Glenn Gawdin makes Ducks debut, centering 4th line against Florida
Anaheim Ducks right wing Frank Vatrano, right, controls the puck past Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Anaheim Ducks center Glenn Gawdin, right, controls the puck against Florida Panthers defenseman Matt Kiersted during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour, left, celebrates with center Carter Verhaeghe (23) and teammates after Montour scores against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Anaheim Ducks right wing Brett Leason, left, vies for the puck with Florida Panthers defenseman Marc Staal during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Simon Benoit, right, takes the puck away from Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Simon Benoit, right, blocks Florida Panthers center Nick Cousins against the boards during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Florida Panthers left wing Rudolfs Balcers, left, controls the puck past Anaheim Ducks defenseman Simon Benoit during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart, left, passes the puck past Anaheim Ducks defenseman John Klingberg during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler, left, trips up Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart to draw a penalty during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Anaheim Ducks center Isac Lundestrom, center, gets fouled by Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling, left, for a penalty with goaltender Spencer Knight defending during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Anaheim Ducks center Isac Lundestrom, left, scores against Florida Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight on a penalty shot during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart, left, celebrates scoring against the Anaheim Ducks with center Anton Lundell, right, and left wing Ryan Lomberg during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Simon Benoit, left, collides with Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart, left, attempts to redirect the puck against Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Florida Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight (30) covers up the puck before Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Strome (16) can take a shot during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Florida Panthers defenseman Josh Mahura, left, celebrates with goaltender Spencer Knight, after the Panthers defeat the Anaheim Ducks in an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
ANAHEIM — Even though Glenn Gawdin grew up in British Columbia (specifically, Richmond), he wasn’t a Vancouver Canucks fan.
He followed the cue of his father, Bryan. But there was enough room for youngster to support another team.
“My dad was a die-hard Leafs fan,” Gawdin said the other day. “So I grew up a Leafs fan. As a kid, I was a big Mighty Ducks fan from the movies. I got a jersey at a young age. They always had a place in my heart.
“I still have the jersey to this day. I don’t know what it was about the Ducks, probably the movie. I was a Ducks fan to the side – I didn’t say it too much, in a Leafs house.”
It was a Paul Kariya jersey, in fact, and Gawdin joked about having to keep it under wraps.
Gawdin, a fifth-round draft choice (No. 116) in 2015 by the St. Louis Blues, had played in nine NHL games before Sunday, all with the Calgary Flames. Game No. 10 in the NHL was his first with the Ducks as the 25-year-old centered the fourth line of Max Jones and Brett Leason.
In July, Gawdin signed a two-year contract with the Ducks and was the final cut in training camp. He has been putting up numbers with the Ducks’ minor-league team in San Diego — six points in seven games – a continuation of his career production at the American Hockey League level. Last season, he had 50 points in 62 games with the Calgary’s AHL team, the Stockton Heat.
In terms of finding his game at the NHL level, ‘more consistency’ were the words Gawdin used.
“I know what kind of player I am in the American League where I’ve been the past few years,” he said. “It’s a different game up here. Just trying to find an identity to help this team win.”
The fact that the Flames were relatively injury free last season meant fewer recalls.
“For the team up there – no injuries is a good thing,” he said. “For guys in my position, sometimes it’s not the most ideal thing. That’s part of the game. You’ve got to stay ready because you never know when that call is going to come.”
Reverse retro
The sample size was small but unanimous when it came to player reviews of the Ducks’ reverse retro jersey, in part, a homage to the team’s first uniform in 1993. They wore the reverse retro against the Florida Panthers at Honda Center on Sunday, and will do so seven more times this season, including one more time at home (Nov. 15).
“Well, the logo is … great. The logo is awesome,” Trevor Zegras said on a recent Ducks’ trip. “Those are good looking.”
Ryan Strome: “Anything with that logo, I like. I love those logos. The old number style looks cool, too.”
Kevin Shattenkirk: “Obviously it looks a lot like the old jerseys … but I like it with our colors. I think they look amazing. They’re the best ones I’ve seen so far.”
