It’s time for a mid-season report card for the Anaheim Ducks.

It’s not all bad, but the Ducks have definitely left themselves with plenty of room for improvement.  Currently sitting 12th place in the Western Conference and 12 points behind eighth seeded Vancouver, the Ducks have more than their share of work ahead of them. 

Thankfully, they still have 39 games remaining on their schedule.  For the second half of the season, the message is simple…WIN GAMES.   Here are the grades I’ve given players for their play through the first 41 games of the season (through January 2, 2010).

So let’s break it down and hand out the report card…

Forwards:

Ryan Getzlaf: C

An average grade might seem a bit harsh for the forward who is tied for the team lead with 42 points.  However, Ryan Getzlaf is a player who has the ability to exceed expectations, and at the halfway point of the season, he is simply performing at the level we require from him.  He definitely has more to offer this team, and the second half of the season is a great opportunity for him to prove his leadership role to the team, the fans, and the franchise.  SK’s note: More participation requested.

Corey Perry: B-

A 19 game point streak is not to be taken lightly.  Currently the longest streak in the NHL this season, Corey Perry’s determination to make it onto Canada’s Olympic roster meant auditioning through the Ducks.  His personal growth and maturity has been a positive for the Ducks as the winger is taking fewer “stupid” penalties, meanwhile, he’s showing that his newly acquired patience with the puck can pay off in big ways.  Although he finished the first half on a bit of a dry spell, it won’t last long with Getzlaf back in the lineup.  SK’s note: Showing great improvements.

Bobby Ryan: B+

During the first few weeks of the season it was feared Bobby Ryan might be suffering from a sophomore slump.  However, he’s currently leading the team in goals scored (19) and is on pace to better his numbers from last season.  Since the emergence of rookie Dan Sexton, Ryan has once again shown that he can make anyone look good.  The Ducks will require Ryan to make the best of the second half of his “contract” season.   SK’s note: Plays well with others. 

Teemu Selanne: C-

While the Ducks power play has learned over the last four weeks how valuable Teemu Selanne’s presence is on the man advantage, they’ve also learned that finding someone for him to play with is easier said than done.  If Saku Koivu and Selanne can find a way to make things happen upon his return, even strength goal scoring would benefit greatly from their rumored “chemistry”.  SK’s note: Completes special assignments as requested. 

Saku Koivu: C-

The harsh reality is that Saku Koivu hasn’t provided what the team expected of him.  In the month of December, Koivu has benefited enhanced the play of Dan Sexton and Bobby Ryan on his line.  The youthful, hungry line-mates have provided a surge for the struggling team, and Koivu has been a vital part of that production.  However, it’s the chemistry with Selanne that many were looking forward to experiencing, and ultimately is yet to be seen.  With Selanne returning to the line up within the next week, the question of where these two will play is a looming question mark.  If Koivu can create the offense the team benefited from throughout December, his grade will rise tremendously.  SK’s note: More participation requested.

Joffrey Lupul: N/A

I’m going to give the guy a pass on the first half of the season.  Suffering from back issues practically out of the gate, the winger was never able to find a connection with the team.  When the Ducks struggled early on, Randy Carlyle experimented with several line changes and they often involved moving Joffrey Lupul.  While he’s currently out recovering from back surgery that will likely keep him out of the lineup through the Olympics, he will have a few weeks at the end of the season to make an impact and provide an energized spirit to the lineup when the Ducks might need it most.  SK’s note: Falling behind/additional work needed. 

Dan Sexton: A

When you come into the big league with very few expectations on your back, and then perform above and beyond, chances are you will be praised.  Dan Sexton’s contributions when Selanne was sidelined with an injury in early December were a bright spot in an otherwise dim first half of the season.  Unfortunately, the forward will be competing for his place in the line up as players return, but something tells me that he’s willing to work hard for the minutes he desires.  Even for his size, listed at 5’10” (yea, right) and 170lbs., Sexton doesn’t shy from the physical aspect of the game.  SK’s note: Exceeding expectations. 

Petteri Nokelainen, George Parros, Evgeny Artyukhin, Todd Marchant, Mike Brown, Ryan Carter, Troy Bodie, Matt Beleskey, Kyle Chipchura: A-

Throughout the early portion of the season it was my belief that the bottom six forwards were carrying much of the weight.  They were working hard and making the contributions that were expected of the big men playing double the minutes.  With that in mind, the bottom six have fulfilled their duties as expected.  Marchant, Brown, Nokelainen, and Carter have proven to be vital to the penalty kill and many have found goal scoring as a benefit of their efforts.  For many of the bottom six, relentless physical play equals big rewards for the individual and more importantly, the team.  SK’s note: Group enthusiasm and participation greatly appreciated. 

Overall Grade: C-

For this team, a C- is generous.  Simply, the Ducks have an amazing offensive line up, and they’re underperforming.  It doesn’t matter how strong the bottom two lines are when the top two can’t get their job done.  There have been too many up’s and downs throughout the season that during Perry’s point streak, the team was still suffering from a lack of offense and a disgusting defense (we’ll get to that next).  In order for the Ducks to improve in the second half, the forwards on the team need to start bringing an “A” game every night.  SK’s note: Room for improvement.

Defensemen:

Scott Niedermayer: B

Scott Niedermayer will probably always be an all-star.  Unfortunately, he has to do the work for 6 defensemen this season, and his game is struggling accordingly.  However, many would say that the Ducks wouldn’t be as lucky without his services on the blue line.  Niedermayer is still the guy you want defending a break away opportunity.  He’s also the guy you want roaming on the power play, killing penalties, and on the ice for the rare 3 on 3 opportunity.  SK’s note: Always a pleasure to have on the ice. 

Ryan Whitney: F

I won’t apologize for my opinion of Ryan Whitney.  His nickname throughout a small group is, “give it up Whitney”.  He plays just that way.  There is nothing threatening or dominating about what Whitney brings to the table, and for a defenseman his size, he needs to bring more grit and nastiness to his game.  While he can boost a big time shot, it’s rarely on point and serves little purpose for getting through to the net.  Western Conference hockey is too hard nosed for Whitney’s pace.  SK’s note: Poor attendance, missing assignments, distraction to the class.

James Wisniewski: C

James Wisniewski is always a toss up.  Healthy one day and injured the next.  His point production was dramatically absent in the month of December as he scored just four assists (in three games).  The Ducks are looking to have the big men on the blue line provide more offense, get shots through from the point, and most importantly clear men from their own crease.  Something the team is lacking through 41 games, and Wisniewski’s unpredictable defense is one of many poor areas for the team. SK’s note: Lacks motivation. 

Sheldon Brookbank: B

Early in the season Sheldon Brookbank was battling for a spot on the defensive roster.  While he was a healthy scratch for a number of games before he replaced Steve Eminger on the blue line, Brookbank took the message the coaching staff was sending, continued to battle in practice, and eventually made his return to the line-up.  Brookbank’s determination and ability to cover for Ryan Whitney’s countless mistakes allowed for him to become a regular the final weeks of the first half.  Lately, he’s been putting some heavy shots on goal, moving the puck confidently, and providing the physical aspect that the Ducks are famous for.  SK’s note: Most improved. 

Nick Boynton: C+

While Nick Boynton isn’t what you’d consider a top D-man, he does have solid/smart hockey sense. Playing alongside Scotty for a period of time helps his occasional mistakes, and his willingness to drop the gloves never hurt.  SK’s note: Participation valued, room for improvement.

Steve Eminger: D

There isn’t much to say about Steve Eminger because he isn’t much. His knack for being in the wrong place in the wrong time is a bonus for Brookbank who gladly jumped into his spot.  Falling in and out of the line-up over the first half of the season is a reflection of his limited contributions.  SK’s note: Lacks proficiency.

Brett Festerling: C

He’s still the same player the Ducks brought up last season and sent back to the minors. No real improvement from his game – although he has a killer shot that I’d love to see hit the net.  SK’s note: Room for improvement. 

Overall Grade: D

D is a fairly generous grade to this group as well.  It is no surprise that this team would struggle after the loss of Chris Pronger, but this team is reeling from poor defensive efforts above all.   While some things are beginning to come together, and pairings are showing improvements, it’s the chemistry and overall consistency these men lack that hurts the team the most. 

J.S. Giguere: D+

While he showed life during a brief stretch in late November, J.S. Giguere was pulled from the starting position after a tough OT loss to Phoenix. It appears his confidence has faltered since then. While Giguere still shows signs of greatness, its possible his stock will never be what it once was and may find himself playing back up to Jonas Hiller during the second half of the season.  SK’s note: Unfortunately, performance is as expected.

Jonas Hiller: C

Jonas Hiller was given the opportunity early on to steal the goaltending position. A combination of poor defensive efforts in front of him and a lack of focus and trust in himself caused Hiller to shows his mortality. Fans were hoping for more of the shark killer in his play and have only seen a glimpse of that in recent weeks.  While he has been average thus far, he can be great, and I expect we’ll see that as other areas of the team improve in the second half.  SK’s note: Not playing up to potential/standards.

Power Play: B+

The power play is stellar at home (27%).  Terrible on the road (13%).  Mediocre overall.  One thing is for certain, it’s terrible without the services of Ryan Getzlaf and worse without Teemu Selanne. 

Penalty Kill: B

The Penalty Kill might be the most improved area over the course of the season.  Early on, as many will recall, the penalty kill was abysmal.  However, improved play from Koivu, Marchant, Nokelainen, and Brown on the penalty killing unit has caused a positive swing for the team with a tendency to take too many penalties. 

Coaching: D

A major error in the way Coach Randy Carlyle chose to handle his goaltending situation may have been the ultimate reason for a netminding decline this season.  For both Jonas Hiller and J.S. Giguere, the battle between winning games and winning starts in the net were likely taking a toll on their emotional and mental abilities to play.  In addition, Carlyle is a defensive minded coach with an offensive based team, and the systems aren’t working well together. 

Consistency: F

Probably the biggest disappointment in the Ducks this season is their inability to play consistently.  We’re not just talking about night in night out; we’re talking about period to period and shift to shift.  Momentum is an ugly beast, and when the Ducks have it on their side, it’s a very powerful tool.  However, when they find themselves in the dumps, it’s a terrible battle and a gigantic barrier to overcome.  Consistent efforts from the net out will boost this team in the right direction.

For those of you hanging in there, hold on to your seats…it’s going to be a wild second half!