Anaheim Ducks: Positives to take away after a rough 2018 season

1. The youth

A bright spot of the Anaheim Ducks this season was the play of the young “kids”. Call ups from the Ducks’ American Hockey League affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, 21-year olds Troy Terry, Max Jones, and Sam Steel showed they can take their games to the next level and contend for a spot on the main roster next season.

Each made strong impressions to be a big part of the Ducks’ future in more ways than one, especially in last month or so of the season.

Terry’s vision and playmaking ability stood out, especially on the reconfigured power play unit later in the season. Jones’ skating ability and power on and off the puck constantly pressured the opposing defense.

Steel’s quickness and goal scoring ability became readily apparent, as he scored a hat trick in the Ducks 5-4 win over the Vancouver Canucks in one of the last games of their season. Both Jones and Steel were also used on the penalty kill and looked excellent on it.

The mid-season acquisition of 22-year old winger Daniel Sprong in exchange for defenseman Marcus Pettersson also provided fruitful for the Ducks. Sprong showed flashes of his goal-scoring ability, posting 14 goals in 47 contests with Anaheim. The placement of his goals were at near impossible angles showing that he can be the sharpshooter the Ducks desperately need.

Fellow Gull teammates Jacob Larsson and Josh Mahura, as well as trade deadline acquisition Brendan Guhle, also showed promise toward the end of the season. Their biggest roles were played in continuing to push the pace of the Ducks’ play offensively plus providing better individual and team defense that accounted for helped the Ducks give up fewer goals.

Don’t be surprised if you see all three of these young defensemen in the second and third pairings next season as the Ducks look to get younger throughout their lineup.