Brandon Montour started the season hot and quickly established himself as an emerging NHL player.
He scored four goals in the first 10 games, and the puck-moving defenseman became a catalyst for the Ducks' offense.
It was also the 23-year-old's first time opening the season in the NHL.
After Montour hit a slump on both ends, playing loose with the puck in his own zone at times, it appeared that coach Randy Carlyle had lost faith in him. Montour was a healthy scratch for a game against the New York Rangers on Dec.