For the Anaheim Ducks, time is running out. Slowly, of course - there's still 50 more chances to earn points, 50 more opportunities to claw their way out of the Pacific division and Western Conference basement. But with each passing day, with each game, rife with still-shocking offensive ineptitude and a general feeling like the players just can't, won't get the job done when it matters most, the climb back to relevance gets steeper and steeper.
Despite the issues facing a team that was expected to be among the best in the West, Anaheim GM Bob Murray has remained static. No big moves, no knee-jerk reactions even as the losses mount and the questions around the franchise swirl fast and faster. What's up with Ryan Getzlaf? Were the fairly significant offseason roster changes for a team that reached the conference finals last year really necessary? And what of head coach Bruce Boudreau? Is he really to blame for all that's gone wrong already this season?
That last question has seemingly been on the minds and tongues of nearly every NHL pundit these days and it's one that will continue to linger unless and until the team rediscovers their formerly winning ways. But, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Boudreau remains safe and Murray remains reticent to enact any big changes - at least for now.
Dreger: "I spoke to Bob Murray the other day. He still wants to be patient w/ this team. He doesn't want to fire Bruce Boudreau." #NHLDucks
— Chris Nichols (@NicholsOnHockey) December 22, 2015
Of course, should the season continue as it has, Murray may have no choice but to oust Boudreau, whether it comes in-season or after. As noted recently by Anaheim Calling, Boudreau's Ducks are strong defensively and are actually on pace to finish with somewhere around 200 goals allowed on the season. The league average from 2007-08 to 2014-15 is 228.5 goals for and against per 82 games.
Unfortunately, the Anaheim offense is limping along at a click that has them likely to finish with 153-154 goals on the season, nearly 80 off the league average.
And therein lies the problem for Murray and the question that Boudreau seemingly must answer if he's going to save his job and the current season. Getzlaf, who finished last season with 25 goals and 70 points, has one goal and 19 points through 28 games. Why? Ryan Kesler, 20 goals and 47 points last year, currently boasts four goals and 12 points. Jakob Silfverberg, a postseason darling last year who potted four goals and 14 assists en route to the Western Conference finals, has just six points through 32 games. Again, why?
And what of those offseason additions - additions like Carl Hagelin, Mike Santorelli, Chris Stewart and Shawn Horcoff, who came in as replacements to Matt Beleskey, Francois Beauchemin, Kyle Palmeri and Emerson Etem? According to possession metrics, Hagelin is a clear downgrade offensively from Beleskey. Yes, Hagelin is a more defensively oriented forward even though he's averaged more goals over his career, and no Beleskey isn't likely to replicate his numbers from last season, but Hagelin's got just three goals thus far this season, well off the 17 he managed during the last two years in New York.
Elsewhere, the numbers bear out a similar story.
The question then becomes - do the Ducks issues really lie at Boudreau's feet or do they lie with the man who changed more than a quarter of last year's roster, shipping out homegrown talent for more cost-effective options, in Murray?
As the ultimate decision-maker, Murray has the final say in the here and now. He has continually preached patience and it sounds like that's not going to change in the immediate future, meaning Boudreau isn't likely to get the ax anytime soon. But should the Ducks current woes continue, something will have to give.
For Murray, the firing your coach chip can only be played once. But if it saves the Ducks season - and his own skin - he may have no choice but to play it.
