Good Morning all and greetings from the temporary command center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. I recently had the opportunity to do a brief Q & A with Ducks Radio Color Analyst Dan Wood.
ES: What were your thoughts when the Ryan Kesler trade became official? DW: I obviously had been aware of all the talk regarding the Ducks’ interest in Ryan Kesler, and I was hopeful the team could acquire him. I think he is exactly the type of player the Ducks needed to add – a big, strong, solid two-way center. Given what the Ducks have accomplished, and not accomplished, the past two seasons, it has to be about improving the team to have a better chance for a long playoff run. The addition of Kesler should do that. So I was thrilled that the Ducks were able to acquire him. Having said that, and I can’t emphasize this enough, I was very sad to see Nick Bonino and Luca Sbisa go. They were two of my favorite guys on the team – from the standpoint of people. I truly like both of them a lot. From a hockey standpoint, I really like the trade. From a personal standpoint, I hate to lose Bonino and Sbisa. Obviously, it’s a business, and you have to make the trade to improve the hockey team. I love it from that standpoint, but very sorry to see Bonino and Sbisa go. They are really quality guys, and I’ll miss them.
ES: What is your impression of first round pick Nick Ritchie? DW: I can’t say a lot, because I’ve never seen him play. But from what I do know about him, I like him. He obviously has tremendous size and projects as a solid power forward. That is not an easy element to find. I’ve heard good things about him, so I hope he’ll develop into a solid player for the Ducks.
ES: The Ducks will use two very young goaltenders in 2014-15, will their collective lack of experience cause a change in the team's style of play? DW: I don’t think it is an absolute certainly that the Ducks will go with Frederik Andersen and John Gibson. I think it’s still possible the team could make a move to acquire a more experienced goalie. I, however, don’t expect that. I expect them to go with Andersen and Gibson because I think the staff really likes those guys and believes in them – and why wouldn’t they? No, I don’t think it would cause a change in the team’s style of play. Coach Bruce Boudreau, and for that matter the players, have seen enough of Andersen and Gibson to have full confidence in both of them. My guess is the Ducks will go with Andersen and Gibson to start the season, and probably the whole way. But, depending on how the season goes and how they perform, there is always the possibility they could seek a more veteran goalie at some point before the trade deadline.
ES: The Ducks have four restricted free agents, Perrault, Smith-Pelly, Vatanen and Silfverberg, do you think any of them gets an offer sheet from another team? If so do the Ducks match? DW: I’d be surprised if any of Perreault, Smith-Pelly, Vatanen or Silfverberg were to receive an offer sheet from another team. I just don’t think any of them is proven enough to warrant another team making such a bold move. Obviously, it’s possible, but I wouldn’t expect it. Would the Ducks match if it were to happen? I think that would depend on the terms of the offer sheet. If it were within reason, sure, the Ducks would match. If an offer sheet were outlandish, which it would probably have to be in order for the offering team to expect to have a chance to actually get the player, I would expect the Ducks to strongly consider not matching it. I mean, if it’s totally out of whack, I personally would not overpay for any of those guys. I’d rather have the compensatory draft picks. Again, though, I don’t expect an offer sheet on any of those guys.
ES: If Daniel Winnik doesn't come back, how does it effect the Ducks? DW: As for Daniel Winnik, Ducks general manager Bob Murray has gone on record saying the team does not plan to offer contracts to Winnik, Saku Koivu and Jonas Hiller. Right now, the absence of Winnik and Koivu appears rather glaring. In fact, as I look at a potential depth chart, what jumps out at me immediately is who is going to play on the third line? Having said that, Bruce Boudreau isn’t as married as many coaches to the idea of having a traditional, checking-type third line. And obviously, with Ryan Kesler centering a second line, he’s clearly going to be your “shut-down… center, the guy who will anchor a line that plays against other teams’ top lines when/if the Ryan Getzlaf line doesn’t. Still, I wonder where Andrew Cogliano fits without Koivu and Winnik. Obviously, Cogliano fits – it’s just a question of where. Who knows? Maybe Cogliano plays with Kesler on the second line. At any rate, I think it’s very possible there could be more personnel moves between now and the time training camp begins. More specifically, as it relates to Winnik, I think he certainly played a valuable role for the Ducks the past two seasons. I don’t mean to disparage him in any way. But his absence doesn’t bother me. I think the Ducks can make up for not having Winnik.
A big thanks to Dan Wood for taking a few minutes to answer a few questions during the busy part of the off-season. You can follow him on twitter - @Duckscolorman
I'm working on another surprise or two while I'm on vacation, so please check back.
-Ed