Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks having similar internal issues

With the Anaheim Ducks heading into Motown to take on our Detroit Red Wings tonight I took an opportunity to chat with our friend about the matchup amongst other topics.

Just when you think the Detroit Red Wings have had an ugly six-week span, and you think it couldn’t be worse, let me mention the Anaheim Ducks have gone nearly a month without a victory.  So you think we’ve had it bad, they might have it worse.

The early season success had Ducks fans expecting to add a player or two heading towards the midseason mark as they prepare to make a solid playoff push.  The one time expected buyers may become sellers now before the season lapses.  Just yesterday they sent veteran forward Andrew Cogliano to the Dallas Stars for youngster Devin Shore.

The Ducks last victory came way back on December 17th when they were able to fend off the pesky Pittsburgh Penguins.  Since then they’ve accumulated a very underwhelming record of 0-7-4.  Winless over the last eleven and the Detroit Red Wings hope to make it twelve.

The Detroit Red Wings are 6-12-4 since December 1st.  Many fans are calling for Ken Holland, and Jeff Blashill to both be relieved of their duties.  The same goes for Bob Murray and Randy Carlyle in Anaheim.

Corey Perry has been out all season with knee surgery, he’s been a staple in the Ducks lineup for years.  The ultimate mix of skill, physicality, and pest.  He’s extremely frustrating to play against and even more irritating to watch.  Perry used to force my blood pressure to an unhealthy mark watching the playoff battles between the Wings and Ducks that used to occur on what seemed like a yearly basis before the Wings transferred from the Western Conference to the East.

In this article, we are joined by our friend Ciara Durant from Pucks of a Feather.  She along with her team do wonderful work covering everything you need to know about the Ducks amongst other unique topics.

We talk about the Ducks eleven game winless streak, what is wrong and how can they fix it?

Bob Heyrman: The ducks are currently winless over their last 11 games.. what do you think they need to do better to finally become victorious once again? What’s been their Achilles heel during this stretch?

Ciara Durant:  The fact that you’re forcing me to choose one issue is just cruel. The Anaheim Ducks have a host of problems, and while I have been dubbed the “glass half full” girl over at Pucks of a Feather, I’m finding it hard to be positive. I, like many other fans, have come to terms with the fact that it is high time we “embrace the suck.”

As I said, there are too many issues to choose from. However, If I have to bring one to light, it would be their lackadaisical leadership. Our General Manager, Bob Murray, recently called out the team. They have become careless. Our defense isn’t gelling, our offense seems out of gas and uninspired, and poor John Gibson is being left out to dry. There is no clear communication on this team, and I believe it lies solely in the fact that their coach has lost control of his locker room.

I am not chalking all of the leadership issues up to Randy Carlyle. Trust me, I know better. Nevertheless, because he has lost control of his locker room, the Ducks skate onto the ice already looking like they’ve lost the game. I respect Ryan Getzlaf tremendously, but a good leader cannot play like that, regardless of the state of his team. This is by no means me saying he is not qualified to be captain because I genuinely believe that he is the most qualified. Still, if he walks around defeated, so will the rest of the team.

Someone, however, needs to step up and lead this team. I don’t care if they don’t have a patch stitched to their jersey. I don’t care if they don’t think they are qualified. Once someone does step up, the others will follow. The younger guys on the team are the future of this franchise, and if they can’t step up now when they are needed most, Bob Murray may need to start looking elsewhere.

Many Detroit Red Wings fans want to see significant changes in regards to the General Manager and Head coach.  I wonder if the Ducks are in a similar situation?

Bob Heyrman: Similar to the Ducks, many Red Wings fans want to see a change in management from General Manager to Head coach.  Can you talk a little about Randy Carlyle and what you consider his biggest fault is?  Who would be your number one choice to replace him? Is it too late in the season to make a coaching change?

Ciara Durant: As much as I am for a coaching change, it’s not going to happen. Our GM has already come out and clearly stated that Randy Carlyle is going nowhere for the remainder of the season. He’s set a clear message that any changes he does make are to his roster. Plain and simple.

Many people are still asking the question, “Why doesn’t Bob Murray just bite the bullet and fire him anyway?” Well, Carlyle has been promised a job in the front office after his tenure as head coach is up. If Bob Murray fires him, the transition to the front office won’t exactly be the smoothest. Murray isn’t going to risk firing his oldest and dearest friend. He wants Carlyle to remain with the franchise, and he’s going to do anything to ensure that happens, even if it means we have to spend the rest of the season with him behind the bench.

Back to the question though. Randy Carlyle does have many faults. First of all, he doesn’t know how to use a toaster. In all seriousness though, his system is old. Teams aren’t using the dump and chase tactic anymore. It just doesn’t work in a league that is evolving into a speed driven industry. He tried earlier in the season to combine the two styles, and it was an absolute mess. He’s always been a defense first coach and, again, that doesn’t work in the NHL anymore.

He also seems to have to exude his authority. As I mentioned in the previous question, he’s lost control of his locker room, and he can’t figure out how to regain control. Also, his special teams are a mess, and while I understand he is not the special teams’ coach, he is the head coach. He is the ultimate authority, and while he shouldn’t abuse his power as head coach, he needs to use it somehow!

When Bob Murray considers a coaching change, I think he needs to seriously consider Scott Niedermayer. Not only does he already have a relationship with players already on the team, but he has the trust of the Samueli’s and Bob Murray. He has done great things for the Gulls down in San Diego, and he is fantastic with youth development.

Although he seems like an ankle injury has slowed Rickard Rakell, Ciara thinks an injury to another Ducks forward has thrown a wrench into the production of the young forward.

Bob Heyrman: Rakell is coming off of back to back 30 plus goal seasons.  It seems the 25-year old forward had arrived.  This season has been anything but easy for him.  He’s been limited to just 6 goals on the season.  He’s missed 13 games recently with an ankle injury.

What’s happened to Rackard Rackell? After three very successful seasons, he seems to be slumping at the age of 25, when a lot of players enter their prime. Does the ankle have him behind the eight-ball or could it be something else?

Ciara Durant:   Rickard Rakell has been the backbone of the Anaheim Ducks for the past few seasons. He’s young, and many consider him to be the future of the franchise. Yet, this season he seems to be a completely different player and not in a good way. I have a theory, and I know it’s probably far out.

However, when you think about it, it makes sense. Everyone has, for the past few years, drooled over the amazing chemistry that Ryan Getzlaf and Rick Rak have together. Yet, this season it doesn’t seem to be there as much as it has been in the past few seasons. Why? Well, there is one person missing from the roster that Rakell has spent the past few seasons as well. Corey Perry.

While I cannot deny the fact that Ryan Getzlaf and Rickard Rakell have chemistry, I have to look at the facts. If you look at the score sheets from last season, Corey Perry’s name was often right there beside Rakell’s, whether both had the assist, Perry had the assist, or Perry was the one scoring the goal himself.

We talk a little Detroit Red Wings too.  There may not be as many choices as years past, but I am curious who other writers look forward to seeing on our team when our respected teams compete with each other.

Bob Heyrman:  I urge you to be patient.  Although there may not be as many superstar caliber players as in years’ past this Detroit Red Wings club still has a few diamonds buried in the rough.  Who are you most looking forward to watching tonight on the Detroit Red Wings and why?

Ciara Durant:  Dylan Larkin without question. The kid can play a great game of hockey! The guy has an incredible passion for the game, and he is a rare talent. His youthful spirit has done a lot for the Red Wings organization, and he’s making a great case for himself to become the next captain. He is not only lethal offensively, but he is responsible defensively. He is, all around, the kind of player all NHL organizations covet.

I have to be honest; when the Ducks aren’t playing, I will tune into the Red Wings games just to watch him play. So, I’m really excited to see him in action. He is the future of the Detroit Red Wings organization, plain and simple.

I’m also looking forward to watching Tyler Bertuzzi. First of all, his last name is really fun to say, and secondly, he brings so much energy to the ice, and I think it’s going to be a challenge for the Anaheim Ducks to match that. All in all, I’m just looking forward to watching Bertuzzi, Larkin, and Nyquist together. They’re going to do their best to expose the Anaheim Ducks issues, and it will be a good test for the entire team. Plus, it could help Randy Carlyle rethink a few things.

We talk about who our three favorite players or anyone involved with hockey in any capacity we would like to share an evening with if we had the chance.  Check out my answers on Pucks of a Feather.  One is certainly obvious; the other two may come as a surprise.

Bob Heyrman: If you could hang out and pick the brain of any three NHL/hockey minds over an evening who would they be?

Ciara Durant: I grew up hearing stories about Mario Lemieux, and although I am not a Pens fan, I am a huge fan of his. I am an avid watcher of documentaries, and when my interest in hockey first started growing, I watched a documentary about his story, and I cried for about an hour, mainly because I’m a sucker for a good story. Nevertheless, he inspires me, and I believe he has one of the best comeback stories in NHL history. Besides, who wouldn’t want to have dinner with a two-time cup winner, three-time Hart recipient, two time Conn Smythe recipient, six-time Art Ross recipient, and four-time Ted Lindsay recipient. His career is something to be admired, and I would love to hear his story first hand.

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Of course, I have to choose a Duck! How could I not? I’d probably choose Corey Perry. While Cam Fowler is the reason I listened to my first Ducks game, Perry is a huge reason I became a Ducks fan. I really just want to sit down with him to thank him. Long story short, I in a very tough place when I discovered the wonderful world of hockey. I remember turning on the radio, we didn’t have cable, so it was the next best thing, and I believe the Ducks were playing the Blackhawks. Corey Perry scored the game-winning goal. From that moment on, I was hooked, and hockey became like a therapy for me, like it probably is for many of you. When I couldn’t cheer for myself, I had the Ducks to cheer for. I listened to every game after that and used google to look up terms I didn’t understand. He has received a lot of criticism over the past few seasons for his lack of production, but I am a firm believer that he is still a good hockey player, and I’m really excited for him to come back.

While I’d love to pick the brain of many other hockey players, the last one I’d likely choose is probably Sergei Fedorov (I understand, he was a Duck too, but I always consider him a Red Wing first and foremost.) I’ve been working on a piece over at Pucks of a Feather, that Bob has been helping me with, about Fedorov and I really want to ask him why he left Detroit. He had such a promising career with the Detroit Red Wings, and up to this point, everything I’ve heard has been purely speculation. There are many more questions I have for him, but the list is so long I figure I’d better spare you!

Bonus Question: 

Bob Heyrman: Something fun here, when I say Detroit Red Wings, who is the first player that comes to mind?

Ciara Durant:  I am a Ducks fan through and through, that much is true. However, my dad has a lot of health issues so most of the time if we want to spend quality time together we sit and throw around our favorite hockey stories. I remember I was driving from Washington State to Arizona during my move earlier this year and we spent about an hour on the phone and the entire time he talked about Gordie Howe. Maybe this is a cliche answer?

While I know that there are many different players I could associate with the Detroit Red Wings organization, I think of him when I think of the Red Wings because of all the stories I’ve heard about him. I mean, he played for the organization for 25 years. That is the epitome of dedication. From 18 to 42, he gave his all for the Detroit Red Wings, and that’s something to be admired. Plus, not many players have a 103 point season in their 40’s. By that time, most are already retired.

Bob Heyrman:  That is a great way to end it, Gordie Howe the greatest Detroit Red Wings player of all-time.  Ciara, that’s what I call a “walk-off.”

I would like to thank our friend again for donating her time to us; we are not worthy.  Be sure to check out the fantastic Ducks coverage at Pucks of a Feather before our matchup and whenever you may be wondering what is going on in Anaheim.