Bet On NHL Hockey: Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks begin the 2014-2015 season as the reigning Pacific Division Champs. They were terrific in the Regular Season but bowed out early in the playoffs – losing in the second round to the Dallas Stars.
NHL Predictions
Anaheim Ducks
Odds to win the 2015 Stanley Cup: 12/1
Odds to win the 2015 Western Conference: 6/1
Odds to Win the 2014 Pacific Division: 11/4
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2014-2015 Anaheim Ducks Betting Preview:
There has been some change for the Ducks – in are terrific second line center Ryan Kesler from the Canucks and Dany Heatley who hopes to ignite a career spiraling downward. Out are Teemu Selanne, Saku Koivu, Nick Bonino, Mathieu Perreault and Luca Sbisa.
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The Ducks will look to take the next step this year – anything less than a deep playoff run would be a disappointment.
Offense
Anaheim should have a top tier offense this season – just as they did last year. Ryan Gelzlaf and Corey Perry make up perhaps the most impressive duo in the game today – they are big, they are fast, they are talented – and after last year they will be hungry.
The dynamic duo finished in the top three in scoring last season and should be good again this year. Devante Smith-Pelly and Kyle Palmieri are in a good position to step up while Patrick Maroon, Andrew Cogliano, Jakob Silfverberg, Matt Beleskey and Dany Heatly provide very good depth at the forward position. Anaheim was #1 in the league in goals scored last year – there is little reason to think a dropoff is imminent.
Defense
Defense may be a bit of an issue for Anaheim this year although they did rank ninth last year in goals against. Cam Fowler, Ben Lovejoy, Francois Beauchemin, Sheldon Souray, Sami Vatenen, Clayton Stoner and Mark Fistric are lesser known names but they are solid as demonstrated by last year’s goals against.
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Goaltending also looks like a bit of an area of concern as well. Although Frederik Andersen, John Gibson and Jason LaBarbara make up a decent trio between the pipes the first two lack an experience needed for a top tier club.
Andersen and Gibson will likely make up the two roster keepers as we head into the season. Gibson showed flashes last year going 3-0 with a 1.33 GAA in his limited action with the team – before injury and Andersen was a terrific 20-5 with a .923 save percentage.
Both seem to have the faith of his coaches and team and either could be the surprise of the NHL this year.
FREE Ducks NHL Predictions 2014/2015
There is little doubting the talent on the Ducks but it is difficult to look past the experience that the Ducks lost in offseason. Selanne, Koivu and Bonino are big omissions for this team, although the addition of Kesler will certainly absorb some of those minutes.
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The goaltending situation is also a tad sketchy. The keepers are young and talented but the lack of experience is certainly something to be wary of.
Anaheim is a playoff team for sure but I just don`t know if they can repeat their Pacific Division crown. Once in the playoffs the lack of experience may be magnified even more. A lot are predicting the Ducks to win it all this year – I am not one of those. Expect a second place finish in the Pacific and another second or maybe third round exit from the playoffs.
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