The Anaheim Ducks are inching closer to the end of a rather disappointing 30th NHL campaign. The end couldn’t come soon enough with the way things are going. During their current five-game losing streak, they’ve been outscored a dismal 27-5.
Related: Ducks 2024 Trade Deadline Grades
The Mar. 8 trading deadline coincided with and perhaps even precipitated a stretch of play exhibiting minimal sign of life. Outplayed and outcompeted at every turn, the Ducks face a difficult 17-game finish with a schedule full of playoff-bound or playoff-contending teams. Let’s look at the primary reasons for their recent struggles.
Reason 1: Trade Deadline Activity Left Many Lineup Holes
The Ducks parted with several veteran players in the lead-up to the Mar. 8 trading deadline. Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick were dealt to the Edmonton Oilers in a trade that netted them a couple of draft picks, including a first-rounder. Ilya Lyubushkin was sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs for an additional draft pick. If we go back a couple more months, there was the Jamie Drysdale-Cutter Gauthier swap. These trades, which brought no active-rostered players to the Ducks in return, have left the Ducks with many holes to fill on a nightly basis.
Outside of the Drysdale swap earlier this season, each trade was predictable and made sense (time will reveal who won the Drysdale-Gauthier trade). But the facts were that Henrique was one of the more reliable contributors for the Ducks this season and in previous seasons. At the same time, Lyubushkin and Carrick played depth but no less critical roles than Henrique. Lyubushkin was a reliable, physical defenseman who paired with rookie Pavel Mintyukov quite well. On the other hand, Carrick played with snarl and physicality and served as a reliable centerman in all situations. The holes created by their departures have been filled with players like Ross Johnston, Ben Meyers, Pavol Regenda, Gustav Lindstrom, and others. These might be fine players in small doses, but they won’t be enough as everyday players or replacements for those dealt this season.
Reawon’t: Injuries
Injuries have plagued the Ducks all season, and nobody on the roster has been spared. Leo Carlsson hasn’t played since hasn’t9 as he deals with the aftermath of a concussion. Mason McTavish, who has dealt with different ailments throughout the season as well, missed the first week of March and also sat in the latest loss to the Winnipeg Jets (Mar. 15). Max Jones hasn’t played…
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