SUCKS TO YOUR ASS-MAR” while Getzlaf and Backes shove their heads in their hands like a couple of dads who have given up on controlling their screaming kids.
3. For the love of Teemu trade some veterans
It’s now or never (this obviously isn’t true, let me be dramatic for a few minutes). The flurry of moves on Sunday has set some pretty good prices for players like Rickard Rakell and Josh Manson.
Yeah, the COVID-era has likely thrown a wrench in the value of these players to some extent, but the obvious landing spots for these players are starting to make other moves. Does that mean it’s impossible to move vets? Of course not. But it does make it much less likely.
That said, The Athletic’s Eric Stephens believes that if any deals are made (and that’s a big if), Murray will take it right to the wire at 3:00 PM EDT/12:00 PM PDT.
4. What’s going on with Deslauriers?
Earlier on Sunday, multiple reporters said that Nic Deslauriers was on his way to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The return was not reported at the time. A little while later, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman pulled back and said that there were discussions, but nothing had been finalized yet.
Trading Deslauriers obviously makes sense for the Ducks. He provides no positive value on the ice other than boosting hockey fighting YouTube channel ad revenue. However, it raises a question: what was the point of that two-year extension the team signed him to last year? It was assumed that this would be an expansion draft situation, allowing the Ducks to expose him to Seattle.
At least, if the deal does go through, there might be an asset involved. Realistically, even a 7th rounder would be a win for Anaheim.
5. Race to the bottom
Once again, the Ducks are on pace to be in contention for a lottery pick. This year, however, they seem to be closer than ever. They currently sit third from the bottom of the league, which means they have the fourth-best odds for the top pick (Seattle automatically gets the third-best odds). Keep in mind that the lottery rules have changed this year, awarding only the top two picks now instead of the top three. A team can also only move up 10 spots now, which means only the bottom 11 teams have a chance at the first overall selection, seemingly good news for Anaheim.
There are several very good players that could go anywhere between first and fifth or so this year. So if Anaheim can at least beat out Ottawa (only one point behind Anaheim), then they’re sitting pretty. Don’t expect them to outsuck the Sabres, though.