Another summer is upon us, which means another round of player reviews. AnaheimDucks.com will feature a different Ducks player throughout the summer (in numerical order), highlighting key stats while also keeping an eye on next season. Next up is left wing Andrew Cogliano.
2016-17 Player Review: Andrew Cogliano
It sounds like a broken record, but the 2016-17 campaign marked yet another full 82-game slate for Cogliano. The league's current Ironman extended his consecutive games played streak to 786, the fourth-longest streak in NHL history. The streak (846 if you want to include Stanley Cup Playoff games) is the longest in more than 23 years, since Steve Larmer's 884th consecutive game took place on April 15, 1993.
To put things into perspective, Cogliano's streak is the second-longest from the start of a career. (Cogliano made his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 4, 2007 vs. San Jose). Doug Jarvis is the all-time Ironman with 964 consecutive games from Oct. 8, 1975, to Oct. 10, 1987, having played his entire career without missing a game. Cogliano appeared in his 777th consecutive game on March 22 vs. Edmonton, surpassing Craig Ramsay (776) for sole possession of the fourth-longest streak in NHL history.
Cogliano was once again a fixture on Anaheim's lauded shutdown line, holding down the left wing alongside center (and Selke Trophy finalist) Ryan Kesler and right wing Jakob Silfverberg. Together, the trio not only neutralized the opposition's top line game after game, but it was also arguably the club's most consistent offensive threat. Cogliano, who turned 30 on June 14, finished the 2016-17 regular season with 35 points (16g/19a) and a +11 rating. And while plus-minus isn't a stat that necessarily defines a player for better or for worse, being a +11 while going up against the league's top players is something worth noting. He finished third on the team in that category, behind only defensemen Josh Manson (+14) and Hampus Lindholm (+13).
Three of his 16 goals last season came shorthanded, which placed him in a tie for fifth overall in the NHL. He ranked tied for sixth overall in shorthanded points (4) and tied for fourth in shorthanded shots (19). Cogliano hit several milestones last season, including his 300th career NHL point in the season opener on October 13 at Dallas, his 400th game as a Duck on December 1 at Vancouver, and his 100th assist with Anaheim on April 6 vs. Chicago.
Cogliano went on to appear in all 17 playoff games with the Ducks, finishing with three points (1g/2a) and nine penalty minutes. His lone goal came in a decisive Game 7 triumph over the Oilers on May 10 at Honda Center. Every goal in the postseason is big, but this one was enormous because it tied the game midway through the second period. Of course, Anaheim's haunted past involving Game 7s quickly emerged after Oilers forward Drake Caggiula opened the scoring just 3:31 into the contest. But leave it to Cogliano, one of Anaheim's heart-and-soul leaders, to bring his club back with a backhanded stuff attempt at the doorstep of the crease. His goal celebration was even better, as he thrusted his arms high into the air and let out a primal roar. Nick Ritchie would later put the Ducks up for good with a goal 3:21 into the third period.
Anaheim eventually lost in a back-and-forth six-game Western Conference Final against the Nashville Predators that further fueled the fire for Cogliano and his teammates to get back there next season.
"One thing with this team is we have a really good bunch of guys," he said. "We have a very strong group that loves playing for each other. When the season was over, everyone was devastated because we didn't want to stop playing."
Although training camp is still a little more than two months away, you can almost guarantee Cogliano is already busy training for the upcoming season. His body is his temple, and his unwavering commitment to nutrition and conditioning is unrivaled. He's a glue guy for this team, and there is no question he'll lay it all on the line every shift as he continues his quest for the Stanley Cup.
