Pacific Division 2014-15 Preview: Anaheim Ducks

2014-15 NHL Pacific Division preview: Ryan Kesler, kiddie corps have Anaheim Ducks primed for run at the Stanley Cup.

Author:
Gabriel Baumgaertner
Publish date:
Sep 30, 2014

COACH: Bruce Boudreau

2013-14 RECORD: 54-20-8, 116 points (First in Pacific, lost Kings, 4-3, in second round)

VITAL SIGNS: 3.21 goals-for per game (1st); 2.48 goals-against per game (9th); 16.0 power play pct. (22nd); 82.2 penalty kill pct (13th); shootout record: 3-6 (27th)

NOTABLE ARRIVALS: CRyan Kesler, C Nate Thompson, D Clayton Stoner, G Jason LaBarbera

NOTABLE DEPARTURES: RWTeemu Selanne (retired), C Saku Koivu (retired), C Nick Bonino, D Luca Sbisa, D Stephane Robidas, G Jonas Hiller, C Mathieu Perreault

Best case scenarios for Western Conference teams

PROJECTED DEPTH CHART:

Forwards
Andrew Cogliano — Ryan Getzlaf — Corey Perry
Dany Heatley — Ryan Kesler — Devante Smith-Pelly
Matt Beleskey — Rickard Rakell — Jakob Silfverberg
Patrick Maroon — Nate Thompson — Kyler Palmieri
Emerson Etem

Defensemen

Francois Beauchemin — Cam Fowler
Ben Lovejoy — Hampus Lindholm
Clayton Stoner — Sami Vatanen

Goalies

Frederik Andersen
John Gibson

team that will almost surely finish in the top five of the Western Conference, but a second-round exit like last season’s will hardly be sufficient—especially with the reigning Stanley Cup champions playing a few miles away down Freeway 5.

• Ducks' preseason record no cause for worry

PLAYER TO WATCH: Ryan Kesler

This is an easy selection as Kesler moves from the crazed fishbowl of Vancouver to the relaxed confines of Orange County. Either his attitude issues will manifest themselves into laziness or he’ll shed the problems that hounded him as a Canuck and re-emerge as the offensive force who scored 41 goals in 2010-11. We're banking on the latter.

PREDICTION: 105 points (first in Pacific)