So I have a few more stories that are not related to last nights game. There is also coverage of how you can get your own replica Stanley Cup ring.Here they are.
The LA Times has a look at how the Ducks are adjusting to life with Scott and Teemu
Life without Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne wasn't something the Ducks planned on. A little more than three months ago, in the afterglow of their first Stanley Cup title, the team had no choice but to wait as the pair considered leaving the game.
The wait may not be over but the reality is the defending champions have had to move on while two of the most accomplished players to grace the Ducks' sweater sit at home trying to decide if the fire is still there.Two season-opening games in London are in the books and tonight's game against the Detroit Red Wings in a rematch of the Western Conference finals awaits, but it will take the course of this season to find out just how much the Ducks will miss Niedermayer, their former captain, and Selanne, their goal-scoring winger who was the face of the franchise.
If there is a leadership void, as some have suggested, the Ducks don't see it.
"We have a number of veteran guys on this team that can stand up and say something," said Chris Pronger, who was installed as captain last week. "It doesn't always have to come from the captain and it shouldn't. Much like last year.
"Scotty didn't have to say an awful lot. We've got a lot of guys that can stand up and speak up in the locker room."
Numbers are easier to point to and the Ducks will have to account for what's lost. At 34, Niedermayer posted a career-high 69 points to lead all NHL defensemen and, at 36, Selanne led the Ducks with 48 goals and 94 points.Read the rest here - Link
The OC Register has a look at the upcoming Blue Jackets and Penguins games and info on the Stanley Cup replica ring
It seemed like a great idea at the time. As long as the Ducks were going to travel to London, they might as well play a few more games while en route back to Anaheim, thus alleviating the need for yet another trip East later this season.
The brainchild of Ducks general manager Brian Burke, the club's early season schedule had begun to look like something of a potential death march, what with the absence of conflicted stars Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne, injuries to Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Mathieu Schneider and Samuel Pahlsson, and consecutive home openers in Detroit, Columbus and Pittsburgh following last weekend's two games against the Kings in London.
Suddenly, though, after managing to steal a point in the NHL standings thanks primarily to goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov's courageous and at times logic-defying 40-save performance in Wednesday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Red Wings, the Ducks find themselves in position to secure at least a break-even trip by winning tonight's contest with the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.
"Yeah, we have our hands full, but you know what? We've all been through it," Ducks winger Todd Bertuzzi said. "We've opened up games before, so it's not as if it's something new to any of the guys, especially on a team like this. They have enough veterans in the locker room and enough leadership to make it through that. Everyone is well aware what's going on and how to be prepared for it."
Read the rest here - Link
Brandon Segal has been assigned to Portland via Anaheim Ducks official site
The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has assigned right wing Brandon Segal to the Portland Pirates, Anaheim’s primary development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Segal, 24 (7/12/83), collected 0-1=1 point with nine penalty minutes (PIM) in five preseason games with the Ducks last month. Segal, who did not play in Anaheim’s three regular-season games, was tied for third on the club in exhibition appearances.
Acquired from Nashville in exchange for future considerations on June 26, 2007, Segal spent the 2006-07 regular season with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL), the Predators’ development affiliate in the AHL. He appeared in 77 games for the Admirals, scoring 20-9=29 points and finishing second on the team in goals. In four AHL playoff games, Segal recorded 1-0=1 point and two PIM.
