In a season mostly filled with disappointment for the Anaheim Ducks, Frank Vatrano’s performance shone brightly. The 2023-24 season was supposed to be focused on development, so some struggles were anticipated. While there were positive signs from the Ducks’ promising young players, Vatrano’s play distinguished him as the team’s standout performer of the season.
Vatrano Bounces Back with Breakout Effort
Vatrano signed a three-year, $10.95 million contract with the Ducks in July 2022. In his first season with Anaheim, he scored 22 goals and notched 41 points in 81 games. He led the team with 231 shots on goal and tied for second in goals, but struggled with consistency in his offensive output. From November 3rd to December 13th, he had 58 shots on goal but only managed to pick up five assists without scoring a single goal in a 20-game span.
During the 2023-24 season, the 30-year-old winger experienced a couple of nine-game stretches without scoring, but overall had a much more consistent presence on the scoresheet, leading to a breakout performance. He set a career-high with 37 goals, surpassing his previous best of 24 goals from the 2018-19 season with the Florida Panthers, and recorded a personal best of 60 points in 82 games. Before the 2023-24 campaign, he had only reached the 40-point mark once in his career. He also doubled the number of hat tricks in his career by scoring three, including one in the Ducks’ final game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Vatrano Earns First Career All-Star Nod
Vatrano was the obvious choice to represent the Ducks at the 2024 NHL All-Star Game in Toronto on Feb. 3. At the time of his selection, he led the team in goals (18), points (27), game-winning goals (four), and power-play points (nine) in 37 games. Troy Terry led the team offensively with 37 points before the All-Star Break, just ahead of Vatrano’s 36.
“It’s an honor, something I never thought I would accomplish in my career,” said Vatrano, who went undrafted, after his selection. “To be a part of that, I’m excited for that. Guys in that room helped me to get to the point where I’m at right now, so if it wasn’t for those guys in that room, I wouldn’t be in that position I’m in.”
He had a memorable performance during the All-Star festivities. Playing for Team Hughes, he led his team in scoring with two goals and one assist in a 6-5 shootout loss to Team Matthews, which eventually won the tournament against Team McDavid. Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet correctly predicted Vatrano’s goal after calling one from Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators shortly before.
Vatrano Provides Much-Needed Finishing Ability
Since the 2019-20 season, the Ducks have ranked 32nd in the league with an average of 2.53 goals per game. In the 2023-24 season, they finished 30th overall with 2.48 goals per game. Corey Perry was the last Ducks player to score over 40 goals, achieving 43 in 2013-14. Vatrano came close to that mark, matching Terry’s 37-goal output from 2021-22. Additionally, Vatrano’s career-high 13 power-play goals were the most by a Ducks player in a single season since Perry’s 14 in 2011-12. His offensive performance was a welcome sight for a team that has struggled offensively for some time. Vatrano also set a personal best with 272 shots on goal in 2023-24 and scored a career-high three shorthanded goals.
Vatrano has been quick to praise his teammates for his success on the scoresheet. “I think it had to do with the opportunity and playing with great players,” he said during his exit interview. “I think playing with Ryan Strome, Trevor Zegras, Alex Killorn, and Mason McTavish, all those guys like to make plays and made the game a lot easier on me. For me, I was trying to just get those guys the puck and try to be in the right place at the right time. A lot of my success came from all the guys I played with this year.” Despite his modesty, he created numerous chances for himself and his teammates. He led the Ducks with an Individual Expected Goals Created of 24.85% and in high-danger scoring chances created by a player. He also topped the team with 39 rebounds created.
Vatrano Entering Final Year of His Contract
Vatrano will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2024-25 season. While he has shown interest in re-signing with the Ducks, trade rumors are likely to swirl around him once again. Vatrano was highly sought after leading up to the 2024 trade deadline, prompting GM Pat Verbeek to set a high asking price for his services. Verbeek was clear with other GMs that he was willing to wait until his demands were met.
The Ducks now face the question of whether Vatrano is a long-term fit for the organization or a potential trade asset. If he can replicate his impressive performance from the 2023-24 season, he will be a valuable depth scorer. The Ducks will also be expecting more from players like McTavish, Zegras, Killorn, Cutter Gauthier, and Leo Carlsson. It’s an intriguing mix of forwards capable of elevating their offensive game. Following his MVP effort, Vatrano should be able to secure an integral role within the team’s top-six forwards.
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