Projected 2021-22 Anaheim Ducks Opening Night Lineup: Forwards

The National Hockey League will indeed return at some point, and for the Anaheim Ducks, that of course means that the usual business of constructing a roster will be back as well.

The Ducks figure to still be in transition mode next season, but it’s worth exploring what their roster may look like two seasons down the line (2021-22), when they figure to at least compete for a playoff spot again.

In the abstract, two years ahead should be enough time for Anaheim’s transition phase to have considerably advanced. The roster might not be that of a contender quite yet, but it should be much closer to playoff-caliber.

Before we construct the lineup, some caveats should be noted:

1) The Seattle Expansion Draft is set for the summer of 2021. Thus, we must at least consider how that would impact this potential roster, but also make clear that it is exceedingly difficult to project with a meaningful level of certainty.

2) Anaheim is essentially guaranteed a top ten pick in the 2020 Draft. Although the draft lottery system is currently in flux with the season being suspended, one can reasonably expect the Ducks to have a high-caliber pick who could conceivably already be a key piece two years down the line.

3) Obviously, most of this will probably end up being way off, since so much can and will change. But hey, we have to have a little fun, right? Now let’s get into the lines.

Since they warrant their own discussion, let’s start with a look at the forwards:

Forward Line 1

Rickard Rakell—Trevor Zegras—Troy Terry

Anaheim’s top line to start 2021-22 could be very potent. Rickard Rakell should still be in his prime and in the last year of his team-friendly deal. Alongside the recently signed Trevor Zegras, who seems destined to take the mantle as the Ducks’ first line center, Anaheim’s first line could have some offensive juice to it.

Zegras has lit up college hockey to the tune of 36 points in 33 games for Boston University as a freshman, while also dominating the World Juniors, both of which bode well for his offensive potential. Some don’t see Zegras as a center in the NHL and he does have some work to do to round out his game, but the bet here is that he figures it out.

On the right side, Troy Terry has shown a stronger two-way game in his first full season in the NHL, while his play-making ability has ebbed and flowed. This would be his age 25 season, so he should be squarely in his offensive prime., and should be a nice fit next to Rakell and Zegras.

Forward Line 2

Maxime Comtois—Sam Steel—Jakob Silfverberg

Steel is the only obvious lock for this line, as head coach Dallas Eakins had showered him with praise in his rookie season, consistently deploying him as Anaheim’s third line center as a 22-year old. The offensive flash he showed in junior might not materialize at the NHL level, but he should develop a solid enough two-way game to become a reliable second-line center who can chip in offensively.

Comtois has shown scoring touch at every level of hockey he’s played at. He scored on his very first NHL shot, and he found his groove in the American Hockey League this year as the season wore on. In two years, he should be a top-six forward with the big club.

Finally, it’s hard to imagine the Ducks moving on from Jakob Silfverberg before the start of 2021-22 season. General manager Bob Murray was the one who signed him to that extension, and he himself will be up for renewal in 2021. It’s a safe bet that Silfverberg will still be around by then. The veteran Swede’s offensive game will probably dip some by then, but his defensive chops should still make this a solid line.

Forward Line 3

Sonny Milano—Ryan Getzlaf—Kiefer Sherwood

Milano has made about as good of a first impression as possible since being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets at the trade deadline. He is a restricted free agent upon termination of the 2019-20 season, a fact that surely attracted Anaheim in acquiring him, giving them another young, cost-controlled asset for the foreseeable future.

Getzlaf’s richly-deserved mega-contract will have expired by then, but by age 36, he should still have some gas left in the tank. Perhaps in a Joe Thornton-like, year-by-year arrangement, he would remain on the team, but in a reduced depth role. Even beyond 35, Getzlaf should be an effective depth player.

Admittedly, the future is a bit more uncertain for Sherwood. He will be an RFA like Milano, but his spot (as well as Milano’s), could definitely be taken up by whoever Anaheim picks in the 2020 draft. For now though, he’s the most logical option here.

Forward Line 4

Max Jones—Isac Lundestrom—Carter Rowney

Jones has all but proven that he can be a reliable depth option at the highest level. Thanks to his tenacity down low in the offensive zone, as well as his propensity for firing pucks towards the opposition net, he should become a mainstay in the Anaheim lineup, capable of playing on any line.

Lundestrom is a bit more difficult to project. He will be in his age 23 season by then, and should be at the point where he can be an NHL regular. As a first round pick, it would be a bit concerning if he couldn’t. Anaheim has an obvious motivation to find out whether or not he can fit the bill, so he should start the season with the big club.

Rowney may seem like a bizarre inclusion on this roster given that his contracts expires in the 2021 off-season, but Anaheim doesn’t currently have many viable replacements on the right side in the pipeline. Eakins has shown an affinity for using Rowney on the penalty kill and in defensive situations, hinting that the club wouldn’t be opposed to retaining him beyond his current deal.

Extra Forward

Brayden Tracey/Benoit-Olivier Groulx/Antoine Morand

Tracey will be 19 to start the 2021-22 campaign, and should be at the point where he gets an NHL cameo to start the season. He likely spends the year down in San Diego, but the Ducks will probably want to have a better sense of how he looks in regular season action. Once Tracey goes down, this could be a spot for Benoit-Olivier Groulx, who projects to have a pro season under his belt by then. An extreme dark horse here could also be Antoine Morand.

Notable Omissions

Adam Henrique could very well still be a member of the Ducks two years from now. He just posted one of the most productive seasons of his career, and is on the books through 2024. With Zegras projecting as a center and Lundestrom eventually needing his NHL shot though, it feels like Henrique could eventually become the victim of musical chairs, or potential Expansion Draft considerations.

Getzlaf feels unlikely to retire once his current deal expires, and Sam Steel isn’t going anywhere, either. Anaheim used Henrique on the wing at different points this season, perhaps hinting that even an influx of young centers might not affect him. For now though, the bet is that he gets moved for help on the blueline.

Danton Heinen was acquired in the Nick Ritchie deal, but he too feels like he could become the victim of the musical chairs game, which may manifest itself either through a trade or in Expansion Draft considerations. Of course, he might elevate himself over Anaheim’s other wingers next season and make himself irreplaceable.

Final Notes.

Anaheim’s forwards may not yet be at an elite level in 2021-22, but this hypothetical group is much closer to being the kind of high-octane, skilled group that seems to be a requirement for elite teams in the modern game. Should the Ducks hit their top 2020 pick out of the park, then this conversation only accelerates. Will it be enough to get the once-contending team back into the playoff picture? Stay tuned for the defense and goaltender editions of this serious to find out.