We have an interesting alignment of rumors and personnel moves. I will link the stories in a way to help build up to the final analysis.
Marchant was a health scratch last game and is not happy with that
Todd Marchant admitted it was a tough pill to swallow Sunday when he was a healthy scratch for only the second time in his 14-year career.
“As a player, I’m not happy about it, but the only thing I can do is control what I can control,”
Marchant said after Tuesday’s practice.
Marchant has been moved around the forward spots and played on mulitple lines this season. Coach Randy Carlyle said he would like to see more tenacity from Marchant, a former Olympian who has been known as one of the faster skaters in the NHL.
Read the rest here - Link
Ducks recall Geoff Platt from Portland
The Ducks announced today that they have recalled center Geoff Platt from the Portland Pirates, Anaheim’s primary development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Platt, 22 (7/10/85), scored 7-9=16 points with a +6 rating and six penalty minutes (PIM) in nine games with the Pirates this season. Acquired from Columbus in exchange for defenseman Aaron Rome and left wing Clay Wilson on Nov. 15, 2007, Platt began the season with the Syracuse Crunch (Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate). In 24 AHL games between the Pirates and Crunch, he recorded 11-12=23 points with a +5 rating and 12 PIM.
Read the rest here - Link
Niedermayer retirement watch continues
Could this be the week Scott Niedermayer ends his retirement and returns to the Anaheim Ducks?
It's beginning to look that way.
Sources close to Niedermayer suggest he is prepared to return to the NHL team in the near future.
If so, it would be welcome news for the Ducks.
The Ducks do not have any salary cap issues this season that would prevent Niedermayer from re-joining the team. They have plenty of room below the $50.5 million salary cap, but that is not to say there aren't other financial considerations that could be problematic for the Ducks unless they trade a player.
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Eric Duhatschek has an analysis of all the rumor
Truth be told, the player the Ducks would most like to ship out is Todd Marchant who earns $2.517 million - too much for what he brings to the table as a fourth-line checking forward. Who would take Marchant, up front, at the figure? No one. That's why the Ducks might need to get creative to make a deal happen. Someone with salary-cap space might take Marchant off their hands, provided Anaheim sweetened the deal by including their own 2008 first-round choice in the transaction.
Read the rest here - Link
