Ek's note:
We are pleased to welcome Ed Stein as our new Anaheim Ducks writer. Ed is originally from Wantagh, New York. He is a graduate of The University of Tennessee in Knoxville. A few years back, Ed, a night owl, was looking for sports to watch late at night and found a Ducks game. He was hooked and has followed the Ducks ever since. Ed has worked in many sports related endeavors. He has been an Assistant General Manager in the minor league baseball, spent a season as the Public Address announcer for Tennessee Volunteers baseball and was a high school football referee. He has also been a sports and news journalist with articles appearing in such publications as The Birmingham News, The Western Star and Motor City Sports Magazine. In addition, Ed was a regional finalist in ESPN's Dream Job competition. Ed currently lives in Music City, USA with his wife and their three children, and is an avid fantasy hockey player.
The 2013-14 season ended on Friday and the unofficial start to the 2014-15 season started on Saturday. For all intensive purposes it could have been the Ducks hoisting the cup on SoCal ice; but it wasn't. The big question for the team is: How do the Ducks go from best in the west to Stanley Cup Champions?
Over the next few weeks we will answer the big question by looking at the smaller questions.
The big picture shows the Ducks have $49.335M in payroll commitments to 19 players next season. The projected cap will fall somewhere between $69.5M to $71.5M. That will leave the team with approximately $20.4M on the low end to $22.4M on the high end to fill out the roster.
Before we take a look at what pieces to add, we need to look at which pieces to keep. We start with the team's Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA). Teemu Selanne has retired after an illustrious career; so that leaves Jonas Hiller, Saku Koivu, Daniel Winnik, Stephane Robidas, David Steckel, Nolan Yonkman, and Zack Sortini.
Jonas Hiller
As much as Ducks fans love Hiller, it is time to say goodbye. That's not being callous it's business. Hiller's cap hit was $4.5M last season. He isn't coming back for less money and he isn't the best goalie the team has (he might not even be the second best). He ends his Ducks career 3rd all-time in wins, saves and shutouts. Among goalies that played 70 or more games played, he is 2nd all time in goals against average and first in save percentage. Eck has Vancouver as the odds on favorite to land him.
Saku Koivu
Does he want to continue his career? If he keeps playing, does he want to stay in Anaheim? Those are questions only Koivu can answer. From the Ducks perspective, yes they want him back, but not if he wants the same $3M salary as last season. That is a deal breaker. He wins faceoffs and competes like a hungry bear trying to catch a fish. At 39 years-old is that enough to pay him second line money when he is probably going to be a third and a half line center? The ball is in his court.
Daniel Winnik
I thought the $1.8M the Ducks paid for him was a bargain. He was a penalty kill stalwart and the 30 points he contributed in the regular season weren't bad either. Winnik is a prime candidate to be poached. The Ducks should pay to keep him. Teams win Stanley Cups with role players like Winnik.
Stephane Robidas
The 37 year-old trade deadline acquisition from Dallas would be the Heartbreak Kid, if only he were a kid. Robidas suffered a bad broken leg in late November, worked hard to rehab it and made it back to the Stars lineup by mid-March. The Ducks desire to add a steady veteran blue liner brought him to town at the deadline. He was a solid contributor until he broke his leg again in round one of the playoffs. With eight defenseman signed for next season, Sami Vatanen is an RFA, and Shea Theodore due soon; Robidas is far from a lock to return.
David Steckel
There is no doubt about Steckel's abilities in the face-off circle. He is however, the number five center on the roster. Unless some other team can offer him a one-way contract, which could happen; I see no reason why the Ducks wouldn't offer him a hearty two-way to stay.
Nolan Yonkman and Zack Sortini
Neither one of them will play for the Ducks next season.
Later this week I'll post my thoughts on the Ducks Restricted Free Agents. That will be followed by potential compliance buy-out targets and trade-bait players.
-Ed
Authors Note:
Steve Palumbo did a great job in this slot and has left some big shoes to fill. I look forward to covering the Ducks for such a die-hard fan base.
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