Complete Preview for the Anaheim Ducks' 2014-15 Season

There is an old saying that goes, “If you can’t beat them, join them.” But in the NHL, the trend is more along the lines of, “If you can’t beat them, copy them.”

The Anaheim Ducks had their dreams of winning a Stanley Cup squashed when the Los Angeles Kings defeated them in a thrilling seven-game series in May. In a sense, 2013-14 was a disappointing season for the Ducks, because despite Ryan Getzlaf having a career season and the team coming within one point of the Presidents’ Trophy, the team didn’t get the job done in the playoffs.

The Ducks of 2014-15 will feature some new faces, but they will be without a familiar face in Teemu Selanne, the ageless wonder who finally decided he could retire. However, it should be a season full of hope and enthusiasm.

What We Learned in 2013-14

We learned that despite the Ducks' ability to be the second-best team in the NHL during the regular season, their weaknesses were exploited during the playoffs. During the regular season, the trio of Andrew Cogliano, Getzlaf and Corey Perry teamed up for 29.6 percent of the Ducks' total scoring, and in the playoffs, that number went up to 35.8 percent.

What that means is that during the postseason, these players took on a larger role, and the Ducks were an easier team to play when they were kept in check. Their scoring dropped from 3.20 goals per game to 2.69 goals per game, and the targeting of Cogliano, Getzlaf and Perry played a role in that drop.

The Ducks' reliance on key players during the regular season was fine, but during the playoffs, their lack of depth was exploited, particularly at center.

Getzlaf held his part of the bargain during the playoffs, but the Ducks' other centers were unable to have the same impact as him. Nick Bonino did his best, as did Mathieu Perreault, but the Ducks were unable to match the Kings' trio of Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter and Mike Richards.

The Ducks' weakness at center was something they were able to get around during the regular season, but getting exploited in the playoffs forced them to address that issue during the offseason.

Outlook for 2014-15

The Ducks went out and got the No. 2 center they have coveted for years, and he’s a player who will be looked upon to help the team’s offense in 2014-15.

Ryan Kesler may be coming off three down years with the Vancouver Canucks, but he may be better off in a lineup in which he won’t have to be the primary guy. Getzlaf and Perry should enable Kesler to fly under the radar to a degree, but he also should benefit from playing with talented youngsters such as Devante Smith-Pelley and Kyle Palmieri.

Another significant move the Ducks made was the addition of Dany Heatley. He has tailed off a bit since he was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Minnesota Wild in 2011, but Heatley may be able to find himself again in Anaheim. There is no denying Heatley’s goal-scoring talent.

At this stage of his career, he is no longer the “50 in '07” guy he once was, but scoring 15 or 20 goals isn’t out of the question.

Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images

Only three players are returning who scored 15 or more goals last season, so the addition of Heatley should not be overlooked. Before getting into the Ducks' next biggest story for the upcoming season, here is how the roster could shake out this season.

As you can see from the chart above, youth will be a big part of the Ducks roster in 2014-15. Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm, Emerson Etem, John Gibson and Smith-Pelley are all names you may not be familiar with, but you should be by the end of the upcoming season.

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Dany Heatley	Ryan Getzlaf	Corey Perry
Andrew Cogliano	Ryan Kesler	Jakob Silfverberg
Emerson Etem	Nate Thompson	Devante Smith-Pelley
Matt Belesky	Rickard Rakkel	Kyle Palmieri
Patrick Maroon

Fowler and Lindholm are two young blueliners with a ton of potential—with Fowler being closer to being an established defender—and they represent the future of the Ducks’ back end.

Sami Vatanen is another player who could be thrown into that conversation. The 23-year-old rearguard tallied 21 points in 48 games last season, and according to The Hockey News, he possesses plenty of hockey sense and offensive ability.

The big kicker for the Ducks is the fact that Hall of Fame blueliner and former Anaheim captain Scott Niedermayer is an assistant coach, so each defender will be under the personal tutelage of an NHL great.

As for Etem and Smith-Pelley, both are talented young forwards who should get better by the mere fact that they will continue to play games, and more experience should bring more comfort in executing at the NHL level.

There is a common expression in which people say, “Save the best for last,” and that is the case with the Ducks’ future starting netminder.

As a 21-year-old, Gibson came in and stopped 83 of 87 shots to close out the 2013-14 regular season. He also posted a 3-0-0 record with one shutout and a 1.33 goals-against average. In the playoffs, he went 2-2-0, but recorded a shutout and stopped 102 of 111 shots.

Despite his brilliance during the regular season, there is the chance that management plays it safe and starts him off in the AHL. Frederik Andersen is a capable starter, and the signing of Jason LaBarbera this summer could indicate the team's willingness to allow Gibson to marinate a little longer.

No matter what happens in training camp, Gibson will be on the team's final roster before the playoffs start, and he should have no problem picking up where he left off. He is an athletic goalie with great reflexes and talent, so it isn’t a matter of if but when he will have his chance in prime time.

Noah Graham/Getty Images

The Ducks lost some players this summer in Selanne, Bonino, Perreault, Daniel Winnik and Jonas Hiller, but they added defensive center Nate Thompson and a top-six center in Kesler. Other additions include youngsters who will be promoted to full-time duty for the upcoming season.

As the youngsters find their way in 2014-15, there is a chance there could be some stumbling, but ultimately, the Ducks should be a team that succeeds because of their star power and talented youth.

The additions should allow the Ducks to remain a top contender in the West and a favorite to once again capture the Pacific Division title.