Ducks Enter Critical Stretch of Schedule and Examining Issues on Offense
Welcome to the THW Anaheim Ducks Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Ducks writers.
In today’s edition, we provide some takeaways on the loss to the Vancouver Canucks, look ahead at a critical stretch of games, and examine some issues on offense.
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4 Takeaways From Ducks’ 3-1 Loss to Canucks
November 29, 2023 by Jordan Reinhardt
The Vancouver Canucks sent the Anaheim Ducks to their seventh straight defeat last night (Nov. 28) in a closely contested 3-1 decision at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The game was the first in a short stretch of the Ducks’ season that will reveal a lot about their resolve and ability to bounce back from difficult moments.
In a lot of ways, the Ducks delivered. They didn’t win, but they were sharp, competed far harder than they did against the Edmonton Oilers (Nov. 26), held the mighty Canucks to two non-empty net goals, and were right there at the end, which is exactly what fans were hoping for coming off of a bad loss. Let’s look at some takeaways.
Ducks’ Mounting Losing Streak Enters a Critical Period
November 28, 2023 by Jordan Reinhardt
The Anaheim Ducks have officially hit the quarter-mark of their 2023-24 season. Owners of a six-game losing streak during which they’ve been outscored 30-11, they face a critical period of their season marked by looming matchups against Western Conference contenders – the Vancouver Canucks (Nov. 28) and the Colorado Avalanche (Dec. 2 and Dec. 5).
They do have a winnable game against the Washington Capitals (Nov. 30) sandwiched between these difficult ones, but with the way things are going, there’s a real possibility the Ducks finish this portion of the schedule with more defeats than victories. That would be a disaster scenario for the squad whose six-game win streak now appears more of a mirage than signs of a changing tide, and head coach Greg Cronin, who, to his credit, has acknowledged that the team is facing some adversity.
Let’s evaluate the current state of the team, look at some keys to staying competitive this week, and make some predictions on how the next few games will play out.
3 Potential In-Season Trade Destinations for Flames’ Noah Hanifin
November 28, 2023 by Rupert McDonald
The Calgary Flames don’t appear to be in any rush to make trades at this time, but it still feels more likely than not that Noah Hanifin will be on the move between now and the trade deadline. The 26-year-old has been involved in trade rumours since the end of the 2022-23 campaign, and will be of high interest to contending teams as a rental in the final year of his contract.
Aside from Elias Lindholm, Hanifin is the most valuable trade piece the Flames have. He is a player who can play in all situations and has a very friendly $4.95 million cap hit. Any team looking to bolster their top four would certainly do so by adding him. These three teams in particular serve as very good fits.
Ducks’ Offense Lacks Serious Scoring Depth
November 26, 2023 by Charlie Hiller
After an impressive start to the 2023-24 season, the Anaheim Ducks have hit a bit of a rough patch. A Black Friday loss to the Los Angeles Kings marks their fifth in a row, and their seventh in the last nine. While their six-game winning streak in early November raised eyebrows throughout the league, the last two weeks have brought expectations back down to earth.
Part of Anaheim’s issue is their lack of scoring. The Ducks are averaging fewer than two goals a game over their last 10 games, and a large bulk of the scoring is between a few players going through unsustainable shooting benders. While I do expect some of the underperformers to bounce back, this will likely be an ongoing issue for the Ducks all season and will require help outside of the current roster to permanently address.