For a couple/few years now this blog has been a consistent advocate for the talent and character inside of Bobby Ryan. The rest of that package is a tad goofy but that just makes him human.
This blog also agrees with Silver that Coach Boudreau’s idea of building a line around him is worth pursuing. As Ryan himself said following his exit interview, “Can you imagine how good I’m going to be after a full year under this guy.”
Numbers don’t lie. Sometimes numbers don’t tell you the whole story. Sporting News compared Bobby Ryan to Rick Nash and Ryan takes it for possessing higher upside. There are intangibles not considered but….you get a talent like Bobby Ryan, you don’t trade him. You build champions around and upon him. With Zach Parise off the table, Darren Dreger puts Nash and Ryan atop Gossip Girls chatter charts.
Imagine. Our Ducks could have two guys (Pears & Silver) competing for the Hart and Ross. If Getz learns how to prepare for a game and arrive properly motivated, there could be three Ducks competing for the Hart. Mark Whicker explains.
All that is needed is the right support players around each. Maybe Getzlaf is that guy for Perry. Fact is, Corey doesn’t need Ryan Getzlaf. Ryan Getzlaf and Ducks fans everywhere need Brad Staubitz and Sheldon Souray to help Getzlaf bury his evil twin, Getzloaf.
And oh yeah, if Perry or Ryan isn’t giving opposing teams fits, Ducks have this old guy, Teemu Selanne who beats men half his age. He’s also got a partner, Saku Koivu. together they just might be the best give and go combo in all of hockey.
Nick Bonino and Peter Holland will compete for the opportunity and honor to be Bobby Ryan’s next center. The loser will have to fend off a suddenly humble after a year in the minors Brandon McMillan.
Put your money on Dutch and Bones, in that order.
People for whom I have great respect are wondering from where our Ducks offense will come. So long as D-men can either head man the puck, make a first pass, see the open skating lane and join the attack when necessary…lookout cookout.
Totally agree…if the defense is willing and able to do what it takes to stop the opponent (block shots, pickup the tempo, etc…) the offense will take care of itself. At times last season we lost games because we were unable to salvage/maintain momentum due to unwilling or unable defense…After the Suter deal, Weber unfortunately will be unattainable.
Agree , and I do not believe a $6M D man is the answer either. SW will be overpaid too. The core guys need to learn to win and…. yes….I would spend some to get Doan to help BR
Oh man tearingitup, so many ifs. a few things are certain: With Staubitz, Allen and Souray backing up Smith-Pelly, Getz, Pears, Sbisa & Beauchemin our Ducks won’t be so easily pushed off the puck or forced into turnovers. Bonino and Holland bring size through the middle. The depth guys, Beleskey, Maroon, Palmieri, Etem are hockey tough Beauchemin, Sbisa, Lydman if healthy and Allen will play ES and rotate through the odd man situations. Fowler and Souray will go ES and PP primarily. It could work but I’m concerned about the transition from the back line and Souray. He’s 35. Coach will really have to manage his TOI. The team *looks* vastly improved. Will it come together?
I am not a Palmieri fan….Maybe the right winger from Trabuco….Ryan Lasch can carry it better than Palmieri.
Hoping he gets a shot anyway…he has put in the time
Good stuff, bc. I see some optimism there.
I like Bobby Ryan, and last year I have said he’s more talent than Getz, and possibly even more than Perry. However this last season, he quite often played without too much interest and without passion. He doesn’t use his body enough, he is a softie. But he could become a complete player under a good coach. I would like to bring up the names (again, from Ducks’ past)) of Steve Thomas and Adam Oates. Both small, but with gladiatorial hearts, combative and enthusiastic.
Perry used to be like them (but not lately).
Where I am getting to with all this? To Shane Doan. Bobby has better stats, but Doan has that mean streak, and can hit hard, and make room for himself. (Getz just gets angry, and loses his composure, and behaves like a fool. He tries to be physical, but it’s usually in the corner, where he spends most of his time, and his hits do not have the same game-changing impact like Brown’s body-checks, for example.)
We cannot expect that our offense will be getting passes like Pronger or Nieds used to deliver. So I repeat, we need Doan, or somebody of that caliber. Or otherwise Getz has to score 35-40 goals.
As “tear” said above, I too wish for Doan or a similar beast.
(I know that bc would rather see that beast for our D.)
It’s often good to hear the passion of the fans. We still have a long wait until training camp, in other words, these post are keeping me involved. I am afraid that there will be little change in the roster until then. BM make me eat my words
Good morning cz & tearingitup…with Parise off the market Darren Dreger muses about the Sense of Urgency in Detroit, Pittsburgh, San Jose and elsewhere. Per Dregs, Nash and Ryan have vaulted atop Gossip Girls’ and erstwhile spinners of speculations chatter charts.
Getzlaf and Beauchemin have competed for tops in the Giveaway in recent years. Indeed they’ve been remarkably consistent among the (((DOH))) boys. Souray will fit right in and challenge for the team’s most generous players. Hence my concern about the transition game.
Updating Doan: Too much on my plate today to source links on the foregoing….I’ve read more than once Doan has been quoted as saying he wants to stay in the West. Everything could change with a monster offer though. Assuming Shane Doan is staying West, one would logically put our Ducks, Kings, Sharks and ‘Nucks among his preferences.
A question for you guys – does our GM have a bad reputation with the players?
CZ funny you say that,,,,the Ducks are not usually mentioned as top UFA landing sites. Yes they said they like Parise, but not at that price. I want the Ferrari…but not at that price. Ridiculous comments. We also seem complacent with what we have. We still have a ship with a lethargic captain
Unequivocally yes, cz. Totally agree with and enjoyed reading tearingitup’s comment.
There is a matter of degree depending upon a player’s status as core, support or, role and player agents.
Based solely upon information already in the public domain, Bob Murray is perceived as, to be polite, unpredictable. Ryan Whitney said it best, “They either love you or hate you.” We know Bob Murray went back on his word to Newport Sports during the Bobby Ryan contract negotiations. and finally there is the bar-stool incident in Detroit.
Does Bob Murray sound like a person you would seek to do business with; or would you take particular care to watch your back and perhaps wear a helmet at all times?
Most of us have done business with people and entities whose reputations are suspect. Most of us don’t actually seek to partner or be served by the unpredictable and credibility challenged.
Coach Boudreau will change our Ducks rep & cred among players. To some extent, the affection and respect Gabby has earned will impact the the org internally and externally.
Finally, is Murray’s record as GM after seven years, three in Chicago and four here. His teams have made the playoffs twice and won one series.
Bob Murray’s rise to GM proves the Peter Principle. In an organization where promotion is based on achievement, success, and merit, that organization’s members will eventually be promoted beyond their level of ability.
Some players are after money, sometimes they go after stability (longer contracts), others like to play for winning teams (or a chance to win the SC), some coaches are more popular and signing with that team (with an agreeable coach) becomes more attractive. From time to time there are other factors in the equation, such as an interesting and pleasant place to live, or/and agreeable, friendly teammates. My question is – where do we stand as a tempting (or not?) place to play hockey, and how much weight our GM’s personality and actions carry?
cz, this one is above my pay grade and skill set. For example, Edmonton had offers from Eastern Conference teams for Souray. His priority was to be near his daughters in San Diego. Location was his primary concern as it appears to be for Doan. Scott Niedermayer left money on the table for the chance to win with brother Rob.
As to respect for Murray, my sense is that his position and office is respected. Him not so much.
Years ago I was the “right hand” for a very wealthy man and he did many deals. People came to him to get construction loans for projects they either didn’t want to or couldn’t take to a bank.
Most of those that came to him were from 2 different ethnic groups and I won’t name them. For one of them he told me, when the haggling is over and you reach a deal, that part is done and will not be challenged in the future. For the other group it was almost the opposite, you strike a deal and they come back time after time to try and renegotiate the deal. He considered the first group to be dependable and ethical, the second the opposit.
The best deals (interest rate, length of loan, etc) always went to the group he could trust.
I believe the same is true in any business, if you can’t trust the guy you’re dealing with he is not likely to get the best deal. After the Bobby Ryan contract negotiations last year many players and agents may chose not to deal with Bob Murray.
bb, that’s what I am afraid of. And that was where I was aiming. But it was more than BR contract. Bob M. made several insulting statements about the players in the past, when defending RC and his coaching style, and then shipped people out like cattle. On the top of it, he was not able to recognize where the problem was, and that our strategy and system were poorly designed, which looks like lack of common sense.