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New Feature below...If you aren't on twitter, you can keep up with my latest tweets between blogs where I will give hints as to what I am working on, interesting links, and more.
The time is so right for the Anaheim Ducks.
The Ducks remind me a ton of the Philadelphia Flyers team a few years back that Paul Holmgren turned a round in a single season. Except the Ducks are in a stronger spot. The Flyers were actually in a much worse position.
The Flyers had the worst team in the NHL, no real starting goalie, and a very depleted defense. Then at the deadline Holmgren moved Zhitnick and Forsberg and got back Braydon Coburn, Ryan Parent, Scottie Upshall, and a #1 (that would be moved for the rights to Timonen and Hartnell).
The next season the Flyers went out and signed Briere and young stars Richards and Carter came into their own and the team ended up in the Conference Finals. An amazing turnaround.
Now let's look at the current Anaheim Ducks.
What they have locked up....
The Flyers had a young, unproven Richards and Carter.
The Ducks have one of the top 3 lines in hockey tied up for years to come in Getzlaf, Perry, and Bobby Ryan. Yes Ryan is an RFA, but there will be plenty of money to spend this summer. THAT IS HUGE. Having a line like this is a really unique position to be in.
The Ducks have a starting goalie in Jonas Hiller that just last season basically beat the Sharks by himself in the playoffs. A Sharks team that had the best regular season in years. Hiller is a pending UFA and a valuable one, but I keep hearing that they are working on tying him up and that they will get him signed. Once he is signed, the Giguere sweeps will launch into high gear.
What they can deal to get stronger...
The Flyers had pending UFA's Forsberg and Zhitnik.
The Ducks have the following chips just waiting to be cashed in:
#1 Scott Niedermayer.
Could there be a better trade deadline pickup for a team looking to make a run at a Cup than a still effective defenseman who can quarterback your power play and has won Stanley Cups in two different cities? Has there ever been a more attractive rental player than Scott Niedermayer will be this year? Scott is on a one year deal and added to any team in the Cup race will make that team the favorite. Can you imagine if he were to be added to Washington, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Philly, the Rangers, Chicago?
If the Flyers got a #1, a roster player, and a top notch prospect for Forsberg, what can the Ducks get for Niedermayer? It is mind blowing.
#2 Teemu Selanne.
You can argue that Teemu is at least as valuable as Forsberg was back when the Flyers traded him. What Teemu brings to the table is a guaranteed 5 or more power plays your team will score on in the playoffs. That could very easily be the difference. Goaltending and Powerplays win Stanley Cups. Just look it up. Speaking of which...
#3. J.S. Giguere.
So say you're a team with pressure to win now and your #1 goalie blows out a knee...Can I interest you in a former Stanley Cup MVP? Granted, he is a 6 million dollar cap hit next year as well and your team will have to make sure he is comfortable with your area doctors so that his son can get the treatment he needs. The care Giguere shows for his family is something that can't be admired enough. I will never forget standing next to him on the ice when he took his little (and I mean smaller than Ducks logo little) baby around the ice after winning a Cup. I was helping to make sure people and cables stayed out of his path. It was an amazing moment for me to witness and be a part of. A rare glimpse into how amazing these men can be.
#4 Saku Koivu.
Can you ever add more heart to your team than Saku Koivu? Can you imagine the value that Koivu will add to any team that is on the verge of a Stanley Cup? We all know the ONLY reason he is still playing is to win that prize and I can't envision a player who I would want to see win a Stanley Cup more. I don't care what kind of season he has in Anaheim, I would make a move for him and I think he will bring back something of value to the Ducks.
Now Ducks fans may get pissed off at me, because I know we are in mid-November here. The main reason you have these great players is to make one last run, right? We heard that this would be the last run of this highly successful group all summer long and I get it.
All I am saying is that it so doesn't have to be the "one last run."
The pieces are already in place for the Ducks to spend another decade frustrating teams and go to the Cup Finals. They have a line that has and will dominate. I am just saying that the Ducks should be sellers this year if they are anywhere below 5th in the Conference standings come the deadline. The Ducks are in an incredibly fortuitous spot. They have a rare chance to take advantage of teams that are peaking right now and need to win.
But will the Ducks possibly move players even if they squeak into the playoffs?
Hard to say, but I am reminded of the Pahlsson trade at last year's deadline to Chicago. The Ducks were in the race and yet dealt one of their historically most dominant playoff performers to a team in their conference. A team that they came close to playing in the playoffs.
In that deal, they picked up a steal in James Wisniewski in that deal. Sami was a pending UFA, James had this year still on his contract and will only be an RFA next season. Look what they got for Pahlsson and again look at the chips of Niedermayer, Selanne, Koivu, and Giguere.
The Ducks are in a wonderful position if they play their cards right. Ducks fans may want to cash in these chips, (act now or else) take their chances on Hiller in these playoffs and reap the amazing future that could impact them as early as next season...
more to come
The time is so right for the Anaheim Ducks.
The Ducks remind me a ton of the Philadelphia Flyers team a few years back that Paul Holmgren turned a round in a single season. Except the Ducks are in a stronger spot. The Flyers were actually in a much worse position.
The Flyers had the worst team in the NHL, no real starting goalie, and a very depleted defense. Then at the deadline Holmgren moved Zhitnick and Forsberg and got back Braydon Coburn, Ryan Parent, Scottie Upshall, and a #1 (that would be moved for the rights to Timonen and Hartnell).
The next season the Flyers went out and signed Briere and young stars Richards and Carter came into their own and the team ended up in the Conference Finals. An amazing turnaround.
Now let's look at the current Anaheim Ducks.
What they have locked up....
The Flyers had a young, unproven Richards and Carter.
The Ducks have one of the top 3 lines in hockey tied up for years to come in Getzlaf, Perry, and Bobby Ryan. Yes Ryan is an RFA, but there will be plenty of money to spend this summer. THAT IS HUGE. Having a line like this is a really unique position to be in.
The Ducks have a starting goalie in Jonas Hiller that just last season basically beat the Sharks by himself in the playoffs. A Sharks team that had the best regular season in years. Hiller is a pending UFA and a valuable one, but I keep hearing that they are working on tying him up and that they will get him signed. Once he is signed, the Giguere sweeps will launch into high gear.
What they can deal to get stronger...
The Flyers had pending UFA's Forsberg and Zhitnik.
The Ducks have the following chips just waiting to be cashed in:
#1 Scott Niedermayer.
Could there be a better trade deadline pickup for a team looking to make a run at a Cup than a still effective defenseman who can quarterback your power play and has won Stanley Cups in two different cities? Has there ever been a more attractive rental player than Scott Niedermayer will be this year? Scott is on a one year deal and added to any team in the Cup race will make that team the favorite. Can you imagine if he were to be added to Washington, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Philly, the Rangers, Chicago?
If the Flyers got a #1, a roster player, and a top notch prospect for Forsberg, what can the Ducks get for Niedermayer? It is mind blowing.
#2 Teemu Selanne.
You can argue that Teemu is at least as valuable as Forsberg was back when the Flyers traded him. What Teemu brings to the table is a guaranteed 5 or more power plays your team will score on in the playoffs. That could very easily be the difference. Goaltending and Powerplays win Stanley Cups. Just look it up. Speaking of which...
#3. J.S. Giguere.
So say you're a team with pressure to win now and your #1 goalie blows out a knee...Can I interest you in a former Stanley Cup MVP? Granted, he is a 6 million dollar cap hit next year as well and your team will have to make sure he is comfortable with your area doctors so that his son can get the treatment he needs. The care Giguere shows for his family is something that can't be admired enough. I will never forget standing next to him on the ice when he took his little (and I mean smaller than Ducks logo little) baby around the ice after winning a Cup. I was helping to make sure people and cables stayed out of his path. It was an amazing moment for me to witness and be a part of. A rare glimpse into how amazing these men can be.
#4 Saku Koivu.
Can you ever add more heart to your team than Saku Koivu? Can you imagine the value that Koivu will add to any team that is on the verge of a Stanley Cup? We all know the ONLY reason he is still playing is to win that prize and I can't envision a player who I would want to see win a Stanley Cup more. I don't care what kind of season he has in Anaheim, I would make a move for him and I think he will bring back something of value to the Ducks.
Now Ducks fans may get pissed off at me, because I know we are in mid-November here. The main reason you have these great players is to make one last run, right? We heard that this would be the last run of this highly successful group all summer long and I get it.
All I am saying is that it so doesn't have to be the "one last run."
The pieces are already in place for the Ducks to spend another decade frustrating teams and go to the Cup Finals. They have a line that has and will dominate. I am just saying that the Ducks should be sellers this year if they are anywhere below 5th in the Conference standings come the deadline. The Ducks are in an incredibly fortuitous spot. They have a rare chance to take advantage of teams that are peaking right now and need to win.
But will the Ducks possibly move players even if they squeak into the playoffs?
Hard to say, but I am reminded of the Pahlsson trade at last year's deadline to Chicago. The Ducks were in the race and yet dealt one of their historically most dominant playoff performers to a team in their conference. A team that they came close to playing in the playoffs.
In that deal, they picked up a steal in James Wisniewski in that deal. Sami was a pending UFA, James had this year still on his contract and will only be an RFA next season. Look what they got for Pahlsson and again look at the chips of Niedermayer, Selanne, Koivu, and Giguere.
The Ducks are in a wonderful position if they play their cards right. Ducks fans may want to cash in these chips, (act now or else) take their chances on Hiller in these playoffs and reap the amazing future that could impact them as early as next season...
more to come
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