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Days of Our Ducks

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Good evening Anaheim

Welcome to the monthly review where one of our writers gets considerably drunk and discusses the state of the Anaheim Ducks. I believe this is the best way we as a community can discuss the Ducks, in the state that hockey was truly meant to be consumed in. Tangentially drunk and ineffectively inebriated. 

Your Anaheim Ducks are hot. Hot hot hot. And it has been an absolute beautiful stretch of games to witness. I think I can speak for most fans when I say watching this team’s heroics in overtime, and in the late stages of the 3rd period, has been amazing. I can personally attest to screaming in my own kitchen and scaring other people in a gym while watching Mason McTavish score some absolute beauties vs east coast teams. Beyond me getting a talking to from LA Fitness, let’s look into what caused these sudden turnarounds, and what we can expect going forward.

Italian – Ireland Historical Relations


A change in coaching was necessary for this team in the worst way. Nothing against overall great human being Dallas Eakins, but Greg Cronin has proven to be quite the improvement behind the bench. A well spoken, no BS coach, Cronin has the boys absolutely buzzing. And from the looks of it, the team has bought into the system. This observation dovetails nicely with the breakout year we’ve seen from Frank Vatrano so far. Combining a knack for big hits with a shoot first ask questions later mentality, not to mention a flair for the dramatic, its no surprise that Anaheim’s own Christopher Moltisanti has enjoyed a revival under Greg Cronin. Whether it’s leveling Sean Durzi in a “this is a completely legal” hit, or getting two hat tricks already on the year, the Massachusetts born player has excelled in the Massachusetts born coach’s system. The players have rallied behind their coach, even if he’s not aactually on the bench because a Frenchman got offended. Cronin’s hard-nosed, no-nonsense style of leadership has been instrumental in the early turnaround of this hockey club, and it absolutely shows in how this team has been performing. 

From Czechia With Love

This little Czech boy has been sensational to say the least. In a year where Lukas hasn’t even cracked the top 10 goalie prospects in the league, the rookie goalie has been a lockdown presence for the Ducks. After two years of your sstandard call ups and send downs in a pure emergency role, Dostal managed to stake a claim to the backup role out of camp this year. While unsurprising given his pedigree, Verbeek signed journeyman Alexander Stalock to a low-cost deal and it would not have surprised anyone to see this situation play out the other way and Dostal be the one to start the year in San Diego. But that didn’t happen, and it has to this point been abundantly clear why.

For a small boy (by modern standards), he has been extremely good at predicting shot patterns and his positioning. Despite the myriad of potential issues that come from not being a larger goaltender, he has managed to excel due to his elite quickness and strong positioning. This Czech boy has been lights out for the Ducks, and has put himself in the contest for the best rookie tender in the league. With Gibson getting banged up in the Pittsburgh game, we can expect the 50/50 rotation between the two players to start to favor the US Dostal Service. Death, taxes, and the Anaheim Ducks developing great goaltenders. It’s nice to see that the Ducks have a bright future ahead of them in net. 

A Two-Way Player, From A to Z

When you talk about the Anaheim Ducks, you need to talk about Trevor Zegras. Pretty boy has been one of the most hot button issues in the NHL since he made first made his debut. While he hasn’t managed to produce at the rate we’ve all come to expect, that fact shouldn’t distract you from how well he’s played this year. If Ducks’ fans have been disappointed with his recent performance, I have but one thing to say. You are nothing but a filthy causal. He is playing the best overall hockey of his young career, and has been establishing himself as a true 200 ft player. Zegras’ biggest criticism to this point has been his defense, or lack there of, and the improvement this season has been massive. Whether it’s a pivotal stick lift or racing back to be a blue line presence, Trevor has taken to heart the concerns and comments from GM Pat Verbeek and the coaching of Greg Cronin. And yes, he hasn’t had the most impressive offensive season so far, but his time is coming. No one on the team has peppered the goalie as much as he has, and eventually the pucks are going to hit the back of the net. With Leo getting more comfortable in his role as first line center, Trevor is going to get his chances, and turn into the offensive power he is destined to become. Have patience and have faith, the points will come with a talent this large. 

The Second Line

I am terrified of how Alexander Killorn’s return to the lineup is going to mess with the team’s chemistry. This shouldn’t be surprising, since I, myself, am a chemist and need chemistry to work if I want to keep a job. The pitbull lineup of MacT and the Nasty Brothers, the second line for the Ducks may be number two on the lineup card, but have to be number one in all of our hearts. Strome and Vatrano have a clear chemistry between the two that seems to stem in part from their time on the Rangers together two seasons ago, but Mason has managed to fit in perfectly between the two. And why? Because Strome is a natural creator and Mason and Frankie have intrinsic finishing talent. This is the part of the lineup that is ready to wear you down, beat you down, and get upwards of 15 shots on net in a night. I love having Mason on this line, as he is just an absolute dog of a player. Getting physical when necessary, but still being able to turn on the burners when needed (shoutout Schmaltz), and having one timer shooters on his line has been a perfect fit for the sophomore center. I do hope Killorn can fit seamlessly into this lineup, but with how dominat this line has been, that fit shouldn’t be on this line. There is no way this Ducks team would be anywhere close to as effective as they have been, nor have the record they do if this line had not been performing as well as they have. Let the Nasty Bulldog Brothers cook, and ride the hot hand of the Italian-Canadian connection. 

The Russian Electric Company

This kid has been electric. If the Erik Karlsson Norris experiment has taught us anything, it’s that you need to put up points to win an award as a defenseman, and this Russian 19 year old has been a weapon offensively. Anyone who has been watching these past few games for the Ducks can tell you that Pavel has been Anaheim’s best defenseman on a nightly basis. And if you need video proof, just look to the home game vs the Coyotes where he lead the line of Terry and Fowler towards a Terry power play goal (that should’ve been his). A scoring chance that started from him breaking up the Coyotes with a great hit, he looked more like a true center with a few years of experience under his belt than a teenage defenseman in his rookie year in the show. In a year in which the discourse has been dominated by Bedard, Cooley, Fantilli, and even Carlsson, Mintyukov has inserted himself into the Calder conversation and emerged as a force in the rookie class for good reason. This kid is absolutely legit, and deserves all the attention the other rookies have been getting. We are watching a legitimate presence on the blue line for years to come, and as he grows into his own element, the offensive game he showed in the CHL is going to naturally come back. This is a future superstar for the Anaheim Ducks. Get on the Pavel train now, because the stock is only going up.

Full Speed Ahead

All in all, this Ducks team has over exceeded expectations, and I for one cannot believe the fun I have been having watching this team develop. The constant glimpses into the future have been nothing but extraordinary, and I can truly say I look forward to our game days. Hell, I’m bringing my entire chemistry lab to a game vs the Flyers (say hi in section 420 if you’re brave). This is a fun team, and that is something we have been longing for for a while now. Enjoy the ride, I’m not sure how long we’re going to be on it, but we’re no longer in line. We’re coming up on the loop, and I cannot wait to see us throw our hands up in excitement and scream as another third period comeback comes for us. Get excited. Get hyped. And get ready for the future, because it’s coming fast.

Talking Points