Anaheim Ducks Should Target James Van Riemsdyk

Dec 15, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (21) celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Air Canada Centre. The Lightning beat the Maple Leafs 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

66 goals for.

87 goals allowed.

In it’s most simplistic form, those 2 sentences encapsulate the Anaheim Ducks season. A team that many thought would be contenders for the Stanley Cup after their deep run to the Western Conference Finals at the end of the 2014-2015 season. Things haven’t exactly gone to plan for the Ducks as they sit in last place of Pacific Division with just 13 wins and 32 points through 34 games played. So what’s going on with the Ducks?

Unlike some teams in the NHL whose problems are harder to directly identify, the Ducks have one huge, glaring issue, and thats their inability to put the puck in the net. With those previously mentioned 66 goals for, the Ducks find themselves dead last in the league in that department, and quite frankly it’s not even close. The next closest to the Ducks would be the Flyers, with 76 goals scored, and the Penguins with 79. These stats look even worse when you take into account the league average, which is 95. Whats even more odd is that this Ducks team actually lead the league in scoring just two seasons ago.

December 27, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf (15) skates into position against Philadelphia Flyers during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Sure, it’s easy to pick on the big guns of this team like Ryan Getzlaf or Corey Perry. In truth though, Getzlaf isn’t having an awful season considering the poor hand he was dealt to open the season. Corey Perry, a former Hart trophy winner, has certainly seen some of his production fall off, but he still leads the team with 13 goals. Getzlaf and Perry are also the only Ducks to have more than 20 points on the season, so it’s a little unfair to indict them. More surprising has been the play of Ryan Kesler and Carl Hagelin. Both forwards have combined to score 20 points while registering a (-25) plus/minus rating. Those are horrifying numbers for top-6 caliber players and a big reason why the Ducks have been unable to find their footing this season.

It’s not all abysmal in Anaheim though. While their offense has been anemic at best, their defense and goaltending has really shined. Those 87 goals allowed put the Ducks in top-10 of that category, while most impressively, their penalty kill is the best in the league at 87.4%. Frederik Andersen and John Gibson have both displayed number-one caliber goaltending abilities throughout the opening stanza’s of this season. The defense, led by Hampus Lindholm, Cam Fowler, and Sami Vatanen have shown they are most capable of scoring while keeping the puck out of their own net. The Ducks are doing everything they can on the back-end to compete but their offensive firepower has mirrored the look of wet gunpowder.

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With the luxury of depth on the blue-line, the Ducks can afford to move one of their big named defenseman in exchange for a winger who can energize their stagnant offense. With upcoming contract situations between Vatanen and Lindholm, and including Simon Despres and his increase in cap hit, it might be wise for the Ducks to consider moving Vatanen. Just 24 years old, Vatanen has registered 19 points, which is good for 3rd best on the team. Also considering that Vatanen has the always coveted right handed shot, the Ducks have a valuable asset that they can dangle and almost every other team in the league would generate interest.

Nov 20, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs forward James Van Riemsdyk (21) skates with the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 in the shoot out. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Given what the Ducks need more than anything else, it would appear that their best partner lies in the Atlantic Division rebuild project that is the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sitting last in the Atlantic and second to last in the Eastern Conference, the results have been expected for the team who are just hitting the restart button. However, there are still players with great value on the Maple Leafs who could be of even bigger value to a team like the not-so Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Enter forward James Van Riemsdyk.

JVR has posted 13 goals and 25 points through 34 games this season, and would be a perfect fit for the Ducks. The 6’3”, 200 pound left winger reminds me of someone else that should be familiar to all Ducks fans, that of course being Bobby Ryan. While JVR may not have the playmaking abilities that Ryan possess’s, he can certainly put the puck in the net with the very best of them and he’s shown that posting 30 goals just 2 seasons ago. JVR would also come with a reasonable cap number at just 4.2 million through the 2017-2018 season. In a deal that centers around these two players, the Maple Leafs and more Mike Babcock, would get a young defenseman with a right handed shot, something that Babcock wanted badly the last few seasons he spent in Detroit. Both JVR and Vatanen have been floating around the rumor mill and while there has been no direct link to either of these players, it does make sense on both ends.

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