TSN Hockey U.S. Team Previews - Pacific Division

TSN's Scott Cullen and TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button profile each U.S.-based NHL team ahead of training camp for the 2016-17 season. Check out their look at the Pacific Division.

 

ANAHEIM DUCKS

Losing in the first round of the playoffs prompted the Ducks to fire head coach Bruce Boudreau, even though Anaheim surpassed 100 points for a third straight season. Now, they’ve replaced Boudreau with Randy Carlyle, a move that most likely will result in a possession drop for the Ducks.

And they go into a new season with a roster imbalance, overflowing with depth on the blue line and short-staffed up front, which should prompt a deal. 

The Ducks have grown comfortable leaning on Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry – and why not, they’ve been great – but they are both 31-years-old and Anaheim needs more from a supporting cast which includes 32-year-old Ryan Kesler and younger talent like Rickard Rakell and Jakob Silfverberg. Off-season additions Antoine Vermette and Mason Raymond may contribute, but aren’t likely to be impact players.

Defensively, Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen are both the future and the present, but the Ducks are still looking for a spot for top prospect Shea Theodore. Cam Fowler or Simon Despres could move, because it appears that Josh Manson and Kevin Bieksa will stick around.

After trading Frederik Andersen to Toronto, the Ducks are turning to John Gibson in goal. He shows plenty of promise with a .920 save percentage in 66 career games, but played a career-high 40 games last season. Can he handle 55-60?

The Ducks have been a contender and fallen short in recent seasons. They may not be able to presume contender status now that they have Randy Carlyle behind the bench.

Off-season Headlines

Apr. 29: Ducks fire Boudreau after another early playoff exit

June 14: Ducks welcome back Randy Carlyle as head coach

June 18: Ducks extend Vatanen with four-year deal

Button's Top 2016-17 Prospect

Shea Theodore (San Diego, AHL): Game has developed and ready to play. Smart, excellent puck play and contributes offensively.

Button's Long-Term Prospect

Jacob Larsson (Frolunda, SWE): All the makings of a complete defenseman. Excellent sense and poise. Ease to his play.

 

ARIZONA COYOTES

The Coyotes have missed the playoffs for four straight seasons, so it should come as no surprise that they shook up their front office in the off-season, naming 26-year-old John Chayka as general manager (It might be more surprising, given their recent record, that head coach Dave Tippett received increased control over personnel and a five-year contract extension).

While the past has been rough, the future appears to be promising, as the Coyotes have a boatload of quality prospects, some of whom will be expected to join young pros like Max Domi and Anthony Duclair, coming off solid rookie campaigns. Adding juniors Dylan Strome and Christian Dvorak will upgrade the skill level up front, as will veteran wingers Jamie McGinn and Radim Vrbata.

On the blue line, the Coyotes made an aggressive move to sign veteran free agent Alex Goligoski. They improved their depth with Luke Schenn, but the group behind Oliver Ekman-Larsson on the depth chart remains a question mark.

Between Mike Smith and Louis Domingue, the Coyotes can hope that they come up with at least one reliable option in goal.  

The organization may be moving in the right direction, but it doesn’t appear that they are ready to be a playoff team this season.

Off-season Headlines

May 4: Coyotes name Chayka, 26, as new GM

June 21: Goligoski signs five-year deal with Coyotes

June 24: Coyotes acquire Datsyuk's contract from Red Wings

August 25: Coyotes acquire Bolland and Crouse for draft picks

Button's Top 2016-17 Prospect

Christian Dvorak (London, OHL): Exceptional sense and combined with excellent skills, has a chance to be an impact player.

Button's Top Long-Term Prospect

Clayton Keller (US-NTDP, USHL): Highly skilled with excellent creativity. Makes things happen offensively. Supremely confident.

 

LOS ANGELES KINGS

The league’s best possession team last season was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, but it’s those strong underlying stats that indicate a team that is still capable of contending for a Stanley Cup.

They didn’t make a lot of changes –Milan Lucic out, Teddy Purcell in – but they recorded 102 points last season. The last time the Kings had more in a season was 1974-1975, so maybe it’s not a surprise that they are prepared to roll with most of the same lineup.

Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli are the primary forward performers and the Kings would hope for a bounce back campaign from 34-year-old winger Marian Gaborik and continued development from 24-year-old winger Tanner Pearson. Their bottom six forwards boasts a lot of familiar, if not terribly impressive names.

Coming off a Norris Trophy win, Drew Doughty remains a stalwart on the blue line. And Jake Muzzin has emerged as a frontline defender in his own right. Brayden McNabb and Alec Martinez are useful complementary defencemen, but the depth isn’t ideal. Veterans Rob Scuderi and Tom Gilbert will battle with Derek Forbort and Zach Trotman for playing time.

Goaltender Jonathan Quick is held in high esteem because of Stanley Cup wins in 2012 and 2014, but on the whole he’s been a better-than-average goaltender who can handle a heavy workload. Playing behind a dominant possession team helps.

It’s fair to wonder if the Kings have sufficient scoring depth, particularly if they run into injuries near the top of the depth chart. But if they’re going to keep controlling 57 per cent of shots like they have over the past three seasons then they have to be taken seriously.

Off-season Headlines

May 12: Kings ink Sutter to contract extension
June 16: Kopitar named captain of the Kings
July 6: Kings add Teddy Purcell

Button's Top 2016-17 Prospect

Adrian Kempe (Ontario, AHL): Excellent skater with speed, quickness and agility. Attacks offensively - and Kings can use more offence.

Button's Top Long-Term Prospect

Mike Amadio (North Bay, OHL): Really smart and cagey centre who finds ways to make an impact offensively.

 

SAN JOSE SHARKS

After the franchise’s first appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, the San Jose Sharks have a roster that should contend again, provided that some of their best players can duplicate the great seasons that they had in 2015-2016. Four of San Jose’s top five forwards, in terms of points last season, were over 30-years-old.

It’s one thing to talk about how ageless Joe Thornton is, but he scored 82 points as a 36-year-old, his most since 2009-2010. Thornton forms a superb combination with captain Joe Pavelski, who has sniped 116 goals over the past three seasons. Patrick Marleau is declining somewhat, but he still scored 25 goals as a 37-year-old, so he remains a factor (Thirty-five-year-old Joel Ward, who had 43 points, is the other greybeard to rank among the team’s scoring leaders).

They have plenty of supporting talent, though. Logan Couture was the leading playoff scorer, while Tomas Hertl, Joonas Donskoi and free agent addition Mikkel Boedker give the Sharks plenty of options.

Defensively, the Sharks are led by the bearded shooting machine, Brent Burns, and the ever-steady Marc-Edourd Vlasic. Paul Martin and Justin Braun aren’t flashy, but round out the top four.

Martin Jones stepped into the starting job in net last season and was an above-average starter for 65 games, an impressive leap in workload. Hopefully he can match that because there isn’t a proven backup on the payroll right now.

Off-season Headlines

June 29: Hertl agrees to two-year, $6 million deal 
July 1: Sharks sign Boedker to four-year, $16M contract

Button's Top 2016-17 Prospect

Timo Meier (Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL): Plays a game that is very similar to that of Marian Hossa. Skilled, hard and determined.

Button's Long-Term Prospect

Jeremy Roy (Sherbrooke, QMJHL): Combination of size, skill and determination allows him to impact. Development has been impressive.