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The Anaheim Ducks finished the 2013 NHL season with the highest winning percentage in franchise history. Off-Season Game Plan looks at why the Ducks ought to be wary about that record and how it should shape their decisions going forward. Compiling a 30-12-6 record in the shortened season, Anaheim achieved that success despite faring poorly in puck possession metrics. Special teams worked for the Ducks, as they had the fourth-best power play (21.5%) and the goaltending tandem of Jonas Hiller and Viktor Fasth delivered a .917 save percentage. Its not easy to maintain success based on special teams or percentages when the puck possession at 5-on-5 is closer to the lower third of the league. The Ducks have raised expectations, based on their place in the standings, as head coach Bruce Boudreau told the Associated Press, ""We did a lot of good things, but in the end of the day, we fell short, maybe not of the predictions before the year, but once you start gaining that respect with what we accomplished during the course of the year, we didnt get done what we should have got done." What the Ducks have to consider, then, as they build a team for next season is that they are going to need to improve their puck possession at even-strength if they are going to be able to duplicate their success in the shortened 2013 season. After committing their future to Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, two outstanding players (who are also top-tier possession players), the Ducks have to surround them with suitable complementary pieces. That probably means looking to prospects and younger players to build a group that is capable of achieving success that is sustainable year after year. The TSN.ca Rating is an efficiency rating based on per-game statistics including goals and assists -- weighted for strength (ie. power play, even, shorthanded) -- plus-minus, hits, blocked shots, giveaways, takeaways, penalty differential and faceoffs. (Stats are listed in this format: G-A-PTS, +/-, PIM, GP). Generally, a replacement-level player is around a 60, a top six forward and top four defenceman will be 70-plus, stars will be over 80 and MVP candidates could go over 90. Sidney Crosby finished at the top of the 2013 regular season ratings with a 93.65. Salary cap information all comes from the indispensable www.capgeek.com. GM/COACH Bob Murray/Bruce Boudreau Returning Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS +/- Cap Hit Ryan Getzlaf 81.60 44 15 34 49 +14 $8.25M Corey Perry 74.33 44 15 21 36 +10 $8.625M Bobby Ryan 70.15 46 11 19 30 +3 $5.1M Nick Bonino 67.31 27 5 8 13 -3 $700K Andrew Cogliano 66.67 48 13 10 23 +14 $3.9M Emerson Etem 65.47 38 3 7 10 +7 $870K Daniel Winnik 64.79 48 6 13 19 +13 $1.8M Patrick Maroon 60.42 13 2 1 3 -1 $575K Brad Staubitz 54.43 15 1 1 2 0 $638K Free Agent Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS +/- Class 12-13 Cap Hit Kyle Palmieri 69.45 42 10 11 21 +2 RFA $1.025M Radek Dvorak 68.15 9 4 0 4 +2 UFA $875K Saku Koivu 64.67 47 8 19 27 +4 UFA $3.8M Teemu Selanne 64.23 46 12 12 24 -10 UFA $4.5M Matt Beleskey 62.52 42 8 5 13 +2 RFA $738K Matthew Lombardi 59.39 28 4 4 8 -2 UFA $3.5M David Steckel 57.88 34 1 6 7 0 UFA $1.1M Ducks Forwards Usage Chart from somekindofninja.com Following a down season in 2011-2012, Ryan Getzlaf returned to scoring better than a point per game for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Hes one of four players to have at least a point per game in at least five of the last six seasons; Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin are the others, so hes keeping pretty nice company. Its that kind of production that he Ducks will need from Getzlaf to provide adequate return on their investment. While his 50-goal season in 2010-2011 may be an aberration, Corey Perry is one of the games top snipers, scoring 190 goals over the last six seasons, ranking seventh over that span. Hes also the only one in the top 30 to have more than 400 penalty minutes (and Perry has 631). The Ducks dropped big money on Getzlaf and Perry and theyll have to be excellent for the Ducks to remain successful. Bobby Ryan struggled in 2013, with his goal (0.24 gpg) and point (0.65 ppg) production at his lowest level since his 23-game stint in 2007-2008. Even so, Ryan has rare finishing ability for a power forward and his 106 goals in the last five seasons is tied for eighth. A rebound year from Ryan would go a long way to helping the Ducks avoid any potential regression pitfalls next season. Though he missed a good chunk of the season with a torn hamstring, Nick Bonino was slotted into a second line role once he returned. Bonino contributed some offence, but he was getting overwhelmed in terms of puck possession. Its possible he can improve, but it may be more important to shelter his usage so that he is better positioned for success. A career-best goal-scoring rate (0.27 gpg) and career-high plus-14 rating, with strong possession numbers, made 2013 one of the best of Andrew Coglianos career. After several years of relatively disappointing production, perhaps this is a step forward for the 25-year-olds career. Though Emerson Etem didnt produce much as a rookie, scoring three goals in 38 games, he matched his goal-scoring output in seven playoff games and showed signs in the Detroit series of being able to have an impact on the game with his speed. Bigger and better things to come for Etem; it may just be a matter of when he gets the right opportunity in the Ducks lineup. A strong puck possession winger who scored five goals in the first four games last season, Daniel Winnik managed a single goal over the next 44 games, falling back to more typical offensive production. A big and aggressive winger who has played five years in the AHL, putting up 124 points and 259 penalty minutes in 139 games over the last two, Patrick Maroon has three points in 15 career NHL games, but hes signed to a very reasonable one-way deal over the next couple seasons, which should give him a decent shot at earning a spot on the roster next season. Tough guy Brad Staubitz saw action in only 15 games last season, so hes a part-timer, but is available should the Ducks be worried about having a dance partner for opposing heavyweights. Kyle Palmieri has some finishing ability, as he has shown in limited ice time, but hes going to have to play more than 12 minutes per game if hes going to provide real offensive value. He has 83 points in 84 AHL games over the last two seasons, so it should come as no surprise that he can score in the NHL too. Hard-nosed winger Matt Beleskey bounces around the lineup, skating on the fourth line one day, then with Getlaf and Perry the next, but last seasons modest production gave him career-high rates in goals (0.19) and points (0.31). For several years now, the Ducks have waited with baited breath for Teemu Selanne to decide if hes going to come back. The 42-year-olds production took a nose dive last season, as he finished the year with one assist in his last 33 games. If Selanne should choose to return, it would at least have to be at a discount from last years contract. The Ducks have enough prospects on the way that they could look to fill holes internally with Peter Holland or Rickard Rakell, both of whom saw action with the Ducks last season, but if Teemu Selanne and/or Saku Koivu move on, the Ducks will have to decide whether they want to go with youth or turn to veteran free agents to fill those holes. Returning Defence Player Rating GP G A PTS +/- Cap Hit Francois Beauchemin 77.23 48 6 18 24 +19 $3.5M Sheldon Souray 71.84 44 7 10 17 +19 $3.667M Cam Fowler 65.44 37 1 10 11 -4 $4.0M Luca Sbisa 64.27 41 1 7 8 0 $2.175M Bryan Allen 62.77 41 0 6 6 +1 $3.5M Free Agent Defence Player Rating GP G A PTS +/- Class 12-13 Cap Hit Ben Lovejoy 69.33 35 0 10 10 +4 UFA $525K Toni Lydman 64.11 35 0 6 6 -1 UFA $3.0M Ducks Defence Usage Chart from somekindofninja.com 33-year-old Francois Beauchemin is coming off the best season of his career. He contributed offensively (0.50 ppg was second-highest of his career) and he finished with a career-best plus-19 and didnt miss a game, despite playing the last month of the season with a torn ACL (during which time he was decidely less productive). Beauchemin has long been a reliable top-four guy who can play big minutes -- over 23 minutes per game in each of the last eight seasons -- but he was even better than that in 2013. Sheldon Sourays career looked like it might have been swirling the drain a couple of years ago, when he was banished to the American Hockey League, but hes been pretty effective in two seasons since, scoring 13 goals and registering a plus-30 rating, one of four defencemen to do so. With the older guys taking on big roles, 21-year-old Cam Fowler actually received the least ice time (20:26 per game) of his three-year NHL career. Fowler has the mobility and puck skills to be a factor on the power play and really should be a bigger part of the Ducks defence corps, but an early-season injury in 2013 sidetracked that progress. A physical defenceman, Luca Sbisa continues to evolve and played a career-high 19:50 per game last season. He led Ducks defencemen in hits, but theres something to his subpar possession numbers that would result in having more opportunities. With good size and more than 600 games under his belt, Bryan Allen is a safe and tough defenceman, though he struggled last season and, for the money hes being paid relative to his role, could be expendable. If the Ducks lose Ben Lovejoy and Toni Lydman to free agency, there will be some holes to fill. Top prospects Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm could be ready for their big-league opportunities, but another veteran addition could be sensible. A right-shooting free agent like Ian White, Michal Rozsival or Joe Corvo could make sense at a reasonable price. Returning Goaltenders Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV% Cap Hit Viktor Fasth 78.89 25 15 6 2 2.18 .921 $2.9M Jonas Hiller 73.41 26 15 6 4 2.36 .913 $4.5M As more and more teams look to Europe for free agent goaltenders, the dream scenario is coming up with one like Viktor Fasth. The 30-year-old showed up, delivered a .921 save percentage and was more effective than starter Jonas Hiller. When it came time to pick a goaltender for the playoffs, however, the Ducks went with Hiller, as Fasth was dealing with a lower abdominal strain late in the season. Jonas Hiller is no slouch in the Ducks net either. He has a .917 save percentage since arriving in the league in 2007-2008, ranking 10th, so hes holding up his end just fine. That the Ducks also have a pair of quality goaltending prospects in the pipeline, however, might make it less likely for Hiller to be part of the Ducks plans when his contract expires following next season. Top Prospects Player Pos. Team/League Stats John Gibson G Kitchener (OHL) 17-9-1, 2.41 GAA, .928 SV% Hampus Lindholm D Norfolk (AHL) 1-10-11, +5, 4 GP Rickard Rakell RW Plymouth (OHL) 21-23-44, +19, 40 GP Nicolas Kerdiles LW Wisconsin (WCHA) 11-22-33, +10, 32 GP William Karlsson C Jonkoping (SEL) 4-24-28, +17, 50 GP Sami Vatanen D Norfolk (AHL) 9-36-45, even, 62 GP Peter Holland C Norfolk (AHL) 19-20-39, -13, 45 GP Frederik Andersen G Norfolk (AHL) 24-18-1, 2.19, .929 SV% Charles Sarault C Sarnia (OHL) 22-86-108, +16, 68 GP Devante Smith-Pelly RW Norfolk (AHL) 14-18-32, -20, 65 GP Goaltending prospects are notoriously difficult to value, but the Ducks have a blue chipper in John Gibson, a second-round pick in 2011 who has a .928 save percentage in 59 OHL games over two seasons and has excelled for Team USA in international play. He turns 20 this summer, and the Ducks have quality goaltending already, so theres time for him to develop, but it will be interesting to see how patient the Ducks can be if Gibson continues to dominate when he turns pro. The sixth overall pick last summer, Hampus Lindholm played in the AHL as a 19-year-old and showed solid two-way skills, at least when he wasnt dealing with concussions. A healthy Lindholm should be expected to be a major part of the Ducks blueline, the only question is how soon that time will come. A first-round pick in 2011, Rickard Rakell got into four games with the Ducks before he was returned to the OHL last season. Hes a skilled, two-way player who plays responsibly and has offensive upside. One his NCAA eligibility saga ended, Nic Kerdiles enjoyed a productive freshman season for Wisconsin, scoring better than a point per game. His size and speed figure to translate well to the pro game when that opportunity comes for last summers second-round pick. Drafted in the second round in 2011, slick playmaker William Karlsson had a productive first season in the Swedish Elite League, and can continue to get stronger before he gets his chance in Anaheim. A small defenceman who will always have to deal with bigger forwards that can overpower him, Sami Vatanen is mobile, moves the puck well and showed in his first AHL season that his ability to run a power play came with him to North America after three effective seasons in Finland. With good size and skill, Peter Holland has managed six points in 25 career NHL games, but 105 points in 109 AHL games suggests that the 2009 first-round pick is ready to make the jump and contribute offensively. 23-year-old Danish netminder Frederik Andersen was excellent in his first North American season -- his AHL numbers scream out for an NHL chance -- but hes facing a crowded crease in Anaheim at the moment. A playmaker who had 153 assists -- assists -- in 136 OHL games over the last two seasons, Charles Sarault was an undrafted free agent who will need to show that hes strong enough and willing to go to the dirty areas so that he can be a productive pro, but his offensive upside makes him worth watching as he embarks on his pro career. Sturdy winger Devante Smith-Pelly spent most of 2011-2012 with the Ducks, scoring 13 points in 49 games as a rookie, before spending much of last season in the AHL. Even if he doesnt develop offensively, he plays a physical game that should fit lower on the depth chart. The Ducks have also bolstered their prospect list by signing free agents including lanky centre Antoine Laganiere (Yale), diminutive winger Steven Whitney (Boston College), small Quebec League defenceman Kevin Gagne and, last year, Chris Wagner, a centre out of Colgate. DRAFT 26th - Madison Bowey, Ryan Hartman, Morgan Klimchuk. FREE AGENCY According to www.capgeek.com, the Ducks have approximately $53.2M committed to the 2013-2014 salary cap for 16 players. Check out my possible Ducks lineup for next season on Cap Geek here. Needs: One top six forward, depth forwards, depth defencemen. What I said the Ducks needed last year: Three top six forwards, two defencemen. They added: Kyle Palmieri, Daniel Winnik, Nick Bonino, Sheldon Souray, Bryan Allen, Viktor Fasth. TRADE MARKETBobby Ryan, Bryan Allen. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Jack Ham Jersey . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Justin Layne Jersey . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. http://www.steelerspronfl.com/Youth-Dermontti-Dawson-Elite-Jersey/ . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. Jerome Bettis Womens Jersey . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. Zach Gentry Steelers Jersey .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Jenson Button will run a bright yellow helmet paying tribute to his 2009 championship-winning season for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which may well be the last of his long Formula One career.Button is taking a sabbatical after this weekend, with Stoffel Vandoorne taking his place at McLaren, though the Englishman admitted he is treating it as his last race as he currently has no desire to race in F1 beyond this season. To mark his 305th and possibly last race, Button has ditched his traditional helmet design and opted for a one-off lid similar to the one he wore for Brawn GP in 2009.On Fridaay, ahead of the opening practice session of the weekend, Button unveiled his temporary lid:The helmet also has a strip of pink around the top in memory of his late father John, who passed away in 2014.ddddddddddddThe helmet change is allowed under the exception the FIA granted drivers to make one helmet change a season. This followed the controversial decision in 2014 to limit drivers one design for the whole year to stop the slew of changes from race to race. ' ' '