Most everybody knows by now that Bob McKenzie tweeted teh news that Justin Schultz has given the Badgers notice that he won’t be returning for his senior year. That doesn’t mean he won’t complete his degree. Many NHL players have completed their education and gone on to attain post grad degrees while still playing in the NHL.
For our Ducks and quite possibly Bob Murray’s future in Anaheim we have 30 days to sign him, trade him or lose him for nothing if should go UFA. In Schultz situation I’m not entirely certain what going UFA means. Does he come into the NHL on the standard 3 year Entry Level contract or is he truly unrestricted? I don’t know but better minds than mine will share their thinking soon enough.
As for Schultz, ask youself two questions, (1) What kind of team is the Anaheim Ducks? (2) Where and how does Schultz fit on our blue line?
Most of corporate media and the blogosphere is of the opinion that signing Schultz makes Lubomire Visnovsky expendable. I think not. Gabby could ice some very balanced pairings such as, Sbisa-Lubo; Beauch-Fowler & Lydman-Schultz. On the PK Beauch with either Sbisa or Lydman become the top unit pairing. On the PP go with the hot hands.
Another popular meme out there in corporate media is that Lubo’s cap hit of $5.5million is expensive. Odd that it was a bargain when scored 18 goals and 68 points. Lubo is due only $3million in cash nest season. We have some accounting pros visiting this site so I might get corrected. Still, taking a $5.5million cap hit on a $3million outlay spells bargain to me.
My gut is that we’ll know if Schultz is coming here within 10 days to two weeks.
The smart thing is for Murray to put his best offer on the table and if he’s spurned then trade Schultz rights. At least get something for him. Though the manner in which Barstool Bob has managed our Ducks assets well…hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
What intrigued me about this report from the Globe & Mail’s Eric Duhatschek is how many sport and life cliches are routinely discussed here on this blog.
For example, on team chemistry Duhatschek also turns to Aristotle to explain that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Who said you don’t have to be smart to get hockey?
The ‘Yotes coaching triumverate, Dave Tippett, Dave King and Sean Burke came together while King coached Tipper & Burkie on Canada’s National teams of 1984-88. Their advance learnin’ came from battling ”those darn Russians.” After Bobby Orr & Doug Harvey ”those darn Rooskies” are the greatest influence on the game in my lifetime.
“I remember, we had a period against Chicago in the Chicago series and Burkie and I got down from the dressing room to talk to Tipper between periods and we were all saying: ‘That’s just like playing the darn Russians, they wouldn’t give us the puck. We needed two pucks out there that period.’
Puck possession and puck managment systems are two more examples of topics routinely discussed here.
One thing Tipper will often say to these guys is: ‘If you’re going to be good against this team, you have to be good one on one.’ And he’s going right back to his days playing the Russians in 1984 and how good they were. So you can’t forget some of those fundamental things you learn in those Russia-Canada confrontations. They teach you some things you need to know if you want to win, or at least stay competitive.”
When isn’t the one on one battle discussed here? Or for that matter the game within the game and the x’s and o’s?
Nice to know that the same things we discuss here are also discussed and put into practice among the pro’s.
The Los Angeles Kings are the Western Conference and have become a legitimate Stanley Cup contender this season. Now I’m going to take a hammer to my fingers and thumbs.
Jeez, it still hurt more to actually type those words than breaking my fingers for typing those words.
Ah well, it’s a great day for SoCal hockey. And they needed former Duck Dustin Penner to score the winner for them.
Our Ducks appear to have solidified the backup goaltender position. Fasth 29, something of a late bloomer, has won the Honken Trophy as Swedish Elite League #1 goalie two consecutive years. The last guy to do that is NY Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist.
At the 2012 IIHF Men’s Tourney Fasth backstopped Sweden to a 4-2 finish and recorded two shuouts.
He’ll compete with Jeff Deslauriers who has one way contract. Deslauriers could be sent to the AHL but he’ll have to clear waivers first. Dan Ellis is expected to leave as an UFA.
Europeans often require a season or two adapting to North America. If Fasth makes it our Ducks wil be set in goal for at least a decade as 18 year old 2011 39th overall Entry Draft pick John Gibson continues to impress.
It’s 4-zip El-Eh in the waning minutes of the third. Jeez, eh. Kings are beginning to make a believer out of me. Phoenix looks a beaten hockey team. Mike Smith could face a suspension for the whack on Brown. That will be a distraction the ‘Yotes just don’t need.
Kings just don’t give up on any play. Watch the sticks and bodies. Kings get something in the way to interfere with the Coyotes want to do. There hasn’t been as dominate a playoff performance since our Ducks won the Cup.
Kings are playing perfect hockey right now. Game 1 was virtually total domination. The ‘Yotes played well in the second, but….(1) Kings relentless commitment to finishing their checks has Phoenix obviously flustered. This came out in their horrific passing that was slightly off the mark and they simply had issues receiving passes. It’s what happens when you’re thinking more about getting hit than you are about puck handling and moving up ice, (2) Like St. Louis, Phoenix showed the ability to compete and push back in spurts but they were unable to sustain it, (3) Kings were very successful attacking from the wings and getting one shot opportunities off the attack. Kings first 3 goals came from attacking from outside into the center lane.
Quick was not at his best but Kings still found a way to win.
Phoenix could use a little lobbying in the officiating department. The Refs should be calling the Kings for late hits. Mostly though as Coach Tippett said in his post game interview, “We need to focus on ourselves before we think about them.”
We’ll know in Game 2 if the Coyotes can meet the challenge.
Skinny: This all Pacific Division Western Conference Final promises to be anything but peaceful and tranquil. All but one of the six regular season games was decided by one goal. Kings took the series on P% earning 8 of 12 points to the Coyotes 7. Los Angeles outscored Phoenix 13-12. The series also featured 3 shutouts. Expect a tough, bruising and brutal series. Old school hockey is back!
Who to Watch: Radim Vrbata led both teams with 5 goals and 2 assists. Phoenix got their goals from just 4 players though. Doan, Langkow and Torres scored 2 each. Dustin Brown and Anzi Kpitar led the Kings attack with 5 pts each. Their scoring came from 8 players. Brown and Kopitar continue to power the Kings offense. Vrbata has been comparatively quiet during the playoffs scoring 2 goals and 4 points in 11 games.
What to Watch: Most of corporate media is calling these teams mirror images. Not so. Los Angeles is King-sized on their depth lines while the Coyotes top line is powered by big boys Martin Hanzal 6-6/235 and the 6-1/223 Shane Doan. Coyotes have two budding Norris Trophy candidates in Oliver Eckman-Larsson and Keith Yandle. Eckman-Larsson has quietly become the ‘Yotes big minute guy logging over 26 ATOI per game.
The Kings do get support but are essentially dependent on their core of Brown, Kopitar, Doughty & Quick. Doughty is the key. Getting on him with an aggressive fore-check before he can find a lane or make the first pass and you stop the Kings. This series could turn on how well Phoenix power forwards, Doan, Pyatt and Torres make Doughty pay a physical price every time he touches the puck.
Forwards: Kings are loaded with big names but that has more to do with playing in the largest media market than talent. Two of their top six forwards, Dustin Penner & Jeff Carter have moved twice in their young careers. Coyotes have 8 forwards who scored 11 or more goals during the regular season. Kings have 5. Two more Phoenix forwards, Taylor Pyatt and Boyd Gordon scored 9 and 8 respectively.
Edge: Even
Defense: No comparison. Yeah, yeah Kings Drew Doughty, 3 solid vets in Mitchell, Scuderi and Greene. After that though Sutter could be forced to ice a couple of rookies in Voynov and Martinez. Obviously either St. Louis or Vancouver was able to expose and exploit the youngsters. Phoenix has more talent on their depth lines.
‘Yotes have the aforementioned Eckman-Larsson and Yandle. Four solid vets in Rostislav Klesla, Derek Morris, Michal Rozsioval and the injured Adrain Aucoin who is expected back in Game 2. When down a goal, Coach Tippet can load up the PP with Eckman-Larsson and Yandle. When ahead by one either game breaker is on the ice 45+ minutes per game.
Edge: Phoenix.
Goal: Mike Smith has the better numbers but IMO that has more to do with benefiting from playing on a deeper, more complete team with the better D. Jonathon Quick has been simply breathtaking. He will have to continue. Quick has a flaw in that he’s over aggressive when coming out to challenge shooters. Phoenix has the big bodies to exploit it. As with all butterfly goaltenders Quick is vulnerable upstairs and those 7 and 9 holes between the elbows and the ribs.
Edge: Los Angeles.
Coaching: Tippett has been with his team longer. He’s had more time to establish his system. Sutter came in at mid-season. The ‘Yotes has been slow steady. The Kings meteoric. Tippett has the more balanced team. Sutter has to ride his stars. he certainly has two in Kopitar and Doughty. Kopitar particularly could be Selke/Byng candidate much like Red Wings Pavel Datsyuk.
Edge: Even.
Prediction: Call me biased but I’m not giving these Kings squat until they earn it. Phoenix in 5.
