Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Win or Lose? Quite the conundrum; Ducks, Silfverberg reach an agreement

February 20, 2019, 8:20 PM ET [11 Comments]
Steve Palumbo
Colorado Avalanche Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Anaheim is a little brighter today. No, not because the rain is lifting and the sun is making an appearance - although that helps. No, Anaheim is a little brighter because the Ducks are back in the win column.

Since firing Randy Carlyle, the Ducks are 3-1-0 and have back-to-back wins for just the second time since the wheels fell off way back in 2018. Anaheim's outscored its opponent 10-2 in the three wins and they look like they are having some fun again. The lone loss to a streaking Boston Bruins won't dampen the current mood.

The Silver Anniversary week was a wild success... cheesy, but a success. It was capped off by the emotional hoisting of #27 to the rafters, Ryan Miller becoming the winningest US born goalie in NHL history (375) and Cam Fowler passing Scott Niedermayer for most assists by a defenseman in team history (205). I was in attendance and it was a heck of a night. A memorable night for sure.

We're also hearing about a Jakob Silfverberg extension.


Yes, the warm and fuzzies are back.

But.... at what cost?

For weeks everybody was calling for RC's head. The team plummeted out of a playoff position and the sky above Anaheim was very clearly falling. Death, taxes and Ducks' playoff hockey. Three things you can bank on.

"Something must be done!"

"The Ducks must make the playoffs!"

Fast forward to today. Anaheim shut out the Minnesota Wild 4-0 on Tuesday night to move within a point of the final Wild Card position. Corey Perry is scoring. Jakob Silfverberg is scoring. Ryan Kessler is scoring, Ryan Getzlaf is scoring. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Everything people cried/wrote about for weeks is finally happening and now all I'm hearing/reading is how the Ducks are screwing up their draft positioning. The future is in jeopardy. Lose for Hughes! The narrative shifted so fast I'm dizzy.

Bad Religion once referred to Southern California as the "land of competition." That's the ultimate truth. Southern California fans have a bad rap and for good reason. They are more than finicky. If you're not first, you're not worth watching. So. Californians can't help it. There really are a million other thing to do besides hang their hats on a bad local sports team. Ask the Angels and their half-empty stadium.

Most of you will disagree with me, but that's only because those of you reading this blog and other bogs like it, are serious fans. I go to Ducks' games, the number of "serious" fans are small. Anaheim has great loyal fans, but the number pales in comparison to a team from, say, New York, Boston, Chicago or Canada. #Truth

I'm fairly confident, 25-30% of the crowd in attendance at Nieds night was either a Capitals' fan or a Devils' fan. Lots or red in that lower bowl.

And here lies the conundrum.... continue to lose and hope to get a nice infusion of young talent and prospects ti inject into the organization. Struggle for a bit, but the future looks promising?

OR....

Continue to win, make the playoffs, get bounced early and keep the wheels of mediocrity spinning? Impatient "fans" will remain engaged, but is it worth it?

What's you take? Are you still hoping to make a playoff run or had you already set your sights on a high draft pick and gamble with the unknown?

Let's hear it!

Thanks for reading,
Steve
Join the Discussion: » 11 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Steve Palumbo
» Avalanche Stay Active On The Trade Market
» Red Hot Avalanche Trade For An Old Friend
» The Colorado Avalanche Are Stanley Cup Champions!
» Avalanche On The Verge Of Hockey's Pinnacle
» Stanley Cup Final: Avalanche Take Thrilling Game One In OT