Bobby Kittleberger: Low Risk-Low Reward Management Could Start Hurting the Ducks The Anaheim Ducks management style has primarily relied on in-house talent and shied away from risky external movement.

Excellent analysis and my one big complaint with Murray - Yes occasionally you will crap out on big trades and FA - that should not dissuade you from making a play for a guy that can really help the squad and as you said there are pieces still available now to make that happen.

The truth is we haven't had to make those big moves because we've had Getzlaf, Perry, and #1 goaltending like j.s. giguere, Gibson, Andersen, hiller. The big move was Kesler. He was suppose to provide that missing piece that we all thought we needed. The Kesler trade I don't dispute just the resigning.
In Anaheim things are different than they are in Los Angelas. They prefer big flashy moves like signing kolvalcnuk. High risk high reward for sure. But the risk is way to high for any reasonable Gm too make.
In Anaheim currently we have a good team. Probably a playoff team. But not a contender. And certainly not a over the hill team either. We have lots of talent in the back end with some young support players around a aging core group. Now I fine with big moves but what's the point of making a move if it only handcuffs you in the salary cap. Or if you have to give up more than you get.
Lastly who's available that would have made us better. Taveras would have never came too California. No matter how hard San jose tried nothing would have kept taveras from the leafs. After that the pickings are slim. Paneran wants big money we don't have. Phil Kessel already makes to much to fit in our cap structure. Matter of fact most available players do. So let's talk about freeing up cap space then. The big 3 contracts all have no move clauses. And even if they waved them we get no where close to equal value. I thinking maybe 40 cents on the dollar if we traded Getzlaf, Perry, or Kesler.
Which brings us to the fact that there is help coming outside the organization. The best help this year will come from player development or changing the play style. There is enough quantity of players in San Diego to augment the roster with speed and youth. They lack experience. And that's something that management needs to commit to this year. Because we don't know what we have till they get up here and show it to us. And sometimes for players to reach an even higher level they need to play aginst better more seasoned opponents. Succeeding against AHL or junior hockey players is good. But in the nhl everybody's good.
The sad thing is only time is going to fix the problems with this team. Time to get young players up to speed and get old players contracts of the books. This is the road bob chose when He resigned Kesler. Now its time to pay the piper. Because playoff windows don't stay open forever.

As for last season, if you remember, the Ducks were f'ing TERRIBLE going into the trade deadline. Murray said if the team proved they were going to contend he would make trades but he wasn't going to throw young assets away if the team showed no chance of competing. They didn't at the trade deadline and that's why the Ducks still have Steel, Jones, etc.
As for Patioretti, there's a reason why he's still with Montreal, they are asking WAY too much in return. They can't let another Subban for Weber happen or Bergevin is going to get fired.
As for this upcoming season, it looks like Eaves is coming back so that will be kinda like signing a FA. I also believe there is a great chance we'll see a line of Jones-Terry-Steel sooner than later, which I am really looking forward to.
I believe this is going to be a transition year for the Ducks. I think this year is it for Corey Perry, he either proves he can still be an effective player or he'll be bought out next season. I also think this will be a do or die season for Carlyle, too. I don't think it's any coincidence that Dallas Eakins was given a multi-year contract or that the Gulls were playing how Murray wants Anaheim to play.

As for last season, if you remember, the Ducks were f'ing TERRIBLE going into the trade deadline. Murray said if the team proved they were going to contend he would make trades but he wasn't going to throw young assets away if the team showed no chance of competing. They didn't at the trade deadline and that's why the Ducks still have Steel, Jones, etc.
As for Patioretti, there's a reason why he's still with Montreal, they are asking WAY too much in return. They can't let another Subban for Weber happen or Bergevin is going to get fired.
As for this upcoming season, it looks like Eaves is coming back so that will be kinda like signing a FA. I also believe there is a great chance we'll see a line of Jones-Terry-Steel sooner than later, which I am really looking forward to.
I believe this is going to be a transition year for the Ducks. I think this year is it for Corey Perry, he either proves he can still be an effective player or he'll be bought out next season. I also think this will be a do or die season for Carlyle, too. I don't think it's any coincidence that Dallas Eakins was given a multi-year contract or that the Gulls were playing how Murray wants Anaheim to play.
- duxcup07

Eakins knows the kids and I think can handle the vets after the Edmton disaster. I mean who does well there as a coach ?
Perry needs to show he's gonna bounce back or he's history -
and RC could be gone be Christmas if things don't change in a hurry -

Murray has done well with trades, and he and his scouting staff have done really well with the draft. He blows when it comes to signing FA's and resigning his UFA's. Kesler is an awful contract, Bieksa was an awful contract, among others. He and RC over value veterans, sure there's something to be said about veteran leadership, but you've got guys like Getz, shoot Fowler has been there for a long time now, Cogs, Kes, Eaves. We don't need these slow vets on the team like Schenn and Sustr who take up roster spots young guys could have. My one other beef with RC and BM is they need to give the young guys shots to show what they can do, and calling them up and playing them on the 4th line or giving them 8-10 mins on D, isn't giving them a chance to show what they can do. Look at Palmieri, didn't really get much of a chance to show what he could do on while playing on the 4th line and look what he's doing in NJ. Troy Terry had a year burned on his ELC and only played one game, and this Rowney guy appears to have a roster spot for 3 years. Looks like one of Larsson, or Welinski and maybe even Petterson might be blocked by Schenn and Sustr. Give these young guys a chance, lets see what they can do.

I mean we made our big trade with Kesler. Then everybody was afraid he was going to leave via free agency. I mean we can judge Bob all day long but the truth is most ducks fans wanted him to do it. So we just have to live with it. Hopefully we learn from our mistakes next time.
I like pacioretty. But he wants to go to Florida apparently. The best idea I can think of was to trade up in the draft. Get a young cost controlled foward the could play on the top line. Like phillip zidina. But it seems to expensive. The last idea is tank for a year. But nobody wants to do that.
So we wait. Because that's all we can do.

I mean we made our big trade with Kesler. Then everybody was afraid he was going to leave via free agency. I mean we can judge Bob all day long but the truth is most ducks fans wanted him to do it. So we just have to live with it. Hopefully we learn from our mistakes next time.
I like pacioretty. But he wants to go to Florida apparently. The best idea I can think of was to trade up in the draft. Get a young cost controlled foward the could play on the top line. Like phillip zidina. But it seems to expensive. The last idea is tank for a year. But nobody wants to do that.
So we wait. Because that's all we can do.
- Eman87654

Only in hockey do fans b!tch and moan that someone makes too much money. The only people who should be pissed about Kesler's contract are Henry and Susan Samueli. Hey, it is what it is. Besides, it might be going away anyway. If those new fangled injections don't improve his hip he's done. One doctor has already advised him to retire. If the injections work and the old Kesler's back, then all the better.

Only in hockey do fans b!tch and moan that someone makes too much money. The only people who should be pissed about Kesler's contract are Henry and Susan Samueli. Hey, it is what it is. Besides, it might be going away anyway. If those new fangled injections don't improve his hip he's done. One doctor has already advised him to retire. If the injections work and the old Kesler's back, then all the better.
- duxcup07

Yeah. It's the salary cap . I didn't care before there was one. All I cared about was winning and watching goals get scored. Now we have whole websites dedicated to cap management. It's crazy.

All due respect to Brian Burke, the team that won the Cup was pretty assembled by Bryan Murray. Outside of the masterstroke Pronger trade, Burke didn't do too much.

As far as the current team, I don't see a deep playoff run.

Are you our new blogger or is this a one time shot?

Are you our new blogger or is this a one time shot?
- quackup

I'm a new blogger and have been covering the Kings actually haha. I'm an Anaheim fan though and they let me jump over here as well. Should be pretty regular on both columns. The people running Hockeybuzz are good folks.

I'm a new blogger and have been covering the Kings actually haha. I'm an Anaheim fan though and they let me jump over here as well. Should be pretty regular on both columns. The people running Hockeybuzz are good folks.
- Bob Kittleberger

You'll see I commented on your previous Kings blog wanting you to blog for the Ducks. Welcome aboard.

I think were are going o have a good season and make the playoffs too.. The Question is the Jets...Can we get by them ? Preds ?

All due respect to Brian Burke, the team that won the Cup was pretty assembled by Bryan Murray. Outside of the masterstroke Pronger trade, Burke didn't do too much.

As far as the current team, I don't see a deep playoff run.
- alanstrickland

Murray signed Rob in 03 . which got us Scott in 05 which really really helped in 07

The Ducks just *LOVE* overpaying guys

8 years 51 million? - Enjoy that....

The Ducks just *LOVE* overpaying guys

8 years 51 million? - Enjoy that....
- RoloTahmasee

better to set the market than to have to match it...in two years that will seem like a bargain..As long as he stays healthy . uhoh

better to set the market than to have to match it...in two years that will seem like a bargain..As long as he stays healthy . uhoh
- rubberduckies

From a team that couldn't get the goalie situation correct if it had till rapture.

The Ducks just *LOVE* overpaying guys

8 years 51 million? - Enjoy that....
- RoloTahmasee

Not an overpayment. 6.4 million is market value. Price is making over 8 million. Goaltending is the most important position on the ice. If your not willing to pay the going rate then your not going to win. This gives the ducks stability for the next 9 years. I mean who else is out there.

Gibson just turned 25 in July. He'll only be 26 when the contract starts. He'll be 33 in his contract year, which is still considered late prime for a goalie. He also has a modified no trade clause (list 10 teams etc). I think this is ideal for the Ducks. Is there a risk? Of course. But I think there's tremendous upside to this deal.

The teams that hate us hate the idea we might have an "elite" goalie for the next 9 years. I get it.

What I particularly like is he'll only be 33 when the contract ends. Team isn't saddled with an aging goalie. But not gonna worry about that now.

Gibson just turned 25 in July. He'll only be 26 when the contract starts. He'll be 33 in his contract year, which is still considered late prime for a goalie. He also has a modified no trade clause (list 10 teams etc). I think this is ideal for the Ducks. Is there a risk? Of course. But I think there's tremendous upside to this deal.

The teams that hate us hate the idea we might have an "elite" goalie for the next 9 years. I get it.

What I particularly like is he'll only be 33 when the contract ends. Team isn't saddled with an aging goalie. But not gonna worry about that now.
- quackup

That guys that don't like it are balloon heads. It's well established that JG is a stud goalie and only getting better. Ducks just killed it ....

Welcome aboard !

Rumor hast it "I got the memo" is now pretending to be a Kings fan

Rumor hast it "I got the memo" is now pretending to be a Kings fan
- rubberduckies

I lived in NYC, and now I live in LA, and I heard the exact same thing. Word is he's stopped his cardio regiment and is considering getting a custom sleeve tattoo. Now that's commitment!

I lived in NYC, and now I live in LA, and I heard the exact same thing. Word is he's stopped his cardio regiment and is considering getting a custom sleeve tattoo. Now that's commitment!
- FromNYCToLA

I also heard he lives in an 300 square foot bachelor apartment in Pacoima , CA