Ducks Sign Santorelli
The Ducks signed free agent forward Mike Santorelli to a one year, $875K contract. I did not see this one coming and to be honest, I'm not a Santorelli supporter. Upon further review, if there is an internal goal to increase team speed over last season, then mission accomplished. A unit of Carl Hagelin, Andrew Cogliano, Santorelli, Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm could skate circles around their opponents.
Mid Summer Reader Quiz – My Answers
Question 1: Did the Ducks come out ahead in essentially swapping Beleskey, Palmieri, Beauchemin and Wisniewski for Carl Hagelin, Chris Stewart, Kevin Bieksa and Anton Khudobin?
I'm going to call this a push unless... ...Anaheim decides to play an even more physical style. Not a great idea in the regular season, but if the Ducks can stay healthy in the second season, they will absolutely punish their opponents along the boards.
Question 2: This years crop of restricted free agents has been dealt with. Next summer the team has seven key RFAs, Frederik Andersen, John Gibson, Hampus Lindholm, Simon Despres, Sami Vatanen, Jiri Sekac, and Rickard Rakell. How many of them will be Ducks by the start of 2016-17?
Tough one. My opinions will vary from yours I believe. I'll say four or five, but I'll try to make a case for six.
First the common ground, Hampus Lindholm is the only lock. Stick with me. I also agree with many of you that next up is the goalie. I like them both, but Andersen's fade in the WCF really concerns me. I'll go out on a (small) limb and say Gibson is the future. The goalie that is not extended will net (pardon the pun) a big return for Bob Murray. After those two are secured, “need… is out of the equation and we move on to “want.…
I want Sami Vatanen. Whatever “it… is, he has; but he could get replaced by Shea Theodore. As much game as Theodore looks to have, he has to prove himself at the highest level. Until then, keep Vatanen. Today, Rickard Rakell is a top six player for about 25% of the NHL, by the end of the season, that percentage may go way up. Unfortunately, he won't get a whiff of a top six pivot job with the Ducks unless there is an injury. From the Ducks side, if "Ricky Rak" can accept a somewhat lesser role and pay with the Ducks than someplace else in exchange for cup contention, he will be signed.
Despres and Sekac are two players I like. If either take another step up this year, they could force a players like Clayton Stoner and/or Pat Maroon out next summer. Further, if Theodore is the real deal, Cam Fowler could become expendable.
Question 3: Does the addition of former NHL coach of the year, Paul MacLean as an Ducks assistant coach make a difference?
In my opinion, hiring Paul MacLean is a distant shot off Bruce Boudreau's bow. An attention-getter, if you will.
There is no substitute for good coaching, unless... MacLean becomes a distraction to head coach Boudreau. If the top guy starts looking over his shoulder, than MacLean could create more problems than he fixes.
Question 4: If you were Bruce Boudreau, who would be on your top power play unit? It depends on whether the Ducks want a finesse/skilled unit or a physical one. The good news is their two main cogs Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry can blend with either style. I personally like a open, puck moving man advantage and Perry is enough of a factor in the crease that another physical presence is probably not needed. Sekac or Kesler/Getlaf/Perry/Vatanen/Fowler is the unit I choose.
Question 5 (for locals only): Anaheim has moved its minor league team to San Diego. Will you attend a game?
Obviously a bit out of my range at this time.
There is still time to add your poll answers to the discussion. I will post some of your responses Thursday.
- Ed
PS - A fond farewell to Lightning blogger Michael Stuart. Michael is leaving Hockeybuzz for other pursuits. He will be missed.