Viktor Fasth was once a name that was hard to pronounce. (Actually it still is. Try saying "Fasth' three times fasth...) Anyway...Now he has become a household name, not only for the Anaheim faithful, but for NHL fans alike.
Just look at his fantasy value over the last week to ten days. The great thing is that he deserves every accolade that has been tossed his way. Even at his worst (See Blues game) he and his fellow Duck teammates find a way to win.
Fasth is 6-0-0 in his first six NHL starts.
The only thing that has prevented an all-out goalie controversy for Bruce Boudreau is the injury to Jonas Hiller. Anaheim's regular starter came up lame in a 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars last Friday with a 'lower-body' injury. While Hiller's injury is not serious, it did open up an avenue for Fasth to get the majority of the work in net on this season-long six-game road trip. He has made the most of his chances and has all but wrestled the Ducks starting job away from Hiller. (Those that believe the job will go back to Hiller once he's healthy should refer back to the San Francisco 49ers and QB Alex Smith.)
Like I've said all along Fasth gives the Ducks the best chance of winning and his performance against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday should be all the proof one needs.
When I first fell in love with Fasth (in training camp), I could find very little about him online. Now all I have to do is Google "Fasth" and more than a million hits comes up with many of them are singing the praises of this 30-year-old Swedish goalie. I give a ton of credit to GM Bob Murray and the Ducks European scouts. They have been high on this guy for a long time and right now they are reaping the rewards of their patience and 29 other teams negligence.
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The other day Eklund put up a poll asking "Getzlaf or Perry." Nearly 11,000 votes were cast with Corey Perry edging out the Ducks captain by 53% to 46% margin. That is much closer than I thought it would be. I though Perry would have run away with the votes. As it turns out, many people can appreciate what a player like Ryan Getzlaf brings to a hockey club - that is a good thing.
If you look around the NHL most teams have a good honest balance of skill, character and leadership guys. But when you look at the top-end teams in the league they have a lot more skilled guys that posses all of those attributes. I think Getzlaf is more of that guy than Perry is at this point in his career.
My opinion on Getzlaf has chanced considerably over the last month or two. If you would have asked me a few months ago about who I thought the Ducks should keep, I would have say 'Perry' - no question. Now I'm on the fence.
Look at what happened in New Jersey. Zach Parise left and the world predicted the demise of the Devils. But, without him the Devils are arguably a better team. Could the same thing happen with the Ducks? Maybe.
Bobby Ryan is no slouch and the amount of young talent in the Anaheim system is nothing to sneeze at. Would the young players develop better under the tutelage of a Ryan Getzlaf or a Corey Perry? Who is better for the Devils young players, Patrik Elias or Zach Parise?
It would seem that in order to keep Perry the Ducks would have to pay more than they would for Getzlaf. Does that even matter? Can the Ducks keep both? Who gives the Ducks the best chance of winning?
A quarter of a way into one of the Ducks best season ever the debate is already beginning and it won't go way until the ink on a new contract is dry for one or both of these guys.
Until then let the fun begin.
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