Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't feel like Manson was particularly 'physical' when he was here. It seems like many forget that he would have one good game, and then three inconsistent ones - no matter his defensive partner. I'm just tired of wanting the same players back and expecting different results.
It's the same reason why I just want to start brand new. The culture needs to change. Josh was here for a long time but it didn't amount to much 'winning-wise'. Bringing back repeated players is just a step back in my opinion.
Manson was our sole pugilist until Murray traded for Des in 2019. Des took on most of the fighting so Manson didn't. This has been reported online by Des himself.
I think fans took both Lindholm and Manson for granted with their physical, defensive play. Injuries have plagued both of them of late. When both are healthy, along with Fowler, we can reduce goals against by a significant amount. On the PK, it's very revealing when both are gone.
| Ducks | | | | | | | | | |
|---|
| 2020-21 | Games | PPG | PPO | Eff | Rank | PK GA | TSH | PK Eff | Rank |
| 1 to 56 | 56 | 11 | 123 | 8.9% | 31st | 33 | 164 | 79.9% | 16th |
That's with Lindholm missing 38 out of 56 games. Manson was our #1 defensive guy with Lindholm out.
| Ducks | | | | | | | | |
|---|
| 2021-22 | | | | | | | | |
| Game Set | Games | PPG | PPO | Eff | | PK GA | TSH | PK Eff |
| 1 to 33 | 33 | 23 | 90 | 25.6% | | 12 | 85 | 85.9% |
| 34 to 62 | 29 | 19 | 85 | 22.4% | | 17 | 89 | 80.9% |
| 63 to 82 | 20 | 6 | 44 | 13.6% | | 14 | 50 | 72.0% |
Game 1-33: Fowler, Manson, and Lindholm all healthy.
Game 34-62: Fowler missed 4 games, Manson missed 16 games, and Lindholm missed 2 games.
Game 63-82: Fowler left after TDL.
When comparing 2020-21 missing Lindholm with 2021-22 missing Manson during game set 34-62, the PK Eff is very similar.
It is undeniable how great the defense is when all three of Fowler, Manson, and Lindholm were on the ice in game set 1-33.
There is a significant drop in our PK efficiency without both Lindholm and Manson in 2021-22 after the TDL. That missing physicality affected all of our offensive defensemen at ES and on the PP. I hope that settles that we're a better team with Manson in the lineup, but amazing with both Manson and Lindholm
===
The problem isn't with Lindholm and Manson. The problem was the lack of NHL defensive depth behind them.
Anaheim didn't draft any defensemen in the first two rounds in 2016-2018, drafted only two defensemen in that time. Before that, Larsson was a 2015 pick and that didn't pan out. In 2014, the Ducks did have DFD Pettersson and OFD Montour, both in the 2nd round. We lost both 2014 defensemen in 2018-19 season: Pettersson was traded for F Sprong for offense to stay in the playoff race; Monty was traded at the TDL. That's a 5-year gap void of talented defensive prospects gone.
2019 was when the Ducks went back to drafting defensemen early and in bunches.
2019
Rd 2. LD LaCombe (OFD)
Rd 4. LD Thrun (DFD)
Rd 6. RD Francis
Rd 7. LD Hill
2020
Rd 1. RD Drysdale (2-way)
Rd 3. RD Moore (OFD)
Rd 4. RD Nickl
2021
Rd 2. LD Zelleweger (OFD)
Rd 3. LD HInds (DFD)
2022
Rd 1. LD Mintyukov (OFD)
Rd 2. RD Warren (DFD)
Rd 2. RD Luneau (2-way)
We also traded for RD Andersson (a 2018 Rd 2 pick), LD Vaak (a 2017 Rd 1 pick at 2021-22 TDL), and RD Helleson (a 2019 Rd 2 pick at 2021-22 TDL).
None of our own defensive draft picks, save Drysdale, have seen NHL ice yet. And Drysdale still isn't ready for top-4 duties in the NHL level. That 5-year gap of missing defensemen has been hurting us.
