Reflecting on the Getzlaf-Perry Ducks Era and Some New Year's Resolutions
Reflecting on the Getzlaf-Perry Ducks Era and Some New Year's Resolutions
The Ducks enter the final week of 2023 in need of some momentum. We'll break down the situations of some young players, talk game results, and more.
Welcome to the THW Anaheim Ducks Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Ducks writers.
In today’s edition, we start with a look back at the stellar Ducks careers of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Then we’ll compare the rookie seasons of Leo Carlsson and Adam Fantilli, offer some New Year’s resolutions, evaluate the Tristan Luneau situation, and more.
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Ducks: A 20-Year Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry Retrospective
December 22, 2023 by Jordan Reinhardt (Premium Substack Content)
The Anaheim Ducks are 32 games into their landmark 30th season, which has been full of references to and bridges between the past, present, and future of this organization. It just so happens that the organization’s 30th birthday (2023) coincides with the 20th anniversary (2003) of the selections of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry – two franchise giants – in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Reflecting on their careers in Anaheim - their beginnings, the pinnacles of their success, their on-ice synergy, and more – seems like a good way to count down the final days of this significant year for the franchise. Let’s begin!
Ducks: Season-to-Date Comparison Between Carlsson and Fantilli
December 28, 2023 by Jordan Reinhardt
Leo Carlsson and Adam Fantilli have yet to play each other in an NHL game. That is not because the Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets have yet to meet on the schedule. They have, and the Ducks came away with the overtime victory. It was the sixth game of the season, and Carlsson sat the contest as part of general manager Pat Verbeek’s early season development plan for the rookie. The two clubs won’t see each other again until Feb. 21.
Both players have played enough games now that a comparison between the two seems like a fun exercise. Let’s compare the rookie seasons so far between the second and third overall picks in last summer’s draft.
Ducks News & Rumors: Carlsson, Henrique, Luneau, Port & More
December 27, 2023 by Corey Abbott
The Anaheim Ducks return from the Christmas break on Wednesday (Dec. 27) with a home matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. Before the league-wide shutdown, the Ducks were outscored by a 6-2 margin in a pair of losses to the Calgary Flames and Seattle Kraken to open an eight-game homestand.
Just when the Ducks finally got Jamie Drysdale and Trevor Zegras back from extended injury absences, star rookie Leo Carlsson went down with an MCL sprain. Prospects Tristan Luneau and Vojtěch Port were also late subtractions from the 2024 World Junior Championship. We will cover those as well as the recent trade buzz surrounding pending unrestricted free agent Adam Henrique.
Anaheim Ducks’ 2024 New Year’s Resolutions
December 23, 2023 by Charlie Hiller
The Anaheim Ducks’ 2023 calendar year has played out very similar to the years before it. A 25-44-8 record across two seasons is only a marginal improvement from their 24-51-10 mark in 2022. With four games left on the schedule before the New Year, it’s time to look at some resolutions the Ducks can make heading into 2024.
Anaheim is deep into a long-term rebuild. I would expect the on-ice results to continue to be painful in the short term, especially if the trade deadline sees the departure of several veterans. With most of the franchise’s highly touted prospects finally playing at the professional level, we could see a sharp turnaround depending on how quickly they develop. While “making the playoffs” seems like an unrealistic resolution for 2024, here are some resolutions that can help make the playoffs a possibility in 2025.
4 Takeaways From Ducks’ Shutout Loss to Flames
December 22, 2023 by Jordan Reinhardt
At Honda Center last night (Dec. 21), there was only one team that played like it wanted to win its third consecutive game. It wasn’t the Anaheim Ducks. The performance was one of their worst in quite some time, in a game marred by a slew of mistakes, sloppy play, and worst of all, the loss of another young star.
The Ducks blew an opportunity to start their eight-game holiday season homestand on the right note. Further, pending the outcome of Leo Carlsson’s medical evaluations, the close of the 2023 portion of their season can go from bad to worse. Let’s look at some takeaways from the tough defeat to the Calgary Flames.
Ducks Need to Prioritize Playing Time for Tristan Luneau
December 21, 2023 by Corey Abbott
The Anaheim Ducks made the right choice to allow Tristan Luneau to play for Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championship. He is expected to be a key part of the Canadian defense corps at the tournament while occupying a top-four spot and seeing time on the second power-play unit. His NHL experience will also likely make him a leader on the team. Luneau should be able to shine offensively against players in his own age bracket, which he did during his time in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Representing Canada in Gothenburg, Sweden, at the World Juniors will be great for his confidence, and it should benefit his development as a player.