Ducks Veterans Emphasize Bouncing Back After First Day of Training Camp
That was the theme as several vets spoke after a successful first day of Training Camp presented by FRESH N' LEAN at Great Park Ice and FivePoint Arena in Irvine. Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf is the elder statesman at 36, having signed a one-year contract over the summer to stay with the team who drafted him back in 2003.
"We're young, but we're not," Getzlaf said as he began his 18th training camp in Anaheim. "We have a group of players ages 25 to 30 who are in their prime now. This is an opportunity for those guys to step forward and be leaders. That's up to all of us as veterans to understand what it takes to drive a hockey team and the young guys to push the older guys."
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There is talk of a rebuilding process in Anaheim, but the focus from the players' and coaches' standpoint is bouncing back from a 17-30-9 record in the shortened 56-game season, which was second-to-last in the NHL. It was the third straight season of missing the playoffs for the Ducks, something that had never happened in Getzlaf's career nor in defenseman Cam Fowler's.
"We have high expectations, so we kind of take the responsibility of that and say what's happened the last couple years isn't where we need to be as a team," said Fowler, who embarks upon his 12th season with the Ducks. "It's up to us to right the ship, and you guys are gonna get on board with us. It's up to use to lead the charge on that."
Many still remember Fowler as the 18-year-old who made the opening night roster and never looked back months after being drafted 12th overall in 2010. But for the last several years, he has established himself as a leader and alternate captain who has taken on the role of guiding some of the younger Ducks d-men.
"There are new faces coming in and taking over some bigger roles, and that's been something that has been going on the last couple years," Fowler said. "We've had a lot of younger players taking major steps forward, and we're asking a lot of those guys in the future."
Much of the focus for fellow veteran blueliner Josh Manson is staying healthy, after missing 30-plus games each of the past two seasons with injuries.
"You come in and see the young talent that we have, that's exciting," says Manson, who will turn 30 next month. "You see the young guys going out and making good plays and you want to see that hunger in their eyes because it pushes you. If you've been in the league seven years like myself, it pushes you to find that hunger again, and you want to hold your job.
"As the years go on, things change a little bit, but you still have to have that mentality of pushing each other and driving the team forward."
Ducks coach Dallas Eakins liked what he saw on the first day of camp as he begins his third season behind the bench. "The first impression is always your level of fitness, and I think we've taken some great strides there," he said. "The guys put in the work over the summer, and that's always really encouraging.
"We were able to introduce a few new things and plant those seeds. The normal first day jitters, some guys where it's their first NHL training camp, some guys on tryouts. They're squeezing it already a little bit, but that's natural. It was great to see some of our veteran guys, or even our younger guys who have played here, to go and try to settle those guys down a little bit."
Among those veterans is winger Jakob Silfverberg, who said the makeup of seasoned players like him with the younger guys, "Could be a really good mix."
Silfverberg is also looking to rebound from last season, having scored just eight goals in 47 games after tallying 20-plus in four of the five previous.
"I've got a lot left in the tank, and I feel like I've got some really good hockey to give the next couple of years," said Silfverberg, who turns 31 next month. "Hopefully myself and a lot of other veterans can have a bounceback year, and with the power from the young guys and the energy they can bring, you never know what can happen. We definitely have some exciting players in our lineup, and we have the veterans who can play."
Eakins emphasized vets like Silfverberg, Getzlaf, Fowler, Rickard Rakell, Hampus Lindholm, Adam Henrique and others are all guys coaches love to have guiding a team, especially one looking to return to being a perennial playoff contender like Anaheim.
"If you look at the group, every one of them are high character guys," Eakins said. "They're good teammates, and they're coming off seasons where maybe they were injured or had off years, and they're all motivated to be better. They've come in and done the work in the summer, and they're hungry to rebound.
"They've done it in the past, they're not overaged and they all have game. I think we should be excited about everyone. If we can get more out of our younger players and if our vet guys can be just a bit better than they were last year, then you find yourself in a much different spot in the standings."
More Training Camp Info
The Ducks' 2021 Training Camp presented by FRESH N' LEAN continues through the weekend at Great Park Ice and FivePoint Arena in Irvine.
All camp practices are open to the public free of charge.
Anaheim's camp will be highlighted by Fly Together Weekend this Saturday and Sunday at Great Park Ice and Honda Center to launch the 2021-22 season. The Ducks will hold their first full team intrasquad scrimmage presented by FRESH N' LEAN on Saturday, Sept. 25 at FivePoint Arena (11 a.m.) with a suggested $5 donation to the Anaheim Ducks Foundation for fans attending. Additional details for Fly Together Weekend will be released later this week.
The upcoming schedule is as follows:
- Fri., Sept. 24: Practices for Groups 1, 2 & 3 C run 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Rink 3 and FivePoint Arena
- Sat., Sept. 25: Fly Together Weekend Practice at 10 a.m. Intrasquad Scrimmage at 11 a.m. at FivePoint Arena
- Sun., Sept. 26: Preseason game vs. San Jose at Honda Center at 5 p.m.
