Ducks' Sam Colangelo, Kid Line is all right in seizing opportunity

ANAHEIM, Calif. – At 23 years old and 20 career NHL games, Sam Colangelo is simultaneously the elder statesman and least experienced of the newly formed firecracker “Kid Line” for the Anaheim Ducks.

Slotted on right wing opposite 21-year-old Cutter Gauthier (62 career games) and alongside 22-year-old center Mason McTavish (209 career games) in the last three games, Colangelo's size and hands have been an asset with goals in three straight games–each deflected in with varying levels of intentionality–and the Kid Line has produced 12 points in those three contests.

Colangelo’s first goal in Edmonton was a knowing deflection, but the puck was going to go well wide if it hadn’t hit off an Oiler’s skate and into the net.

“I knew I tipped it,” Colangelo said. “I didn't know that it hit the defender’s skate until after the game. It was a fortunate bounce, but I think you go to the net, usually good things happen.”

That has been an early mantra for the 6-foot-2, 211-pound Colangelo.

In Vancouver, Colangelo was parked in front of the net to spin around and deflect the puck again, but it took an odd ricochet up in the air to flutter over the Canucks goaltender. Against St. Louis, Colangelo got some power play time, and again planting a screen in front, Jackson LaCombe’s shot grazed off Colangelo’s glove to earn his third consecutive goal.

“I think that's more of a team-wide message,” Colangelo said. “I think if you have a guy planted at the net, not just our line but any line, it usually draws some of their defenders there. It's the most dangerous place on the ice. So, if you can kind of create more space in the o-zone just by having a guy planted at the net front then I think usually you can create some offense by doing that.”

Colangelo’s physical abilities have been complimentary alongside the speed and skill of McTavish and Gauthier. The Kid Line has accounted for 12 points over the last three games, with each player tallying four points.

The line burst onto the scene in the Edmonton game on Tuesday piling up seven points on three goals in the first period. Gauthier racked up three points in the game.

“Cutter’s an elite skater, and Sam is not quite as fast as he is,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said, “but when he does skate, he brings a physical presence. He's a big kid. He's got a long reach, he's got nice hands, and then he sees the game well. He's a good piece there with Mac, because both he and Cutter can skate, Mac's pretty good at seeing the ice and distributing the puck. 

“The bottom line is when he skates and Cutter skates, that line is gonna put pressure on teams.”

It’s quite the surge for Colangelo in his third call-up this season from AHL San Diego, where he was the Gulls’ All-Star representative last month.

Following his final college season with Western Michigan last spring, Colangelo scored in his AHL debut with four points in four games and followed that with a goal in his NHL debut to open three games with Anaheim in April.

Colangelo opened this season with the Gulls netting 19 goals and 16 assists in 38 games. He put home a goal with the Ducks in his second call-up in January, and now, Colangelo has seized this third opportunity.

“My biggest mindset is to do anything I can to stay here,” Colangelo said. “I've been up and down throughout the whole year and every time I get sent down, it gets some things to work on and try to for my next time coming back up to stick. This time it's gone well to start, but three or four games isn't enough to really solidify my spot. 

“I just want to keep working and do anything I can to stay here for the rest of the year and for years to come.”

It seems like Colangelo will get an extended look in these biggest games of the season for the Ducks. 

Colangelo was called up when Robby Fabbri hit injured reserve last week with an upper-body injury. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek revealed at the season ticket-holder Ducks Migration event on Saturday that Fabbri broke a bone in his hand and would be out a while. Fabbri reportedly told fans at the meet and greet that he is week-to-week.

While unfortunate for Fabbri, it does open up more meaningful reps with Colangelo on the Kid Line, as the Ducks try to regroup from losses in three of four games and mount a charge on their nine-point gap to the Western Conference wild card.

“I think Kid Line is cool to have three young guys flying together, and then hopefully to continue to produce more offense,” Colangelo said.

Anaheim looks to bounce back from consecutive losses hosting the New York Islanders on Sunday.