Anaheim Ducks Round Table: Can they step up in time for the playoffs?

Steve Palumbo’s take

If the Anaheim Ducks are going to get into the playoffs for the 6th consecutive season so much has to go right. The Western Conference playoff race is going to be an all out dogfight through game 82. For the Ducks to remain entrenched in the battle, they desperately need more offense.

Anaheim ranks among the bottom-third (23rd) of the NHL in goals-per-game and among the worst in the league is production from the backend. One way for Anaheim to stay in the race, while raising that gpg average, is to get increased production from the blue line and more specifically, from Hampus Lindholm.

Anaheim was touted as having an embarrassment of riches on defense. Perhaps that was one of the main driving forces behind the trade that sent Sami Vatanen to New Jersey for center Adam Henrique. The Ducks were desperate for help up the middle and they had the assets to make a deal. The departure of Vatanen opened the door for Lindholm to be the man in Anaheim.  So far he’s falling short of the billing.

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In an injury-filled 48 games this season, Lindholm has eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points while averaging 22:45 of ice time per game. The 21 points rank 58th in the league among his peers and 51st among defenders averaging more than 21 minutes of ice time per game. In the 31 games since the trade, Lindholm has just five goals and nine assists with only four points (1g 3a) in the last 12 games.

Meanwhile, his ex-mate Vatanen has established himself as a clear number one in New Jersey with six points in his last six games for the streaking Devils. The Vatman also has 21 points this season in 50 games. The difference here is he’s getting better as the season progresses and the games mean more.

Injuries have slowed Lindholm’s development. I admit that, but he’s the healthiest he’s been in quite some time. His production dipped in each of the last two seasons following a career-high 34 points in 2014-15. Lindholm’s production this season is back on par with that ’14-15 season, but he disappears offensively far too often for my taste, especially when the heat is in.

Bottom line is this – the Ducks need need Lindholm to step up and show us why Vatanen was the expendable one. The “so-called” offensive-defenseman plays big minutes in all situations and more has to be expected from him. If Anaheim somehow does find a way back to the postseason it will be because Lindholm has finally assumed the role as a top-tier blueliner.