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NHL Power Rankings #2: Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks are coming off an extremely successful season that saw them go all the way to the Western Conference Finals before being knocked out by Chicago. While Chicago has taken a step backward, Anaheim has improved. On paper, Anaheim has the strongest and deepest roster in the Western Conference. They have to be considered the Stanley Cup favorites from the West.
While the Ducks lost Matt Beleskey and Kyle Palmieri, they also added Chris Stewart to a cheap one-year deal and traded for Carl Hagelin. Hagelin will quickly become a hated player in the Pacific Division. He’s like an annoying bug. You want to crush him, but he’s too quick and sly. And he has a penchant for scoring at opportune times.
Sami Vatanen is one of the most underrated (and best) blueliners in the NHL. I think this season will be his true breakout season. He’s up for a new contract after this season, so that should help his cause in that regard.
Their sole concern is in net. Frederik Andersen is a talented young goaltender, but he didn’t do so well last year in the playoffs. This season, with the talent around him, there’s no excuse for failure.
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