Posts Tagged ‘Toni Lydman’

Wings beat Ducks

Posted: 05/13/2013 by bc in Uncategorized
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Wings won because of their foot speed and ability to get to the loose pucks. They got to the loose pucks, took control and won. We had plenty of opportunities to put them away and we just didn’t finish.

Yes we missed Toni Lydman but one guy isn’t the reason you lose a series. We lost because we didn’t put them away sooner. The longer the series went their confidence went up and we seemed frozen in time and space. We had no response. Detroit elevated their game and we didn’t. As a team we didn’t have it to elevate.

One look at the plus/minus screams foot speed on the blue line is a serous issue. Beauchemin, Souray and Sbisa our 3 weakest skaters were each minus-2 on the series. Our better skaters, Fowler (3), Lovejoy (4), Allen (1) and Lydman (1) were each on the plus side.

I really don’t want to wade deep into the weeds but essentially the Wings won because we couldn’t skate with them. Everything else, their puck possession, passing and positioning, came off their skating and ability to win faceoffs and be first on those precious loose pucks.

One of the things I didn’t notice until Game 7 was how Detroit was beating us in the low slot.  They were getting two guys down low. One guy positioned on the top of the crease to screen Hiller. A second was roaming 3-6 feet out and picking up those loose pucks and rebounds.

Many unknowingly and incorrectly blame Hiller for those rebounds but that is not how hockey is taught or played at elite levels. The goalie is responsible for making the first save. It’s the job of the skaters to either get on the rebound or tie up the opposition so that they don’t get second and third shots. The only bad goal in tonight’s game was Filppula’s.

One thing our Ducks gave us this year is hope. For the first time since the Pronger trade and the retirement of Scot Niedermayer our Ducks appear to be getting better instead of worse.

The immediate future looks very bright. Emerson Etem and Kyle Palmieri are obviously keepers. Pending UFA’s Ben Lovejoy and Dave Steckel will probably be resigned. Steckel could join Winnick and Cogliano on the checking line. Nick Bonino won himself a center spot this season. Rickard Rakell and Peter Holland will compete for the other spot.

Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan can be expected to bounce back from off years and poor playoff performances.

There are only three, maybe four roster changes I see going into next season.

Luca Sbisa will be challenged to keep his spot by Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm. Luca has four of the five skills necessary to play the game at the NHL level. His ability to read, pickup or see a play developing and properly react to it is questionable.

Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu represent difficult decisions because both could be tempted to return for the Olympics. Though it isn’t at all certain that either could win and hold their Ducks job against the up and coming kids next season. I’d much rather see each of them move on their own terms rather than be pushed out.

Sheldon Souray’s lack of foot speed became exposed as the season wore on and certainly in the playoffs. He could be, actually should be, bought out. He’s another guy who I have too much respect for to watch get pushed aside. Watching Rob Niedermayer get the hook and be told he couldn’t play anymore was sad. It’s understandable that some guys just won’t come off the ice until you shoot ‘em and drag ‘em off. I just think it’s sad to pull the trigger.

So I’d much rather see Teemu, Saku and Sheldon leave now before younger guys push them out.

Ducks next job is cleaning out their lockers and exit interviews. It was a tough year for a few players. There will no doubt be some retirements and maybe a buyout over the summer. Our next task is preparing for the draft where our Ducks will 22nd overall. Definitely not high enough to snag a player likely to help immediately.

One goal and just that quick our Ducks move from the hockey season to the financial season. Our attention turns from the ice to the front office.

For me, I’ll share with you on this thread before taking some time off.

Game 4 Pregame: Ducks @ Red Wings

Posted: 05/06/2013 by bc in Uncategorized
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The Red Wings have their backs to the wall in this must win game. Our Ducks have outscored them 8-1 since the mid-point of Game 2. Clearly the momentum is all Ducks.

While our Ducks have completely outplayed the Wings, we don’t quite have the results to show for it. Bad officiating can impact the outcome of games and series.

If ever there is a moment for a team to stick to its own game, for our Ducks that time is now. There’s no really reason why they can’t. Justin “Cheap & Chippy” Abdelkader is gone for what could be the series. Abdelkader is the guy who baited Souray into retaliating which led to Wings PP and their winning OT goal in Game 2. Souray’s cross checking penalty in the last minute of the second period was also against Abdelkader. Having this Cheap & Chippy nemesis suspended will help our Ducks stay focused on the  job at hand.

Souray wasn’t the only guy getting payback on Abdelkader. Sheldon just got caught.

Wings are also thin on the blue line after Danny DeKeyser busted his thumb  in a scrum with Ducks Kyle Palmieri, IIRC. Babcock has gone with Brian Lashoff but also has Carlo Colcaiacovo and Ian White available.

czhokej posted that Babcock’s comments on Abdelkader’s hit, “wasn’t a smart thing to say.” Detroit GM Ken Holland also defended the hit. These guys have it backwards. You defend your player, not what he did.

Like many, I’ve long admired the Red Wings and held them out as model franchise. What Holland and Babcock have shown this week is that’s easy to have some class when you’re winning. It’s when you’re challenged that your true character comes out. Holland and Babcock flunk the test. The Wings are no longer an org that I would point out as model worth following.

If our Ducks are feeling anything like I and suspect most who’ve played hockey feel today, they really want this game. It’s not just about winning for a downed teammate, though Toni Lydman is nothing if not respected in our Ducks room. It’s about putting on a clinic built on discipline and character.

The Red Wings fans have shown the world that they’re fair weather band wagon followers at best.

Our Ducks play a physical brand of hockey. Gone are the excesses of the Pronger days. Coach Bruce Boudreau has changed this group from a collection of stars and bus riders into a genuine team. This is why this game is so important to our Ducks. They have the proven ability to win it. They deserve to win it.

Most of all, our Ducks, arguably the NHL’s most complete hockey team, can show the world that physical hockey played within the written and unwritten rules is a beautiful thing.

There are many times during the course of a hockey season and playoff that no words are necessary. All that is needed is eye contact with your teammate for confirmation that tonight we get ‘er done. And on Wednesday we put ‘em away.

And really there’s one reason to do it. These Detroit Red Wings and their fans don’t deserve to be here.

Ducks wear down Blues 4-2

Posted: 03/10/2013 by bc in Uncategorized
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Ryan Getzlaf described it well, “We played a boring game. We made them work and tired them out.” Good plan considering it was the Blues third match in four nights and second of back to back road games.

If that was the plan it sure fooled most onlookers as the Blues clearly won the first period, exiting the ice with a 1-0 lead. Jonas Hiller stood tall allowing only a pinball type careen, carrom and deflection finally credited to Ryan Reeves.

Ducks were unable to capitalize on a 5 on 3 PP but did get the equalizer when Emerson Etem chipped one ahead that sent Andrew Cogliano in alone on Halak.  Even though the penalty calls benefited our Ducks it was another example of the NHL providing totally incompetent officials. The blind mice tonight were Dan O’Halloran and Kyle Rehman.

Patrik Berglund put the Blues back up at 1:41 of the third as he skated down the LW and fired one that deflected off Toni Lydman and beat Hiller short side.

Ducks would get a bounce at 3:11 when Francois Beauchemin let go a blast from the point that rebounded off the backside of Ryan Getzlaf and into the wheelhouse of Bobby Ryan who promptly buried it past a stunned Jaroslav Halak.

Our Ducks took over from there. About 2 minutes after Ryan’s goal, Corey Perry got is stick on a Ryan Getzlaf shot that earned our guys their first lead of the night. Getz was originally awarded the goal but lobbied the Refs to give it to Pears. Who luvs ya Corey!

Ducks then worked the clock until Perry got his second of the night, an EN with 40 seconds remaining that put the game out of reach.

It was our Ducks 11th consecutive home victory, tying the record set by the 2009-10 Ducks. Francois Beauchemin had 3 assists and Ryan Getzlaf two helpers.

Saku Koivu was great in the FO winning 14 of 21 for a 67% winning rate. Ducks combined were 32 of 67 for a 48% win rate.

Nick Bonino was late scratch with the flu. Coach had him on the bench in the first period so as not tip Blues coach Ken Hitchcock that we were playing with a man short.

Ducks now hit the road for games beginning Wednesday against the Wild, Stars and finish the trip in St. Louis.

Ducks at the quarter season mark

Posted: 02/13/2013 by bc in Uncategorized
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Famed and accomplished NFL coach Bill Parcells said, “You are what your record says you are.” By that measure our 9-2-1 Anaheim Ducks are a pretty good hockey team. By every other measurable statistic our Ducks are a very good hockey club.

Ducks are second in the Western Conference trailing the team they beat last night by just two points. They’re first in the Pacific Division. Their 19 points of a possible 24 points available has them third in P% at a scintillating .792 rate. They’re scoring at the rate of 3.25 goals per game likewise places them third overall in the NHL. These Ducks are either best or second best in even strength situations. Our Ducks sport the seventh most efficient PP and next to last PK.

From my perspective Goal Differential is the single most significant measure of a hockey team, aside from total points of course. By this standard our +9 Ducks are tied for fifth overall. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that our Ducks are also fifth in most Power Rankings this week.

While the record is indeed a great one, the numbers don’t tell us how they’ve done it and why we watch. It’s really quite a story.

He might be a late bloomer as a GM. Maybe these Ducks prove the rule, “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then.” Regardless, Bob Murray has earned credit in more than just a couple of areas. This entire report reflects well on him as a late bloomer or as the metaphorical blind squirrel.
Following the trade of Chris Pronger and retirement of Scott Niedermayer our blue line was in shambles. It’s taken four seasons, perhaps not surprisingly to re-assemble an elite level blue line but our Bob has done it. He also put back the size and snarl into a lineup that just couldn’t match-up physically in recent seasons.
As important, our Ducks have three scoring lines again. Our Ducks are deep and the most complete hockey team since the Stanley Cup edition. Through signing UFA’s, excellent drafts and trades that are beginning to pay off three seasons after they were made, Bob Murray has assembled an NHL elite level hockey team.

By late November of 2011 the once feared Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks had hit rock bottom. Like a drunk experiencing his first day of sobriety, the change from Randy Carlyle to Bruce Boudreau breathed new life into the team. It took a few weeks but as the team bought in they went on a rip that brought them within four points of the playoffs. Just as suddenly and perhaps not coincidentally, the streak ended the day our Ducks moved past the trade deadline.
This shortened season our Ducks are experiencing their first full with an asterisk year under the new coach. System wise, our Ducks do nothing different from what hockey players have known their entire lives. System wise, our Ducks now play support the puck hockey, up and back. This system places a third man high in the offensive zone and brings a third man back to support the D. And yes, we trap in the neutral zone.
Another primary difference between  Coach Carlyle and Coach Boudreau is how each marshals his assets. Randy Carlyle relied upon his best players. Bruce Boudreau gives his depth players more time on the ice. As we’ve witnessed particularly in the past two games, Gabby will shorten his bench as he deems necessary in the third period.
BB is not so committed to tradition that he won’t show some creativity. For example, he surprised this observer by going back to No. 1 goalie Jonas Hiller after new guy on the block, Viktor Fasth earned a shutout. His forward lines are based on twosomes, Getzlaf/Perry, Ryan/Selanne, Koivu/Winnick and Bonino/Beleskey. He’ll move around his third forward based on instinct.
Last night Josh Brewster of Ducks Calls reported Coach referred to Daniel Winnick as his Brooks Laich. The go to player he can send over the boards in any situation.
In a move designed to spread out the scoring, and opposition defenses, he moved perennial 30+ goal scorer off the top line. Additionally, Coach has used Ryan to anchor the 2nd PP unit and has given it more TOI.
On the back-end Gabby has found a No. 1 pairing in new addition Sheldon Souray alongside Francois Beauchemein. This is the most hard-nosed pairing since hey day of Pronger-O’Donnell. New addition Bryan Allen will eventually be paired with the injured Cam Fowler. Toni Lydman and Luca Sbisa round the D pairings.
Not insignificantly our Ducks feature great depth along the blue line. They can call up future star Sami Vatanen or go with experienced hands of Ben Lovejoy, Nate Guenin or Jordan Hendry. Hampus Lindholm figures to get a look-see at the NHL level soon after he becomes available.

On the ice, where the games are won and lost, our Ducks are showing they have all the tangibles and intangibles necessary to compete  with the NHL’s best.
Jonas Hiller and Viktor Fasth have provided winning if not always great goaltending statistically speaking.
The hard-nosed guys, Staubitz, Allen, Souray, Beauchemin and Winnick are sticking up for our skill players. Allen and Souray are doing the job expected of them in the low slot in front of our goalies.
Knowing someone has their backs, the remarkable composure of Viktor Fasth and how Coach is marshaling his assets is having a positive effect on the team overall. These Ducks aren’t quitting and giving up on themselves or giving in to a natural instinct for retaliation, for the most part. The second Vancouver and the Dallas games as the exceptions that prove this rule.
Whether it’s the league’s 29th worst PK limiting the league’s top ranked team to just one shot in nearly 4 minutes of a 4 on 3 or the timely scoring provided by Daniel Winnick and the kids, these Ducks just find ways to win.
Incredibly our Ducks are doing it while their most heralded player, Corey Perry is in a slump and their best puck moving D-man is out on IR.

This isn’t to say that the wheels can’t come off. Anything from a player stepping out with the wife or significant other of another player to injuries can destroy a good or great hockey team.

What we can say is that our Ducks have met every challenge in their way so far this season. As one great coach said, “They are their record.”

Note: Ducks have sent forward Rickard Rakell back to the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. The moves leaves the full 3 seasons remaining on the player’s EL contract. Because no immediate announcement as to Rakell’s replacement is made, expect the Ryan to center experiment to continue with Koivu and Bonino moving up the depth chart if and when Coach elects to shorten his bench in the third period of close games.

Post Game: Ducks 7 Canucks 3

Posted: 01/19/2013 by bc in Uncategorized
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Ducks & Nucks played an even first period. Ducks took the first lead as newcomer Daniel Winnick opened the scoring. About seven or so minutes into the first period the Nucks started sending two players to the Ducks net. It paid off a couple of minutes later when Dan Hamhuis sent a blast from the point that Jonas Hiller never saw. Daniel Sedin took the lead at 11:23 when Daniel Sedin picked up some loose change in the low slot and went far side against a diving Hiller. That was the high point for Vancouver.

Ducks tied it up at 15:23 of the first when Teemu Selanne beat one of hockey’s best, Manny Malhotra on a face off and pushed the biscuit to Sheldon Souray who sent a blast through Schneider. Ducks had a 14-10 lead on face offs in the first.

Dan Winnick again opened the scoring in the second frame. It was beautiful tic tac toe play from Cogliano to Koivu to Winnick.

Two of our Ducks four new guys, Winnick and Souray had accounted for all of the scoring. Ducks best players stepped up and took over from there on out.

Corey Perry put our Ducks up by two when he picked up some loose change in front of Schneider. Kyle Palmieri put our Ducks up by 3 just 11 seconds later when he one-timed a Ryan Getzlaf setup for his 1st of the year. Getzlaf then setup Teemu Selanne on a cross ice pass after the lane opened when Nucks D Kevin Bieksa lost his stick.

Alexander Edler replied for Vancouver. Flash closed out the scoring with a wrist shot from about 20 feet that beat Roberto Loungo cleanly. Loung had replaced Schneider after the Ducks fifth goal.

Selanne’s four point night put on pace to rack up 192 points on the season.

Both teams played sloppily in their own end at times. The difference in this game was Jonas Hiller made some key saves at key times. Toni Lydman was brilliant breaking up 3 different Vancouver opportunities, one of which looked like a 3 on 1. he also led our Ducks D with 3 blocked shots on the night.

Ducks special teams were successful going 3 for 3 on the PP and 50% on the PK. The checking line of Koivu-Cogliano-Winnick outscored the Sedins 3-1. Our guys dominated the face off circle as Teemu took 4 of 6, Koivu 16 of 27 for 59% and Ryan Getzlaf won 54% of his face offs.

In post game interviews two goal scorer Dan Winnick gave credit to Coach Boudreau’s plan to roll four lines. Winnick said that everybody seemed fresher when they were called upon. Teemu Selanne said he felt good after his first game in nine months.

Notes: Ducks played without Cam Fowler who picked up that flu bug making its way  throughout the Southland. Ducks pressed 7th D-man Jordan Hendry into service. Vancouver is without two-thirds of its second line as Ryan Kesler and David Booth were unable to go.
Ricard Rakell centered the 4th line with Devante Smith-Pelly and Matt Beleskey on the wings. Ducks can keep Rakell up for five games before they have to decide whether to keep on the roster for the season. In a full NHL season Rickard could have been given a 10 game look. Overall he played well though the 4th line did get hemmed up in their own zone and got caught out there against the Sedin line a couple of times.
Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were healthy scratches.

Ducks are off to Calgary for game against the Flames Monday.

5 Keys to Ducks success

Posted: 01/16/2013 by bc in Uncategorized
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By order of importance;

1. Goaltending: According to GM Bob Murray, Jonas Hiller is healthy. As Ducks News reported Murph said Hillsy wasn’t healthy at the start of last season. When healthy, Hillsy is among the NHL’s best. Arguably top 5. In the new NHL,which eliminated clutch and grab and hockey to speed up the game, goal tending is even more important. We may never again see a team like the 90′s Wings win with average net-minding.
Ducks have high hopes in Viktor Fasth who could see somewhere in the neighborhood 12-15 games, so long as he’s effective. Less if he isn’t.

2. Total Effort: You can’t win if you can’t outscore the opposition.The goal- tending is strong enough to give us a chance to win on most nights. Hiller is known to steal a game now and then. For every hockey player the fun starts when your team has the puck. Getting and keeping the puck is the work. Our Ducks need to dominate on both sides of the puck, when they have it and when they don’t. The quickest way to see and measure total effort is by position and structure. Are we strong inside such that we force the opposition outside regardless who has the puck.

3. Intangibles: The better the team, the fewer question marks as camps open. Our Ducks have three. The infusion of youth will bring speed. The new big guys, Souray, Allen, Winnick & Staubitz add the snarl. There’s a nice mix of vets at or near their peak years in Perry, Ryan, Getzlaf, Cogliano, Beauchemin and Lydman.  Gabby’s organizing and everybody plays approach will encourage a team first culture. While this team obviously lacks the talent of our Cup squad it’s the best balanced team since.

4. Schedule: As Gabby says, “There’s a very fine line between a groove and a rut.” In a shortened season featuring many consecutive games against the same team, there is no time to slip into ruts. The key to competing game in, game out is between game maintenance. For the guys who haven’t been playing, getting in game shape quickly. Luckily we’re likely only breaking in 4 completely new guys. Familiarity favors our Ducks.

5.  Sacrifice: Every player has sacrificed to get to the NHL. it’s different for every guy. Can they sacrifice for each other though? Can they suck it up instead of retaliating and taking a dumb penalty? Is each willing to take a hit to make a pass? Will they block shots?

As noted, the mix of talent and skill sets seems complete. There’s a nice balance of experience and youth, skill and snarl. It’s a team with three accomplished and recognized stars in Corey Perry, Jonas Hiller and Teemu Selanne. We have lots of solid veteran leadership in Koivu, Winnick, Cogliano, Beauchemin, Lydman, Souray and Allen.

Not many are picking our Ducks for a the playoffs. They have the parts to surprise.

Different eyes on Ducks D

Posted: 01/07/2013 by bc in Uncategorized
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Hockey Bud czhokej raised questions about our Ducks D yesterday. Just stumbled upon  a couple respected voices addressing the issue:

Via tsn.ca – Scott Cullen reporting:

DUCKS sign D BRYAN ALLEN for three years, $10.5-million and DSHELDON SOURAY for three years, $11-million 
After dealing veteran D Lubomir Visnovsky to the Islanders, the Ducks were undermanned on the blueline, so they acted quickly in free agency, adding a pair of veterans that have size and toughness.

31-year-old Bryan Allen played tough minutes for Carolina, facing a high level of competition and starting the majority of his shifts in the defensive zone (www.behindthenet.ca). At 6-foot-5, Allen has size, toughness and is a reliable defensive presence.

Souray, who turns 36 this week, resurrected his career after a season in the AHL, playing effectively in some difficult minutes for the Dallas Stars. However, Souray wasn’t utilized much in a power play role — his 1:48 PP time on ice per game ranked fourth among Stars defencemen — so his point total (21) was modest, but his plus-minus (plus-11) was his best since his rookie year in 1997-1998.

In Anaheim, Souray’s size and toughness will be appreciated, but he may also have more of an opportunity to unleash his bomb on the power play; despite injuries and a year in the AHL, since 2003-2004, Souray is tied for sixth among defencemen with 48 power play goals. Zdeno Chara,Dion Phaneuf and Sergei Gonchar are the only active defencemen ahead of him.

The Ducks now have a solid veteran defence corps to support Cam Fowlerand Luca Sbisa. Allen, Souray, Francois Beauchemin and Toni Lydmanround out a steady, if not necessarily spectacular, group.

Via Hockey Writers – Colin Insley reporting

On the Back End

The Ducks have seven defenseman under contract for the 2013 season, with off-season signing Sheldon Souray and third year man Cam Fowler expected to carry the load offensively with Francois Beauchemin, Bryan Allen, Toni Lydman, and Luca Sbisa playing rhythm. Nate Guenin is slotted to be the seventh defenseman.

On paper, that’s not a terrible defensive line-up, especially with the addition of Allen, a big stay-at-home defenseman with a mean streak – but where have Anaheim fans heard that before (coughAndySuttoncough)?

The Souray signing was a real head scratcher, though. Bob Murray signed the 36-year-old injury prone rear guard to a three-year deal worth $11M. While Souray had a decent (albeit injury-shortened) season in Dallas in 2011-12 with six goals and fifteen assists in 64 games, the fact is that he’s on the wrong side of 30, and has been trending down for the last several years.

Cam Fowler Ducks

(Icon SMI)

Cam Fowler is another year older, and hopefully another year better defensively. While the sophomore played a full 82-game schedule in 2011-12, with bigger minutes against stiffer competition, he finished the season with five goals and 24 assists, or eleven fewer points than his rookie campaign. He also ended the season with a -28 rating, compared to a -25 the season before.

Beauchemin figures to be a rock defensively, while Toni Lydman struggled last season and will hope to regain his stellar 2010-11 form.

The interesting variable here is Luca Sbisa who had a decent 2011-12 season with 24 points (5G, 19A). Specifically, according to Bruce Boudreau, Sbisa may well have been Anaheim’s best defenseman down the stretch in 2011-12. Boudreau even went so far as to peg Sbisa as “a silent star in the making.” High praise, indeed.

Undersized Sami Vatanen may also challenge for a spot, having played very well in Norfolk (4G, 17A – good for 4th on the team). Ditto 2012 5th Overall pick Hampus Lindholm, although he is currently concussed.

If Sbisa can continue his development into that “silent star,” Fowler can take a step forward, Souray puts some points on the board and stays healthy, and if Allen, Beauchemin and Lydman can minimize offensive threats in their own zone, Anaheim may have an alright blue line in 2013.

Via BackCheck’s Blog – czhokej & bc reporting:

cz: I certainly hope that Toni will have a good season. He should be healthy, and if he performs well, our D should be solid. Especially if Cam Fowler with his great skating and puck-handling, improves his game-reading and decision making. I do not know too much what to expect from Allen, Guenin and Souray, but I like the size, which we really need. Souray is getting older and his shot was not working that well last year.

bc: Lydman is key. After he went down, far too much was put on Beauchemin. Frankie soldiered through it but still, you don’t want that much on one guy.
Coach was able to get the most out of Luca Sbisa by spotting him last season. Now we need Luca to take it up a notch and be effective against the opposition’s better players.
In Allen we get a solid, physical match-up defender. He will take a chunk of the load off Beauch and allow Coach to again spot Sbisa a bit. Look for Allen to take the top line match-up assignments while Luca graduates to top six match-ups.
Souray brings snarl to the 3rd ES unit and a great shot on the 2nd unit PP.
What I don’t like about our D and can’t fathom how a professional GM does this is that once again our top six D-men are southpaws. It’s just so wrong on so many levels I don’t know where to start.
Another key to the D is the addition of Daniel Winnick. He will produce double digits in scoring but more importantly the PK unit just got some much needed help.
Overall, I think our GA will be lower this season. We are better on paper with the additions of Allen, Souray and a healthy Toni Lydman.
Fowler and Sbisa should take another step forward. We should get more from Francois Beauchemin by asking less of him.
Murray sure as heck didn’t do them any favors putting 6 lefties out there though.

Four posts from three blogs bringing significantly different views. Collectively, it’s about as complete a look at our Ducks D as i can put together for you.

Ducks face key questions as camp nears

Posted: 01/06/2013 by bc in Uncategorized
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Jeez, it feels great to be blogging about hockey questions again. So let’s just step out and do it.

Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu are UFA’s at the end of this shortened season. The Twins and The Finn Twins if you will. The parties were prohibited from negotiating during the lockout. There could well be a gentleman’s agreement in place, but Bob Murray thought he had just such an agreement with Justin Schultz. The challenge for Bob Murray is, if either of The Twins remained unsigned at the trade deadline does he move one or both or risk losing one or both for nothing?

The Twins are still close but no longer joined at the hip. Both have settled into long-term relationships. Getz is married and a Dad. Pears is seriously committed. While they won’t be negotiating as a pair you can bet they’ll discuss their own respective future with each other.

Were it just left among our Ducks, Perry, Getzlaf and their respective agents and other advisers this would not be much of a concern.Count twenty-nine other teams, led by Brian Burke to have offers ready should either or both Perry and Getzlaf be UFA in less than six months.

Via tsn.ca:

The rumor mill will be churning, especially if the Ducks feel like they won’t be able to re-sign Perry and/or Getzlaf.

No doubt the Gossip Girls will be gabby bandwidth burners.

As for Teemu, I expect this to be his last but you never know. Certainly there’s a finality to having competed in 20 NHL seasons. A shortened, injury free and successful season may convince Flash to come back as well.

There are scenarios that could keep Saku Koivu a Duck beyond this year. Much depends on what Teemu does, if Getz and Pears stay or go and whether or not Nick Bonino and Peter Holland move past him on the depth chart.

Toni Lydman is also UFA but a decision on him will wait until we get a look at Hampus Lindholm as an injury call-up.

One certainty is our Ducks $15M in cap space will make roster moves easily facilitated.

In what now feels like an annual ritual, Meet Bob Murray’s New D.

Posted: 07/25/2012 by bc in Uncategorized
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The depth chart is fairly easy to project. Absent is a clear #1 who goes over the boards in all situations. Our new Ducks back line is a D by committee. Such is life after the departures of first Chris Pronger, followed by the retirement of Scott Niedermayer. In hindsight we were sure treated to something very special. Given the talent and complimentary skill sets of the survivors, at least Frankie Beachemin is a link to the Prongs/Nieds era taking Lubo back may not be the worst thing, if that be the outcome. The old cliche’  ’Sometimes the best trades are the ones you don’t make’ is appropriate.
For now at least, lets address what is in front of us. Even if Lubo returns, it will remain a D by committee. As of this moment, Cam Fowler is the last guy you use in all situations.
Beauchemin heads the depth chart as he’s the most serviceable in all situations. He’s become a smart hockey player willing to sacrifice for his team. In that sense Beauch is a genuine heart and soul guy out there. Beauch will most likely continue to partner with Cam Fowler in ES situations and Bryan Allen or Luca Sbisa when Gabby wants to counter with physical match-ups
Cam Fowler is No. 2 with a bullet as they say in music. Cam will see ES time with Beauch, but Coach won’t be shy about sending Fowler out there with Allen or Sbisa. Expect to see him sharing 1st unit PP time with Sheldon Souray. Also don’t be surprised if Cam is out there for an entire PP. One thing Fowler has is the ability to pace himself and impact the tempo of the game.
I could be wrong of course but it doesn’t make a lot of sense to pair Fowler with Lydman. Cam needs a physical presence beside him. Also next to Fowler, Lydman might be our best play-making D-man. It could be tempting to toss them out against the opposition’s depth lines though. Lydman might also see some PP time with Cam behind Souray.
Such is life with D by committee. There are always spot situations where you can stray from the script.
At ES, Souray is most likely anchoring the 3rd unit with one of Lydman, Allen, or Sbisa.
PK units are from Beauchemin, Sbisa, Allen, Lydman.

At risk of restating the obvious, Coach and Brad Lauer have a lot of options. The challenges are also obvious. Those six guys will share 4920 minutes of TOI over 82 games. OT is excluded. As the minutes are divided up (apparently divied isn’t a word) the spread might be Souray at 14-16 minutes and the top TOI at 24-26 minutes. Nate Guenin looks to be the leading candidate 7 on the depth chart. He’s pushed by Jordan Hendry and Mat Clark.
Our Ducks D depth-wise is better now than at any time during the post Hall of Fame D era.

Bob Murray sees what we see

Posted: 04/06/2012 by bc in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , ,
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As reported by Eric Stephens, “”After the trade deadline, I thought some of the guys were relieved not to be traded and their desperation dropped off a little bit,” said Bob Murray.
This blog has noted the same thing a handful of times. We’ll never get the chance to followup with Mr. Murray because of our Ducks policy of refusing the free media access. The official policy of our Ducks is to exclude the blogosphere in favor of controlled corporate media.
In the matter of this blog, I’ve never asked for a seat in the press box. I only asked for access and participation in the post game media scrums and other press conferences. But I digress.
Murray continued, “A few of them let me down. I have to be honest.”  It wouldn’t be any deep secret to name the few though Ice never goes there in his report.
Ryan Getzlaf struggled through his second consecutive disappointing season. This is the guy who was going to lead us back to the Cup. Lubomir Visnovsky and Toni Lydman never properly rehabbed following surgeries and each battled through the effects all season. Saku Koivu was as smooth and heady as always but his production is in decline. Scoring from the back line is down by nearly half in year to year comparison.
Bob Murray is challenged in the art of communication. The all too rare times he does speak, it’s refreshing to know that we’re on the page.

In other news (more…)

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