Anaheim Ducks should turn to Sam Steel after Ryan Kesler’s hip surgery

With Anaheim Ducks’ forward Ryan Kesler not expected to play in the upcoming 2019-2020 season, youngster Sam Steel is expected to make the big club from the start and fill the void.

The 34-year-old Ryan Kesler recently underwent successful right hip surgery last week after a series of hip issues plagued his productivity the past three Anaheim Ducks campaigns. You may recall that he underwent hip surgery after the 2016-2017 season to remove bone fragments. Ever since then, Ducks fans have seen his effectiveness on the ice drop significantly.

Kesler only tallied three goals and five assists last season in 60 games, easily career worsts.

The surgery was much needed as Kesler stated, “At this point in my career, this surgery was my best option for my quality of life,” eliminating some of the pain he experienced on a daily basis and increasing functionality in everyday activities. Clearly, Kesler’s immediate focus is to his family and leading a normal, non-hockey life for the time being.

Now, the Anaheim Ducks must figure out who will fill the vacant spot left by Kesler. My guess is that Ducks will turn to 21-year-old Sam Steel, who showed flashes of brilliance at the end of last season and should now be considered a lock to make the roster.

Steel got hot in his last 10 games with the Ducks, scoring five goals and posting three assists, including a hat trick against Vancouver on March 26.

Steel, like Kesler, plays the center position. Essentially, this is a perfect center for center exchange. Yet what each brings to the table could not be more different. The Ducks may be losing a player with grit, physical prowess, and experience in Kesler, but they are getting a youthful, speedy, and dynamic talent in Steel.

The Ducks are also looking to get younger and faster to better compete with today’s NHL teams, so the pickup of Steel fits right in line with their new team vision. While Steel does not have nearly the big league experience that Kesler has, he will likely be given every chance to excel.

Steel centered a line with scoring wingers Rickard Rakell and Jakob Silfverberg in the last few games of the season and worked well with the Swedish duo. He fit so well that I would not be surprised if they stayed together. The trio developed strong chemistry in a relatively short time after being put together, something that can be built on further next season.

Regardless of where Steel is slotted in the lineup, he will be able to bring a key element that the team lacks — speed. It is here where Steel can show his value, whether it’s getting to loose pucks quick, sprinting on a breakaway, or making a strong defensive play by chasing down an opponent.

Steel also brings more offensive upside at this point of his career than Kesler and still has far more room to grow. This season with the Ducks’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, Steel has thus far posted 20 goals and 21 assists and is a point per game player in the playoffs with 10 points in 10 games.

I’m personally looking for Steel to score 15-20 goals next season and 15-20 assists for about 30-40 points total. A full season at the NHL level will give Steel the opportunity and development he needs to become an everyday NHL player and show that he is a key part of the Ducks’ future.

Drafted 30th overall by the Ducks in the first round of the 2016 NHL, the Ducks clearly believe in Steel and what he can do to help the team succeed.

With the Anaheim Ducks slowly moving toward a youthful core, Steel will be counted on for years to come. His time to be a permanent fixture of the Ducks’ lineup has arrived. He’s ready.