Jakob Silfverberg’s Bounce-Back Season

The point total may not show it, but 33-year-old Jakob Silfverberg is having his best season since before the pandemic through his elite defending and with the help of better linemates. 

The last three seasons have been tough for Silfverberg. Silfverberg had surgery in April of 2021 to fix a torn labrum in his hip as well as a bone problem in the same hip. At the time of the surgery, then Ducks general manager Bob Murray said that Silfverberg had been dealing with the hip issue for the last two years.

Silfverberg made his return the following training camp but has not been the same since. In the year he had the surgery and the years following, Silfverberg has lost speed and his shot has lost its power. Before the hip issues, Silfverberg was consistently scoring goals in the low 20s and in the 40s for points per season. His best season since was last season, when he scored 10 goals and 26 points.

Because of the hip issue, Silfverberg has been forced to change his style of play. Silfverberg has become far more defensive over the last few seasons. Using Evolving Hockey’s xDef stat, which is even-strength defense goals above average/replacement plus shorthanded defense goals above average/replacement, Silfverberg has been better the last few years than before the hip problems (-6.1 xDef from 2012-2013 to 2017-2018 and 15.6 xDef since). 

This season has been Silfverberg’s best defensive season, however. His xDef is 5.7, is sixth best in the league, and third best among forwards. Silfverberg also leads the league in goals against per 60 minutes with 0.78 GA/60 at 5v5 with a minimum of 400 minutes of ice time. Silfverberg’s defense ranks in the 98th percentile this season, according to Evolving Hockey.

Silfverberg has had a revolving role with the Ducks this season. The fourth line was Silfverberg’s home for the most part at the beginning of the season, with linemates that consisted of Sam Carrick in center and Ross Johnston on the left wing. Then he was moved up to the third line, and his linemates were usually either Bo Groulx or Adam Henrique in the center, with Max Jones on the left wing. Nowadays, Silfverberg has been both the second and third line with Mason McTavish in center and Isac Lundeström on the left wing.

That Lundeström-McTavish-Silfverberg line has been together for five games and it has been one of the Ducks best lines all season. Among Ducks forward line combinations to play at least 50 minutes together, the Lundeström-McTavish-Silfverberg line has the best-expected goal share (xG%) at 73.7%, with the second best being the Henrique-Leo Carlsson–Troy Terry line that has a 65.6 xG%, according to Money Puck. Among all forward line combinations around the league to play at least 50 minutes together, this line’s 73.7 xG% ranks sixth in the league and sixth in the league as well in xGA/60 with 1.17.

In the five games since joining that line, Silfverberg has three goals, two assists and five points. Silfverberg has looked much better in the offensive zone since joining forces with Lundeström and McTavish. Silfverberg has been showing off some playmaking abilities that Ducks fans have not seen in a long time, and playing alongside Lundeström and McTavish, as opposed to Carrick and Johnston, is a big help with that.

Silfverberg may only be on pace for 21 points, but he stays on the same line as Lundeström and McTavish and keeps up his elite defensive play, the Ducks will be more than happy with his performance. He will also be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and his future remains uncertain. Silfverberg has made it known that he wants to finish his career back home in Sweden; whether that happens next season or not is unknown, but for now, he is enjoying a nice bounce-back season.