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Ducks look to young forwards for secondary scoring

Emerson Etem

We already touched on the high expectations that will be placed on Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf due to their new, big contracts, but even if they both have superb seasons, Anaheim is going to still need some secondary scoring if they want to get very far. That’s especially true when the playoffs start and the importance of depth increases.

Anaheim traded away Bobby Ryan and it remains to be seen if Teemu Selanne will return for another campaign. As things currently stand, the Ducks are hoping that some of their young forwards will help fill that the void. Fortunately they have some very promising players in that regard and we’re going to take a look at some of the ones that could make a difference in 2013-14.

Jakob Silfverberg -- Acquired from the Ottawa Senators when they traded Ryan, Silfverberg might find himself starting the season on a line with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. Silfverberg, 22, was a dominant scorer in the Swedish Elite League and earned comparisons to Alfredsson. After getting a taste of the NHL during the 2012 playoffs, he made a full transition to North American hockey in 2012-13. With the NHL locked out, he started the campaign in the minors and recorded 13 goals and 29 points in 34 games before the players and owners could agree to a new CBA. He played in all 48 of the Senators’ regular season contests, scoring 10 goals and 19 points.

Emerson Etem -- Etem destroyed the competition in the WHL with 61 goals and 107 points in 65 games in 2011-12. After that, he made his pro debut last season, but averaged just 11:28 minutes per game with Anaheim. Consequently, he was limited to three goals and 10 points in 39 contests. He didn’t get much more ice time in the playoffs, but he did make his presence known with three goals, two assists, and a plus-four rating in seven games. The 21-year-old will be competing for a larger role with the team out of training camp and is regarded as one of Anaheim’s top prospects.

Peter Holland -- Holland has excelled in the AHL, but so far he hasn’t been able to fully establish himself with the Anaheim Ducks. He logged just 11:35 minutes per game in the NHL last season and ended up with five points in 21 NHL contests. With the goal of making the Ducks’ opening game roster in his mind, he attended their recent development camp even though he was under no obligation to due so at the age of 22. Coach Bruce Boudreau was very pleased with that decision and told the Orange County Register that Holland displayed the kind of effort that’s needed.

Kyle Palmieri -- Unlike the other players on this list, Palmieri has burned through his entry-level contract, so the Anaheim Ducks inked him to a three-year, $4.4 million deal. It might not be long before that cap hit looks like a steal as Palmieri already took a big step forward last season with 10 goals and 21 points in 42 games. He also contributed in the playoffs with three goals and five points in their seven-game series against the Detroit Red Wings. Palmieri, 22, even managed to earn an invitation to America’s Olympic camp, which highlights how highly regarded he is as well as how much his stock has risen.