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theScore will be giving out fantasy report cards discussing the fantasy value of key players on each of the 30 teams. This edition focuses on the Anaheim Ducks.
ANA | ARI | BOS | BUF | CGY | CAR | CHI | COL | CLB | DAL | DET | EDM | FLA| LA | MIN | MTL | NAS | NJ | NYI | NYR | OTT | PHI | PIT | SJ | STL | TB | TOR | VAN | WAS | WPG
G John Gibson
Gibson will easily surpass his 38 starts and 40 games from last season, but his production has dropped dramatically as a result. He had a .920 save percentage and a 2.07 goals against average a year ago. He has started giving way to backup G Jonathan Bernier with more regularity, though Bernier has actually performed slightly worse. Gibson can be dropped in shallow leagues. Grade: D
C Ryan Kesler
Kesler is averaging just under a point per game to open the season, putting him on pace for his best offensive season since 2010-11 while with the Vancouver Canucks. His penalty minutes are down and his shot totals are up. He has already passed his special teams production from last year. His 21:22 of ice time is a three-year high, while playing exclusively with Ws Andrew Cogliano and Jakob Silfverberg. Grade: A
C Ryan Getzlaf
Getzlaf owns the worst shooting percentage of his career, putting him on pace for his lowest goal total since entering the league. His playmaking ability hasn't been affected, as he could set a career high in assists, maintaining his upper echelon standing in leagues counting Goals, Assists and Points. He's a good trade target if owners are undervaluing the lack of scoring. Grade: B
RW Corey Perry
Like Getzlaf, Perry is also scoring at an unusually low rate with the worst shooting percentage of his career. He remains a high volume shooter, averaging nearly three shots on goal per game. Owners need to adjust their preseason expectation of 30-plus goals. He remains a steady, if not elite, contributor. Grade: C+
RW Jakob Silfverberg
Silfverberg has benefited from increased opportunity on the power play, already matching last season's man advantage point total. He is on pace for career highs in both goals and assists, while also shooting above his rate from last season. Being locked onto the right side of Kesler on the second line should lead him to a career year as the Ducks' second line closes the playing time gap on the top trio. Grade: A-
C/LW Rickard Rakell
Rakell is on a point-per-game pace in his abbreviated season. He is shooting at a career-best rate, but he has also been reaping the rewards of an unsustainable shooting percentage. He has made up for the delayed start to his year, and he should be considered a viable mid-tier option for the rest of the season while skating with Getzlaf and Perry on the top line. Grade: A
LW Nick Ritchie
Ritchie has been replaced by Rakell on the Ducks' top line, demoting him to L3. Even with the demotion, December has been his most productive month of the season thus far. Although his ice time has dropped, his individual offensive role has grown while skating with C Antoine Vermette and rookie RW Ondrej Kase. He remains a hold in deeper keeper leagues. Grade: B-
D Cam Fowler
Fowler set a career high with 40 points in his rookie season before transitioning into a more defensive-minded blueliner. He has returned to a two-way style this season, and he's on pace for a 20-goal campaign, thanks to the best shooting percentage of his career. Likely drafted as a fourth defenseman, Fowler is greatly rewarding owners for their late-round investment. Should the top line truly find its groove, he could top 60 points. Grade: A+
D Sami Vatanen
Vatanen is averaging a new career high in ice time, though he's shooting at a much lower rate than last season. He's on pace for significantly fewer goals and assists, after encroaching on 40 points each of the last two seasons. He continues to run the second power-play unit and is on pace to match his contributions with the man advantage from last season. More was expected at 5v5. Grade: C-
Player to watch: D Shea Theodore
Though he has played in just over half of the Ducks' games this season, Theodore leaps over Vatanen onto the top power-play unit when he does draw into the lineup. Just 21 years old, his usage is likely to be tempered, with head coach Randy Carlyle deploying him in only the most ideal situations against easy competition. Power-play exposure with the likes of Perry and Getzlaf makes him an ideal daily fantasy target.
