In this first installment of a 30 part series, the WCHL will take a look at each team and have a look at the good, bad and comical of each of the 30 teams in the WCHL. Up first, the Anaheim Ducks.
It's been a few years since the Ducks have come close to reclaiming their WCHL title.
After going the distance four seasons ago, the Anaheim Ducks have seen their playoff hopes die out early since, and several blockbuster deals have done little to change that.
The largest of them all was last year, when Sidney Crosby was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of a massive trade that seen the Ducks receive a large package, the biggest piece being Bobby Ryan.
The Sidney Crosby-Bobby Ryan swap hasn't worked out so far for the Anaheim Ducks.
"Frankly, I hated that Crosby guy. Sid the kid, Sid the kid, that's all I ever heard. The dude is 25 now, he's not a kid anymore. Shut up. Get these voices out of my head," exclaimed General Manager John McBride.
As has become the norm in Anaheim, th Ducks are off to a brutal start to their season, going 6-9-2 to sit 13th in the Western Conference. While the team has several games in hand on the clubs above them, the Ducks also boast a huge arsenal of talent and shouldn't be floundering so early.
The problem is two fold, with scoring and netminding playing a huge role thus far. Tuukka Rask has not been the answer to who was going to fill the shoes of Martin Broduer, as the young Finn has posted an .874 save percentage this season, leading the Ducks to a 3-7-2 record when he's recorded a decision. Upfront meanwhile, only three players have managed to average more than a point every second game, one of which is defenseman Victor Hedman. Only Logan Couture and David Backes have provided even close to what is expected offensively, combining for 18 goals, almost half of the teams 41 total tallies on the season.
Meanwhile, Rick Nash and Ryan have combined for five goals this season. Power forward Milan Lucic has made that output look all-star caliber, as he's only managed one assist in 17 games.
The good: Locagn Couture and David Backes.
The bad: Milan Lucic and Rick Nash
"We got to get it going here. It's early, and we are still in this, but that's more a thanks to the shitty-ass teams around us rather than how well we're playing," said all-star defenseman Shea Weber. "I mean, come on, Nashville's beating us right now? That's horse (expletative deleted)."
"When Brandon 'I should be a career minor leaguer' Bochenski has more goals than Nash and Ryan put together, that's just beyond unexceptable," said Ducks Head Coach Bruce Boudreau, referring to Boston Bruins forward Brandon Bochenski. "Those guys need to extract their head from their ass and start playing to earn their paycheque."
As soon as their offense turns the corner, the Ducks will once again be a powerhouse to be reckoned with, as they sit just 27th in goalscoring, averaging 2.41 goals per game. Until then though, expect the losses to mount.
"We get denied trying to score more than Mike McFarland (carolina Hurricanes GM). It feels like it's been six weeks since I scored," vented Lucic. "Maybe I should just go to a strip club and let it all out."
