Now that the middle of September is upon us, we find ourselves less than a month away from the start of 2017-18 NHL regular season. Although training camps will be starting up soon, it is still that time of year for us people in the hockey world to take a stab at where certain teams will wind up when the season comes to a close in April.
For the past five seasons, the Anaheim Ducks have been the best the Pacific Division has to offer, finishing at the top of the division since 2012-13. Now what has taken place in the playoffs is a different story but the team was able to impress the hockey community by making it all the way to the Western Conference Finals last year. Although there is some new competition ready to give the Ducks a run for their money in the division this season, deciding how Anaheim should be viewed heading into this year is quite simple. They are the team to beat in the Pacific Division until proven otherwise.
They may not be the flashiest squad the National Hockey League has to offer but Anaheim is still bringing back the core that has given them so much success in the past. In addition, they were able to keep their incredibly talented defensive unit in tact while adding a better back goaltender in Ryan Miller. Yes, age will eventually be an issue with the Ducks but they also have some good young talent that will hopefully fill the void.
The landscape of the Pacific Division is surely changing. Connor McDavid has the Oilers primed and ready to take the top stop and make Edmonton legitimate contenders for the Stanley Cup. The Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks will also have postseason dreams but most likely will find themselves a few steps behind the top two teams. Although the chance for the Ducks to finally be dethroned as the rulers of the Pacific is there, they must be viewed as the team to beat until it happens. Anaheim should still be one of the better teams in the Western Conference this season and they could find themselves in a similar position they were last year.