Well, as Earl said it was Indecisionmayer time. I hope he makes the best decision for him and his family and I will give a respite from any cajoling. So I have for you tonight some more Niedermayer analysis, the state of Sami Pahlsson, a little news on training camp, some tales of the cup and other exciting Ducks News. Also for AnaheimDuckFan and all the other O'Donnell fans, I have a few more pics from Total photo posted here.
Niedermayer Analysis
MVN has their look at the Niedermayer retirement issues.
With his youngest curly headed son off to the side, Scott Niedermayer took some time to talk with the media this morning about his retirement decision. Or in Scott’s case a non-decision. Niedermayer answered questions for about 30 minutes and made it clear that his decision is still 50/50 until he decides one way or the other about retirement. While he expressed gratitude to GM Brian Burke for giving him as much time as he needed to make a decision, he wishes that Burke had set a deadline that would have forced him to make a decision.
Over the summer Niedermayer has spoken with a lot of people about retirement - his children, his wife, his family, teammates, other retired players, such as Scott Stevens, Ken Daneyko and Pat LaFontaine. He has heard a lot of unsolicited advice as well, especially in Canada when people on the street felt the obligation to put in their two cents worth. What it all comes down to is that the decision is personal and it truly has to be his decision.
Niedermayer did admit that he has done nothing over the summer to train or prepare for the upcoming season and that is one of the factors in his decision. Does he have the energy and ability to commit to doing the necessary things to have a successful season? He admitted that it would take him about four weeks to prepare to be on the ice if he were to start this afternoon. It is clear that he is not going to start skating and training this afternoon. On the plus side, the stress fractures and medical issues that hampered him this past season have completely healed and they are not an issue at this point.
Read the rest here - Link
Earl from BOC has his analysis plus one of the funnier graphics I have seen.
Well, more on Niedergate: the wavering one has called a press conference for 10:30 am this morning, but word on the internet is that he will essentially tell us nothing. Per the OC Register, Scott will miss the start of training camp, but other than that his future is no more clear than it was in June: “Maybe I’ll be in camp in a week, or for that matter, I could never put on skates again.”
And while Ducks fans and non-Ducks fans alike fret and stew and wonder and wait, I gotta side with Brian Burke on this issue: "I think there's a misperception out there that this is somehow inconveniencing us. And it's not. We want this player to return. The phone call we don't want is that he's going to retire. The fact he's undecided and this might stretch into the start of the year, this is not a crisis mode for us. This is good news. Because it means he hasn't made the one phone call we don't want him to make."Read the rest here - Link
Sami Pahlsson has a sports hernia and will be out for 3-5 weeks. Get well soon!
Anaheim Ducks forward Samuel Pahlsson will miss 3 to 5 weeks with a sports hernia, Anaheim Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke told media Thursday.
The 29-year-old Pahlsson, entering his seventh season with the Ducks, underwent surgery on Sept. 5 in Philadelphia. Performing the procedure was Dr. Bill Meyer, who performed the same surgery on Ducks goalie J.S. Giguere in early August.
"The recovery time is 3 to 5 weeks and, as was the case with Jiggy, the question is going to be why on earth was this done in September?" Burke said. "Sammy went through abdominal pain throughout the playoffs, but the recommendation was rest. Once he did hard workouts, the pain was off and on, but he didn’t have steady pain."Read the rest here - Link
A look at the Portland Pirates coaching staff's evaluation time of the rookies
"Part of our role has always been development, and I can look at the strides these kids have made since I saw them at our development camp," said Dineen, who will be back for his third season with the Pirates. "I'll get to see where they've taken a few steps. At 18 or 19, that's when you can measure progression month to month after they've been associated with a professional organization for the first time."
Dineen said the two exhibition games, which will be played Saturday and Sunday at the NHL team's 750-seat training facility, will provide good opportunities for him to evaluate the young players.
"Those two games are important," he said. "Once (the) main camp starts, there's no guarantee those guys are going to get much playing time because you're going from 25 bodies to 45 or 50 bodies."
A few of the young players at the camps can't be classified as rookies.
Included in that group are forwards Drew Miller and Ryan Carter, who made their NHL debuts with the Ducks during the Stanley Cup playoffs after spending their first professional season in the AHL with the Pirates.
Read the rest here - Link
Stanley Cup Playoff game worn jerseys up for auction
Own a piece of history! Welcome to the Beckett Media auction of Stanley Cup Playoff game worn HOME jerseys from the 2007 Stanley Cup Champion
Anaheim Ducks.
This special offering of jerseys will be your unique opportunity to own a game worn Playoff HOME Ducks jersey. These jerseys were used in the Stanley Cup Playoff rounds one through three. Home jerseys from the Ducks playoff run are exceptionally difficult to find, due to the fact the home Stanley Cup Finals jerseys were given to the players.
Each jersey has a special tag sewn into the inside hem, identifying it as authentic 2007 Playoffs worn. You will also receive a letter from the Ducks, individually certifying each jersey's authenticity. Each jersey, other than Brad May, has been personally autographed on the back number in black marker. The Ducks letter also verifies the authenticity of these signatures.Ric Jackman - Auction begins September 6
Corey Perry - Auction begins September 6
Shawn Thornton - Auction begins September 6
Joe DiPenta - Auction begins September 7
Chris Kunitz - Auction begins September 7
Brad May - Auction begins September 7
Kent Huskins - Auction begins September 10
Travis Moen - Auction begins September 10
Dustin Penner - Auction begins September 10
Ryan Getzlaf - Auction begins September 11
Sean O’Donnell - Auction begins September 11
Andy McDonald - Auction begins September 12
Chris Pronger - Auction begins September 12
Read the rest here - Link
The Canadian Press has a look at the NHL and the prospects of a Ducks repeat.
Western Conference
Anaheim Ducks: The NHL hasn't had a back-to-back champion in nearly a decade - Detroit last turned the trick in '97 and '98. Which brings us to the Ducks, who have a legitimate shot at pulling it off. Much will depend, of course, on whether Conn Smythe Trophy winner and perennial Norris Trophy contender Scott Niedermayer decides to come back at some point this season. Mathieu Schneider was a nice insurance pickup by GM Brian Burke but in no way comes close to replacing the skill level, minutes played and leadership Niedermayer gives the Ducks. The addition of winger Todd Bertuzzi should mitigate the possible loss of Teemu Selanne, who also hasn't yet decided on whether or not he'll be back. Losing up-and-comer Dustin Penner to Edmonton was a tough blow. Ryan Getzlaf is just scratching the surface of what should be a superb career and the Ducks, led by Chris Pronger and J.S. Giguere, still have a championship core to contend. They'll be top four in the West and threaten to repeat as champs.
Read the rest here - Link
The Stanley Cup visits Huntington Beach and the Tiger Woods Learning Center
Riding in a black stretch limousine and accompanied by a white-gloved handler, the Stanley Cup made a surprise appearance this morning in Huntington Beach.
Stunned diners at the Sugar Shack cafe took a break from their pancakes and eggs to snap photos with the trophy, given to professional hockey's championship team."It felt surreal," said Kenny Brooks, who eats at the landmark diner every other week. "You always hear about how it travels around the United States and Canada, but you never imagine that you're going to be around it."
After the Anaheim Ducks won the NHL championship in June, each player and team official got to take possession of the 115-year-old silver trophy for 24 hours and could take it wherever he pleased.
Thursday was team Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Ryan's day. Ryan, who has lived in Huntington Beach for a decade, said it was fitting to start the day in his hometown. He planned to take the 35-pound cup on a visit to see children at the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Anaheim, then to a private party for 200.Read the rest here - Link
The Stanley Cup takes a trip to Providence with Brian Burke
The Stanley Cup will be at Providence College on Sunday, October 7.
Sept. 4, 2007
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Providence College hockey head coach Tim Army announced today that the Stanley Cup will be coming to PC's Schneider Arena on Sunday, October 7 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Members of the media and Friends of Friar Hockey supporters are invited to a reception hosted by former Friar Brian Burke, General Manager of the Anaheim Ducks. Invitations are to follow. Burke led his team to its first ever NHL Stanley Cup championship on June 7. Anaheim won the best-of-seven series against the Ottawa Senators (four-games-to-one) and became the first West Coast team to capture the Stanley Cup.
Burke, who played in 112 games at PC from 1973-77, became the second former Friar (while serving as a general manager) to help an NHL team capture the Stanley Cup title. Lou Lamoriello `63, who was a player, head coach and athletic director at PC and is the current CEO/President and General Manager of the New Jersey Devils, has guided his team to three Stanley Cup crowns
See the original post here - Link
And finally, Sean O'Donnell with the cup, episode 2. Thanks to Totalphoto's flickr blog for the photos.
