81 points projection. I don’t disagree with the analysis. But I do hope we are closer to a wildcard spot in the end.
81 points looks like a tiny improvement to our 80 points last year. But the article claims without last season’s goaltending we would have had more like 70 points. So that checks out imo.
The article makes it sound like everyone has to bounce back/ break out this season to achieve something like 94 points. I do disagree with that take. I think it is reasonable to assume that a few veterans (i.e. Kreider, healthy Gudas) and a few kids (Leo, Cutter) improve this year. The more the better but I don’t think everyone has to reach their potential this year to achieve 90+ points.
If I look at our division, the team we play the most games against. Besides Vegas no one really got better. I think of all teams in the Pacific (besides Vegas) the ducks improved their roster the most. I don’t doubt that Vegas and Edmonton will be far away in the standings. I also think that LA wants to meet Edmonton in the first round this year. But after that I see lots of mediocre teams, us included. Vancouver has so many glaring holes and although Hughes is probably the only player to fill all of them and lift his team into the playoffs. It is still not a given. One injury, a slump and Vancouver might finish behind us. The pressure is also much higher there compared to Anaheim. I don’t see Calgary being as good as last year either. Otherwise they can gift Wolf the Hart immediately. I don’t think his performances of last season are sustainable (neither are Dostals tbf – although he declined in the second half of last season already)
I think the main reason we might make the playoffs or we don’t is the central division. If they leave a slot for us (2nd WC) we might have a chance. If St. Louis/ Minnesota/ Utah all play like the last seasons I don’t see a Pacific in a WC spot. So we should root for Chicago and Nashville a bit so that they grab some points vs Division rivals
For anyone who cant read the article, they say that Ducks will muster up only 1 additional point compared to last season, from 80 to 81.
Well I think we all know it’s going to be a challenge to make the playoffs but that’s our goal
4 comments
81 points projection. I don’t disagree with the analysis. But I do hope we are closer to a wildcard spot in the end.
81 points looks like a tiny improvement to our 80 points last year. But the article claims without last season’s goaltending we would have had more like 70 points. So that checks out imo.
The article makes it sound like everyone has to bounce back/ break out this season to achieve something like 94 points. I do disagree with that take. I think it is reasonable to assume that a few veterans (i.e. Kreider, healthy Gudas) and a few kids (Leo, Cutter) improve this year. The more the better but I don’t think everyone has to reach their potential this year to achieve 90+ points.
If I look at our division, the team we play the most games against. Besides Vegas no one really got better. I think of all teams in the Pacific (besides Vegas) the ducks improved their roster the most. I don’t doubt that Vegas and Edmonton will be far away in the standings. I also think that LA wants to meet Edmonton in the first round this year. But after that I see lots of mediocre teams, us included. Vancouver has so many glaring holes and although Hughes is probably the only player to fill all of them and lift his team into the playoffs. It is still not a given. One injury, a slump and Vancouver might finish behind us. The pressure is also much higher there compared to Anaheim. I don’t see Calgary being as good as last year either. Otherwise they can gift Wolf the Hart immediately. I don’t think his performances of last season are sustainable (neither are Dostals tbf – although he declined in the second half of last season already)
I think the main reason we might make the playoffs or we don’t is the central division. If they leave a slot for us (2nd WC) we might have a chance. If St. Louis/ Minnesota/ Utah all play like the last seasons I don’t see a Pacific in a WC spot. So we should root for Chicago and Nashville a bit so that they grab some points vs Division rivals
For anyone who cant read the article, they say that Ducks will muster up only 1 additional point compared to last season, from 80 to 81.
Well I think we all know it’s going to be a challenge to make the playoffs but that’s our goal