Inconsistency and Uncertainty: Anaheim Ducks One-Month Review

As of November 14^th, the Anaheim Ducks are in eleventh place in the NHL. Pretty good considering they started the year with an 0-4-0 record. During that stretch, the early points leaders were Brian Sutherby and George Parros. You can look at that in one of two ways: You’re getting production from tertiary players, or you’re not getting enough production from your first two lines. Players like Getzlaf and Perry were essentially non-existent. But thanks to a long road trip the team has seemed to get its act together.  The Ducks went on an 8-0-1 run until last week’s defeat to the Dallas Stars and nemesis Sean Avery. The first line started clicking, Teemu Selanne found his place on the power play, and the checking line was doing its part to keep opposing top lines in “check.” Unfortunately, four players can’t give you a Stanley Cup. The top line and Selanne can’t be the only ones producing.

Brendan Morrison is fix number one. Before finally getting his first goal the other night (against the Panthers) Morrison had one point through the first sixteen games of the season. Unacceptable for a man who was signed to play alongside Teemu Selanne. Eight of Selanne’s nine goals have come on the power play, when Morrison isn’t on the ice. This could perhaps be the biggest disappointment of the early going for the Ducks. Morrison signed a one-year contract over the summer, which was seen as a steal for a player who has scored over 50 points in six of his last seven seasons. Either he needs to be traded so the Ducks can bring up some younger talent (see: Bobby Ryan) or he needs to get the message. Countless times he’s had half a wide open net and has roofed the puck or missed the net completely, so if he doesn’t realize the opportunity he has with young studs like Perry and Getzlaf he needs to get out.

The defense is playing well. Over the course of the first two weeks it seemed as if Kent Huskins was going to cost the Ducks games over stupid mistakes. He has stepped up his play as of late, but keep an eye out for the young guy to be inconsistent. Montador has played so-so, contributing 150% in some games while only contributing 50% in others. And the addition of Bret Hedican looks like a bust already. Heralded as a “mobile defenseman,” Hedican only seems to contribute to turnovers so far. The Ducks can’t hope to get positive contributions from four players and win a championship, let alone the division title.

Goaltending is probably the most inconsistent right now. J.S. Giguere can’t keep his head in the game. Already this season it feels like he’s been pulled more times than all of last year. One game he looks fine, keeping the division-leading Sharks shut-out, only to be pulled 1:13 into the second period of a game against the gutter-eating Stars. Jiggy has to start feeling like his 2003 playoff self if he doesn’t want to lose his starting position to Jonas Hiller, who has performed pretty well, either starting a game or coming in to clean up Jiggy’s mess. Hiller is young enough to start garnering attention from teams in need of a franchise goaltender (see: Bryzgalov), and the Ducks need to see where they are with Giguere’s future.

The Ducks can catch up to the Sharks if they really wanted to, but as inconsistent a team as they are right now, a long break and a deep look inside themselves is exactly what this team needs.