Steve Palumbo: After Three Straight Losses are the Ducks a Contender or Pretender?

Time to blow it up and rebuild

Time to blow it up and rebuild
- PinkSock

Doomed!

When Anaheim lost consecutive home games to the Detroit Red Wings, they became the final NHL team to lose two regulation games in a row.

Off the top of my head, the Habs still haven't lost consecutive regulation games in a row (although they had a regulation loss, SO Loss, regulation loss run in February).

Although, when we lose to the Pens tonight that'll change.

Pretender....

Shine wear off that new goaltender yet??

Steve Palumbo: After Three Straight Losses are the Ducks a Contender or Pretender?
- Steve Palumbo

Well they've got their big guys signed and sealed now, I guess it's time to let their hair down a bit. Near the beginning of the season I doubted their contender status, but I don't think a 3 game slump is anything to worry about with as well as this team has played so far. You have to admit though, it is quite interesting they come on the back of the Getzlaf, Perry signings...

Off the top of my head, the Habs still haven't lost consecutive regulation games in a row (although they had a regulation loss, SO Loss, regulation loss run in February).

Although, when we lose to the Pens tonight that'll change.
- BleedingHabs

Don`t forget Boston, they want to take a bite out of ya also

Off the top of my head, the Habs still haven't lost consecutive regulation games in a row (although they had a regulation loss, SO Loss, regulation loss run in February).

Although, when we lose to the Pens tonight that'll change.
- BleedingHabs

I saw that too. I guess that figures in somehow? The Ducks never has a string like that. The closest they came was back-to-back SO losses to PHX.

The thing is, the Ducks have been playing bad hockey all season. Their puck possession game is horrible, and their PDO and Fenwick are both really bad. Until now, they have been lucky with unsustainable shooting percentages and superhuman goaltending. Their goaltending is now returning to normal, and their shooting percentage is regressing towards the league average.

Due to the shortened season and their first-half tear, the Ducks will make the playoffs, but they will be a bottom-four seed.

oh no ducks lost a few now its time to rebuild, all teams lose, it happens even to the best teams

Keep Pat Marroon up!! you win with him, size and hands. put him with B Ryan, they use to play together as young kids. they have some chemistry and history.....

What incentive does Bobby Ryan now have? The other guys have $7M a year and he is at a paltry $5M. In fact, the big over-the-top signings not only impact Ryan, but the rest of the team whom have been big contributors to the Ducks success who now wonder if there is any money left for them. Why should they bust their asses for way less pay, right? Getzlaf and Perry are good players, but not franchise players. And to topt that off, Hiller is the best goalie but still not really good, and Faust is crashing back to earth. As my duck fan neighbor says, they peaked too early. Watch out for LA and MINN. They are peaking at the right time.

FENWICK ATTACKS!

DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

What incentive does Bobby Ryan now have? The other guys have $7M a year and he is at a paltry $5M. In fact, the big over-the-top signings not only impact Ryan, but the rest of the team whom have been big contributors to the Ducks success who now wonder if there is any money left for them. Why should they bust their asses for way less pay, right? Getzlaf and Perry are good players, but not franchise players. And to topt that off, Hiller is the best goalie but still not really good, and Faust is crashing back to earth. As my duck fan neighbor says, they peaked too early. Watch out for LA and MINN. They are peaking at the right time.
- UglyinLA

Ok first how is 5 mil paltry? Second how are perry amd getzlaf not franchise players? Third who isfaust? And lastly how is hiller not a good goalie?

Steve Palumbo: After Three Straight Losses are the Ducks a Contender or Pretender?
- Steve Palumbo

No longer a contract year, they got paid. Ducks are done.

Ok first how is 5 mil paltry? Second how are perry amd getzlaf not franchise players? Third who isfaust? And lastly how is hiller not a good goalie?
- ZackSmeg

What incentive does Bobby Ryan now have? The other guys have $7M a year and he is at a paltry $5M. In fact, the big over-the-top signings not only impact Ryan, but the rest of the team whom have been big contributors to the Ducks success who now wonder if there is any money left for them. Why should they bust their asses for way less pay, right? Getzlaf and Perry are good players, but not franchise players. And to topt that off, Hiller is the best goalie but still not really good, and Faust is crashing back to earth. As my duck fan neighbor says, they peaked too early. Watch out for LA and MINN. They are peaking at the right time.
- UglyinLA

Not sure if serious...

They should have traded Getzlaf and offered Ryan the big contract. They should be building the team around Ryan and Perry, not Getzlaf and Perry. I don't quite understand that move. I think Getzlafs value would have more than likely brought good player(s) top prospect(s) and pick(s). Seems like a no brainer to me.

But, I guess they thought he was going to be more of a force in the latter half of his career than Ryan who is still in his prime.

That being said, not sure what you consider a franchise player, but if Getzlaf and Perry don't fall on your list of franchise player consderation, not sure your opinion holds much credibility.

Not sure if serious...

They should have traded Getzlaf and offered Ryan the big contract. They should be building the team around Ryan and Perry, not Getzlaf and Perry. I don't quite understand that move. I think Getzlafs value would have more than likely brought good player(s) top prospect(s) and pick(s). Seems like a no brainer to me.

But, I guess they thought he was going to be more of a force in the latter half of his career than Ryan who is still in his prime.

That being said, not sure what you consider a franchise player, but if Getzlaf and Perry don't fall on your list of franchise player consderation, not sure your opinion holds much credibility.
- MnGump

The team is likely headed downwards. Even if the team is successful, the fans remain a little fruity.

Love how Kings fans always seem to scream "PDO" and "Fenwick" regarding the Ducks. Keep yelling that as you look up in the standings.

What I am saying is that we overpaid for our best. Between Getz, Perry, and Ryan, we have $22M tied up in salary cap. Resigning Lydman for the same $3M he makes now takes care of the D. And including those already signed through 2014, that would give us a cap hit of $52 for 6D, 1G, 8F. That leaves $8M for the rest of these guys below to split over the next two years. I am just disappointed that Getz and Perry didnt give us a home team discount so that we could keep more key players.

UFA/RFA
Selanne, Teemu 4.500
Koivu, Saku 3.800
Palmieri, Kyle 1.025
Holland, Peter 1.295
Steckel, David 1.100
Lovejoy, Ben 0.525

2014/15 UFA/RFA
Bonino, Nick 0.700
Holland, Peter 1.295
Staubitz, Brad 0.637
Winnik, Daniel 1.800
Cogliano, Andrew 2.390
Hiller, Jonas 4.500

Steve Palumbo: After Three Straight Losses are the Ducks a Contender or Pretender?
- Steve Palumbo

JvR for Ryan straight up

Love how Kings fans always seem to scream "PDO" and "Fenwick" regarding the Ducks. Keep yelling that as you look up in the standings.
- H.E.Pennypacker

The idea is that the standings 2/3 of the way through the season don't matter as much as the standings at the end of the season. According to PDO and Fenwick (which if you look at the PDO and Fenwick of teams over the last few seasons, they pretty accurately correspond to the final standings), the Ducks are 23rd in Fenwick and 28th in PDO and are prime for a dropoff in production.

Given a full-length season, I think we would see the Ducks have a similar experience as Minnesota last year (1st overall in the NHL with 44 points, 32 games into the season, with similar PDO/Fenwick ratings as Ducks), then finishing 24th overall after 82 games. However, since we have a shortened season, I forsee them being in a similar position to Minnesota last year after 48 games (15th overall, 8th in West, 53 points) and sneaking into the playoffs.

You can dismiss Fenwick and PDO all you'd like, but they have been excellent predictors of a team's performance every year since they were introduced.

Contender.

Ok first how is 5 mil paltry? Second how are perry amd getzlaf not franchise players? Third who isfaust? And lastly how is hiller not a good goalie?
- ZackSmeg

Perry and Getz can buy a Ferrari and a Rolls Royce

Ryan can only buy the Ferrari

Times are tough indeed on Anaheim

Perry and Getz can buy a Ferrari and a Rolls Royce

Ryan can only buy the Ferrari

Times are tough indeed on Anaheim
- Holy_Makinaw99

Pffft...in Orange County, $7 million is hardly enough for rent on a 3-bedroom apartment.