The Anaheim Ducks are currently 32nd in the NHL in faceoff percentage
The Anaheim Ducks are currently 32nd in the NHL in faceoff percentage
Through nine games in the 2024-25 season, the Anaheim Ducks are the worst team in the NHL inside the faceoff circle by a considerable margin.
They currently have a 41.3% success rate at the dot this season, 3% behind the 31st-ranked Calgary Flames.
Not a single Ducks player on their active roster has a faceoff percentage above 50% thus far.
While studies have shown that faceoff percentage doesn't necessarily translate to increased wins, individual stats, or possession numbers, faceoffs are one of the little details in an NHL game that could impact a game greatly, depending on the circumstance.
For example, winning or losing a late-game offensive zone draw in a tie game could lead to a game-winning goal, or losing a power play faceoff could result in 30 seconds erased from a single man-advantage.
Generally speaking, faceoffs are more than what happens at the dot, and several mitigating factors potentially render the draw between the two centers less impactful. Aspects like wingers tying each other up or defensemen winning races to loose pucks could carry more weight than the draw itself.
Where the concern lies for the Ducks is the rate of clean draws being lost by their most important offensive players.
Leo Carlsson Enters Second Season With Added Expectations in Elevated Role
Leo Carlsson is the most important piece on the Duck's roster and will likely continue to carry that burden through the Ducks' transition from a rebuilding team to a contending team.
Carlsson's current faceoff percentage for the 2024-25 season is 24.7%, and he's won draws at a 33.5% rate in his 64-game NHL career.
Trevor Zegras recently made the switch back to center in the Ducks' 3-1 win over the Islanders on Tuesday. His faceoff percentage on the season is 25%, and his career percentage is 40.5%.
Ducks head coach Greg Cronin often stresses the desired identity for his team to be that of a puck-possession team.
The Ducks currently sit 31st or 32nd in possession metrics like Corsi percentage (42.47%), Fenwick percentage (42.68%), shots for percentage (43.66%), and expected goals percentage (41.5%) at 5v5 in 2024-25.
When players like Zegras and Carlsson, who carry roles of "offensive play-drivers," lose draws cleanly, it often leads to extended time defending just to win those pucks back and attack with less energy at the other end.
Spending the first half of a shift defending will often lead to poor possession metrics and could limit the potential of results.
Comparing, Projecting Carlsson's Second-Year Point Total
Faceoff percentage is a digestible stat, but it doesn't often translate to a player's greater impact on a game. Two of the best centers in the sport, Connor McDavid (47.8%) and Nathan MacKinnon (45.9%), boast percentages well under 50%.
Draws don't generally carry as much weight as what occurs directly after around the dot unless draws are lost cleanly like they are with the Ducks at the moment.
Robby Fabbri has stepped in to take key draws, like those in the defensive zone or late-game scenarios, in place of Leo Carlsson and has won 21 of 45 (46.7%).
Unfortunately, the most effective way to improve in the faceoff dot is with experience to refining approaches and tendencies.
Increased win rates, however slightly, inside the circle will likely lead to elongated offensive possession and potentially more scoring chances for some of the Ducks' greatest offensive talents.