SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 8/14/2019 Anaheim Ducks 1107648 Ducks by position: Previewing Anaheim’s 2019-20 centers Arizona Coyotes 1107649 Arizona Coyotes' radio move to Fox Sports 910, iHeartMedia more than a dial change Boston Bruins 1107650 Bruins Summer Series: Jake DeBrusk looking to improve after a quiet postseason 1107651 2019 NHL farm system rankings: No. 29 Boston Bruins Calgary Flames 1107652 The Brett Kulak miscalculation: Flames’ value bet turns out to be bust Carolina Hurricanes 1107653 Carolina Hurricanes hire Rod Brind’Amour’s former teammate as its goaltending coach Chicago Blackhawks 1107654 Blackhawks add Swedish defenseman Philip Holm on a 1-year deal 1107655 Blackhawks sign Philip Holm, adding another name to defensive competition 1107656 Blackhawks sign one-year contract with Philip Holm Colorado Avalanche 1107657 Win? Or develop? The Avalanche’s AHL plan for the Colorado Eagles is to do both Detroit Red Wings 1107658 Red Wings' defense will take different shape as season progresses 1107659 Will Red Wings’ injury-plagued Trevor Daley draw trade interest? 1107660 Kid Rock paired with Nicklaus, Zetterberg added for Ally Challenge near Flint Montreal Canadiens 1107661 The Brett Kulak miscalculation: Flames’ value bet turns out to be bust New Jersey Devils 1107662 WATCH: Devils’ Connor Carrick gives inside look at offseason training 1107663 NJ Devils' Michael McLeod ready to make an impact in NHL Philadelphia Flyers 1107664 What Flyers prospect Jay O'Brien 'can't wait to prove' has him charging ahead Pittsburgh Penguins 1107665 First Call: Bill Guerin close to leaving Penguins?; Alex Rodriguez’s SUV robbed 1107666 Penguins Predictions: Can Dominik Simon ramp up his production? 1107667 These seven questions await when Penguins camp begins in a month 1107668 NHL Contraction Draft: Penguins load up on defense and get tougher in our 12-team league 1107669 2019 NHL farm system rankings: No. 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 1107670 ‘I have a lot to prove’: Pierre-Olivier Joseph bulking up to join Penguins San Jose Sharks 1107671 Sharks icons Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton working out in San Jose 1107672 Sharks jersey retirements: Why Owen Nolan should be honored first Tampa Bay Lightning 1107673 How did the Lightning stack up on NHL Tonight’s all-decade team? 1107674 Who would make the Tampa Bay Lightning’s all-time lineup? Vancouver Canucks 1107676 Analysis of Jacob Markstrom’s game reveals a goalie well on his way to establishing himself as a quality No. 1 Washington Capitals 1107675 Capitals defenseman John Carlson, coming off a career year, is on the ice early and looking to bolster his gam Websites 1107677 The Athletic / Breaking down an NHL salary: The numbers aren’t as big as you think 1107678 The Athletic / Why today’s NHL stars look far different than those that dominated decades ago SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1107648 Anaheim Ducks teammates have taken his cue in the past, yielding both positive and negative results. We suspect he will be on board. What is possible? If Joe Thornton was able to rip out an 82-point season Ducks by position: Previewing Anaheim’s 2019-20 centers at age 36 and Teemu Selanne was able to trip up Father Time by going for 31 goals and 80 points at age 40, there’s no reason Getzlaf can’t turn back the clock a few years and get back the 70-point territory, if not dip By Eric Stephens Aug 13, 2019 his toe into the 80-point well for a comeback season. Just give him some regular wingers who can put 200 or more shots on net and score on closer to 15 percent of their tries instead of 10. It is as if you’re on a desert road looking as far as you can into the What is realistic? It goes well into December, with Getzlaf trying to find distance, and the first hint of an image begins to appear on the horizon. It chemistry with wingers who haven’t played as much with him, or regain it could be real, but you’ve gone without for so long that maybe it’s just if it’s someone like Rakell. But if this is a season of better health for the your imagination fooling with you. And the unending thirst. center and his teammates, you would think he could still get at least 50 Don’t worry. It is real. The NHL season. So close and yet still so far points, even if he loses a minute or two of ice time on average as his role away. potentially shifts away from that of the leading man. Aches and pains might keep him from getting to 70 games, a total he hasn’t reached since But it’s coming. Not as quickly as you might want it to, but it is. And it will 2016-17. rescue you from that lonely, barren place called Hockey Summer. Sam Steel I’m here to help. I can’t bring the upcoming season to you any faster, but I can start arranging your accommodations for another months-long stay Age: 21 at Red Light Utopia. While you wait for your Ducks-themed vehicle to NHL season: First arrive, I’ve brought along some reading material to focus your mind as we drive across the last stretch of emptiness toward that magical place. What can he do? The way he turned to his backhand and shoveled a (You ask, “How long will it take to get there?” I smile and whisper in a neat shot over the shoulder of sliding Vancouver goalie Jacob Markstrom mock-sinister tone, “Weeks.” Then I wink to put you at ease.) on his first career penalty shot — to finish off a hat trick in March — shows there is a lot he can do. Steel was a much different player at the Players have been training and are already gathering together in informal end and should get credit for being much better than when he made the skating sessions. They’re ramping themselves up and so shall we. As the team out of training camp. The coaching staff in San Diego should get days tick toward something real and tangible (i.e. rookie camp), I’ll bring credit as well for aiding his development and giving him a big role with some views into clearer focus on those who’ve been notable to the the Gulls. This was a role he grabbed with gusto. Ducks and who’ll likely see some significant time with them through these player previews by position. With a little different spin. Because he slid in under the 25-game mark that would have removed his rookie status, Steel qualifies for the Calder Trophy next spring. With This exercise is about looking at what each player is able to do for Ryan Kesler not occupying a spot, the door is open for him to snatch a Anaheim this season, what they need to avoid doing, what we should sizable role and stick in the lineup, starting when the puck drops on hope is possible and what we should anticipate that is more realistic. opening night. He has the vision and feel to be at home on Anaheim’s We’ll start with centers first and analyze the other positions in second power-play unit. He should put up better underlying numbers with subsequent articles. Eakins behind the bench. There will be opportunities to produce and if Ryan Getzlaf that happens, the Ducks will have a top-six fixture for years to come. Age: 34 What can’t he do? Lose confidence. It is the thing that most often wavers when young players try to make their way in the league. Even when there NHL season: 15th are dips in his game over the long grind, Steel can’t get down on himself and start to doubt whether he measures up to others. He proved his What can he do? He’ll continue to be the possession-driving pivot who is worth in last season’s extended audition to end Anaheim’s season. a load to handle in the offensive end and a physical presence along the boards. Getzlaf will reach the 1,000-game mark early this season and Now is the time to assert himself further, rather than become complacent that is a significant milestone, even as he gets there without running after securing an everyday role. As a captain of his junior team, Steel mate Corey Perry also in tow. No other Ducks player will have played undoubtedly has a lot of belief in his abilities and has the discipline to not that many games in their sweater. None will have reached that mark in settle for reaching a certain level. He has the kind of hockey sense that Anaheim while playing for just one club. And as Anaheim’s captain, his will allow him to make an impact on a game even if he doesn’t score a influence will carry even more weight for a team reworking itself and point. Now it’s time for him to stay. trending younger. What is possible? Playing with Rakell and Jakob Silfverberg as his wings There will be a number of wingers he can build a connection with. On his at the end, Steel had five goals and three assists in seven contests. We left side could be Rickard Rakell, someone he’s been comfortable with. aren’t about to project him being a “point per game” performer. And it Or it could be a talented rookie in Max Comtois, if he wins a job out of remains to be seen if Eakins will keep those two veteran Swedes as his camp.