from Travis Yost of TSN,

The metamorphosis of the Anaheim Ducks from a top-heavy team with inconsistent firepower to a bona fide Stanley Cup contender under Bruce Boudreau has been one of the more exciting NHL developments in recent years.

There has been ample talk about how the organization has transitioned out of the treadmill of mediocrity. Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry garner a lot of attention and rightfully so. When they’re on their game, they form a top line that’s virtually unstoppable. Their newish head coach gets a lot of recognition too. I’ve written about Boudreau in the past, and why I think he’s one of the better coaches in the history of the game. Debate if you wish, but his track record is mint, and the team has flourished under his watchful eye.

But, between their high periods (a 2006 Stanley Cup, and present day), there was a lull. They still had that top echelon of talent, but little else to offer after that. And it manifested in their performance. From 2008 through 2012, the Ducks went as followed: eliminated in the semi-final, did not reach playoffs, eliminated in the quarter-final, and did not reach playoffs. It wasn’t a terrible run, but it’s probably not what you expect from a club who walks into every season with at least two of the league’s preeminent talents.

During those years, the team leaned heavily on the likes of Perry and Getzlaf more than any team probably should. Having them on the ice can be intoxicating, but the lack of firepower behind them was likely more of a driver of their usage (and perhaps over usage).

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