Coach: Randy Carlyle (second stint, since 2016). 8/10
2017-18 record: 44-25-13, 101 points, 8th overall, swept in the first round.
Departures: Kevin Bieksa (D), Jason Chimera (LW), Antoine Vermette (C), Derek Grant (C), Chris Kelly (RW), J.T. Brown (RW).
Arrivals: Luke Schenn (D).
Top forwards: Rickard Rakell (70-75 points), Ryan Getzlaf (captain, 60-70 points), Corey Perry (45-50 points), Jakob Silfverberg (50-60 points), Adam Henrique (50-60 points), Patrick Eaves (15 goals), Andrew Cogliano (30-40 points), Ryan Kesler (30-35 points), Nick Ritchie (30 points).
Must-improve forwards: Perry is so far fromoved from his last 50-goal season in 2010-11 that it's a wonder why he's in the upper echelon salary-wise. Then again, so is Kesler, so that just may be the way things work in Anaheim. Silfverberg needs to bounce back as well.
Top defensemen: Cam Fowler (35-45 points), Josh Manson (30 points and over 100 penalty minutes), Sami Vatanen (30-40 points), Hampus Lindholm (25-35 points), Brandon Montour (25-30 points), Beauchemin (15 points), Rasmussen (eating up minutes for 50-65 games).
Goalies: John Gibson (91/100), Ryan Miller (83/100).
Top rookies: Sam Steel (20, C, 2016 first-rounder), Jacob Larsson (21 years old, D, 2015 first-rounder), Marcus Pettersson (22, D), Max Jones (20, LW, 2016 first-rounder), Troy Terry (21, C).
Analysis:
The Ducks are slowing down offensively as their defense and goalie are about to peak. It's a good thing some of the kids are ready to take over, but the aging veterans (Getzlaf, Eaves) and dead wood (Perry, Kesler) are here to stay barring summertime buyouts.
Gibson will win a Vezina in the next decade, whether that's this year or not. When he does, Anaheim will have an outlier season and win its division. In the meantime, they'll struggle and have to hustle to make the playoffs.
That being said, they do have good leadership and coaching, and with the right stroke of luck (early eliminations for all top teams, for instance) could become Stanley Cup contenders.
Prediction: 4th in the Pacific Division.
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