Anaheim Ducks News -Vacation Post

I am on vacation this week, but I thought I would post some links from today's news

Bobby Ryan sent to Portland - Link

MVN Coverage of today's Ducks Practice and the State of the Franchise - Link

Ducks blog has coverage of the state of t franchise - Link

Ducks trade Darryl Bootland(AHL) - Link

Burke and David Shoalts talk - Link

Anaheim Ducks News for Sunday

So much for Sunday being a slow news day......

Pahlsson will be out again

Ducks center Samuel Pahlsson said he likely will miss his seventh consecutive game Monday night.

Pahlsson has an abdominal strain and is trying to strengthen the area. He does not have a target date for his return.

"I don't know when I'm playing," Pahlsson said. "It's gotten a lot better. It's just a matter of when."

Read the rest here - Link

2008 All Star Balloting Results

The fan balloting for the NHL All Star Game has concluded and the results were released today. The Ducks had four players on the ballot, but none of them made the starting line up. Chris Pronger came closest, finishing 3rd in balloting for defensemen. Fellow d-man, Francois Beauchemin, finished a respectable 5th place. Jean-Sebastien Giguere finished in 4th place for goaltenders. Ryan Getzlaf came in 8th place among forwards.

Read the rest here - Link

Varius has a look at Ducks forward situation

With ever-growing rumors that Teemu Selanne is on his way back to the Ducks this season, I figured we should take a look at the potential logjam at forward this presents Anaheim.

Scoring Line 1

Without a doubt, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry have cemented their statuses this season as first-liners. The problem is, their coveted left-wing spot has seen a revolving door of guys who just haven’t been the perfect match.

In my opinion, I would leave Chris Kunitz there. He brings energy and grit to an already feisty line and complements the others well. While Perry is agitating and dangling his way off the boards or out of the corners to the front of the net, Kunitz can install himself in perfect deflection position in front of the net. This frees Getzlaf to roam behind the net or to the high slot, where his rocket shot is best used.

Read the rest here - Link

Bobby Ryan is profiled on the Ducks official site

From the moment his name was called as the second overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, right wing Bobby Ryan has had immense expectations to live up to.
Along with being the highest draft pick in Ducks history, Ryan was Brian Burke’s first selection as Anaheim’s Executive Vice President and General Manager. One pick prior to Ryan’s selection, Pittsburgh drafted Sidney Crosby, who was already being dubbed “The Next One” and has since won the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP during the 2006-07 season.

“Oh yeah, there are expectations,” Ryan said. “I’m sure there always will be. You hear what people say and what people think.”

Read the rest here - Link

Playoffs will be a close race like last year

Warning: Objects might be closer than they appear.

The Ducks, rejuvenated and stabilized by the return of Conn Smyth Award-winning defenseman Scott Niedermayer, are now looking ahead as they drive toward the playoffs.

But this season there are no guarantees of reaching the postseason, not even for the defending Stanley Cup champions.

A 6-2-1 surge in their first nine games after Niedermayer ended his flirtation with retirement thrust the Ducks back into playoff contention and boosted their confidence, but it would behoove them to check the traffic in their side-view mirror, too.

After holding on for a 2-1, good-to-the-last-stop victory against Chicago on Friday night at Honda Center, the Ducks were just three points behind Pacific Division co-leaders Dallas and San Jose as they headed to Phoenix for Saturday's universally dreaded finale of back-to-back, home-and-away contests.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News for Friday

It was a dark and stormy night...... well it is but that is not what I am here fore. I've got a Bobby Ryan profile, some analysis of our Ducks and other important news.

Schedule Change!!!!!!!!

The start time for the Ducks' Jan. 20 game at Dallas has been changed from 10:30 a.m. Pacific time to 12:30 p.m. Pacific. The start time was changed to comply with the contracted flex scheduling related to the NBC coverage of the Boston/NY Rangers game.
The Ducks-Dallas game will be broadcast locally on KDOC.

See the original post - Link

New Ducks Cast with Steve Carroll discussing Scott Niedermayer - Link

Bobby Ryan gets interviewed by the LA Times

There are times when he threads a perfect pass up ice or bulldozes a defender in the offensive zone. And there are times when he looks out of place or can't keep up with the speedsters who zoom by him.
It's all part of the education of the Ducks' Bobby Ryan.
With Sidney Crosby now a superstar and Jack Johnson learning the ropes with the Kings, the Ducks have patiently waited for 20-year-old Ryan to grasp the NHL learning curve and prove they were right to draft him second overall in 2005, behind Crosby and ahead of Johnson.

Read the rest here - Link

The OC Register has a look at how the D is contributing

However far the Ducks go this season, it has become clear they will get there largely on the strength of their defensemen, a group that features the “big four” of Chris Pronger, Scott Niedermayer, Mathieu Schneider and Francois Beauchemin.

Since Niedermayer’s return to the lineup in mid-December, the Ducks have not only cut down dramatically on the number of goals and scoring chances they are giving up, but they have received a significant offensive boost from their blue-line corps. Entering Friday night’s matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks at Honda Center, the Ducks have received six goals and 16 points from defensemen in the past seven games.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News For Friday

Vote for the Ducks win as the biggest story in 2007 at the OC Register - Link

The Ducks share stories of Christmas Past and Present

Brian Sutherby
I usually like the Griswolds in “Christmas Vacation.” That’s probably one that I make sure I watch every year. It’s a pretty funny movie. Another one that I’ve started watching is “Elf” with Will Ferrell. That’s also a pretty good one.
George Parros
I think “A Christmas Story” is pretty classic. I just grew up with it. It’s always fun to watch little Ralphie.

Travis Moen
I remember as a kid getting a GT racer that was pretty exciting. I always like clothes and those have been some good gifts over the years, but the GT racer sticks out in my mind as a little kid getting that and going out on the snow hill.
George Parros
I got Greyskull Castle one year for He-Man and I was pretty pumped about that back in the day.

Read the rest here - Link

O'Donnell is happy that he did not get traded

"But it is still kind of stressful at the time. . . . It was the first time I was in that type of situation. I mean you hear rumors all the time and you hear your name in rumors all the time, but they are usually speculation.
"This was different. They had to do something to clear space. You look around the room and you just weren't sure who it was going to be."

Read the rest here - Link

Bobby Ryan gets profiled

The first pick that year was Sidney Crosby, and it’s unfair to compare the two. Crosby was a once-in-a-generation prospect; Ryan, Brian Burke’s first pick as Ducks GM, was a project, and Burke knew it.

But Burke deemed Ryan the best player available, and he fit Burke’s power-forward profile at 6-foot-2, 218 pounds.

While Crosby became the NHL’s brightest star, Ryan spent the past two seasons working on his game and his body.

Read the rest here - Link

Four reasons for the trade by TSN

There are fairly obvious reasons why the St. Louis Blues traded Doug Weight to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Andy McDonald.

McDonald is six years younger than Weight, he's got more offensive upside (even though McDonald is way off his usual pace this season) and is under contract for another season after this one while Weight is an unrestricted free agent who wasn't likely to be re-signed

Read the rest here - Link

Evidently the Ducks are not special enough

The Ducks are hoping Scott Niedermayer will be the boost they need to win another Stanley Cup.

The Anaheim Ducks are hoping that the return of All-Star defenseman Scott Niedermayer is the catalyst to another Stanley Cup run. But before they worry about who they’ll be playing in April, the Ducks have some serious problems -- mostly on special teams -- that need fixing now.
A year ago, the Ducks entered the weekend before Christmas with a lordly 27-4-1-5 record; their 60 points were 10 more than Eastern Conference-leading Buffalo. Anaheim’s 134 goals were the most in the NHL (only Buffalo was within 15), and its 87 goals against (including the five shootout goals) was seventh. Most notably, the Ducks were plus-22 on special teams, having scored 44 power-play goals, allowed just 25 and scored three shorthanded goals while allowing none.

Read the rest here - Link

More on how cool Drew Miller is

Drew Miller is a rookie for the Ducks, even though he has his name on the Stanley Cup. He debuted with the Ducks during the playoffs last spring, playing three games with the team. He got his first NHL goal and point on October 17 against Nashville. He has been scoring points off the ice as well, just by being himself.

Haili Todrick loves her teddy bears, Hannah Montana and hockey. At the Fan Fest, she had most of the Ducks players sign the bear with the Stanley Cup Champions jersey on it. One Duck took a little more time with Haili. He took the bear and gave it a BIG hug, smiled and said, "It's so cute! Can I keep it?" Of course she said no.

Read the rest here - Link

More on the CHOC visit

On Thursday, the entire Ducks team visited CHOC for their annual Christmas visit. All of the Ducks players arrived at CHOC and were split up amongst the different floors. Some wore Santa hats, others wore reindeer antlers. They all wore grins and were happy to visit the children and take their minds off their illnesses, if only for a short period of time. The Ducks also handed out Wild Winger Kid’s Club kits that had been donated by fans. Close to 1,500 kits had been donated, which meant that CHOC could distribute them not only to their in-patients, but also to their out-patients as well. That is the first time they have been able to do that, thanks to the generosity of Ducks fans. In addition to the kits, the Ducks distributed blankets courtesy of Hockey Fights Cancer. Especially fitting on the oncology ward.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News for Wednesday

Ryan gets profiled

"I went down after a good conversation with coach and with [assistant general manager] Bob Murray and realized some of the things I needed to work on down there," Ryan said. "Certainly, I feel like I've improved on them.
"I think that they recognized that I worked hard in those situations. They've granted me another chance and I'm going to make the best of it."
Ryan is back after a two-month stint with the Portland Pirates, the Ducks' minor-league affiliate in Maine, where he put up 10 goals and 24 points in 25 games

Read the rest here - Link

So Does Scott

It's no coincidence that in the three games Niedermayer has played, the Ducks -- whose penalty killing was dragging along at a 78.8% success rate -- have killed all 14 disadvantages they have faced. After losing in a shootout in Niedermayer's first game back, they have now swept a back-to-back sequence for the first time in six tries.
No coincidence there, either.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News for Tuesday - Non Game News

Here is the news not related to tonight's game.

Ducks have published some stats

PACKING ’EM IN: The Ducks recorded their 52nd consecutive sellout at Honda Center on Sunday evening versus the San Jose Sharks...the 52 current sellouts include 40 regular season and 12 playoff games...in August, the Ducks capped season ticket sales at 15,000 and started a waiting list for future orders...the Ducks currently have the third-longest active regular-season sellout streak among U.S.-based NHL teams...Minnesota leads the way with 261 consecutive regular season sellouts...next is the New York Rangers with 91...Anaheim is third with 40, the longest active streak of any U.S. team on the west coast...Pittsburgh ranks fifth with 29 straight regular season sellouts...among Canadian teams, Vancouver leads with 190 consecutive regular season sellouts and is followed by Toronto (174), Calgary (141), Montreal (116), Edmonton (90) and Ottawa (13).

See the rest here - Link

Bobby Ryan feels privileged

Among the other benefits newly acquired center Doug Weight could bring to the Ducks is his potential influence on rookie winger Bobby Ryan.

The Ducks, who visit the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night at HP Pavilion, are desperately in need of a reliable second scoring line. The search features Weight as literally and figuratively the centerpiece, but clearly there would be no better time for Ryan to demonstrate that he is ready to contribute at the NHL level.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News for Tuesday

Well the best Ducks news in a while announced today. Getzy, Nieds and Schnedier may all be ready for Thursday's game against Columbus. I hope this all comes to pass as we need the help. Any ways, here is the rest of the news.

Getzy, Nieds and Schneider may be back and some notes from the Oiler game

Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle offered a ray of hope amid a four-game losing streak.

After Sunday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Edmonton Oilers, Carlyle said that forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Rob Niedermayer along with defenseman Mathieu Schneider could be available for Thursday's home game against Columbus.

"I would suspect that the majority of them will be back at that time," Carlyle said. "That's a very strong possibility."

Getzlaf and Niedermayer both sat for the second consecutive game with Getzlaf nursing a wrist injury and Niedermayer sidelined by a groin strain. Both did take part in Saturday's practice at Anaheim Ice.

Schneider also practiced and the puck-moving defenseman's return could be a major boost to a team struggling mightily on the power play. The Ducks went scoreless in three chances Sunday and now rank 28th in the league at 10.7% (eight for 75).

Read the rest here - Link

MVN has a report from the Ducks visit to CHOC

The Ducks players were scheduled to make a Halloween visit to patients at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) this afternoon. In addition to spending time doing Halloween arts and crafts projects with the children, the playerswere also signing autographs, posing for pictures and talking with parents and siblings of the patients.

Read the rest here - Link

A new Ducks Weekly Report has been posted

A LOOK AHEAD: Following a two-day break, the Anaheim Ducks will return to Honda Center tomorrow to prepare for their Thursday night home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets…the Ducks will then face Pacific Division opponents in their next 10 consecutive games, six of which will be at Honda Center…Anaheim will play Los Angeles and Phoenix three times, and Dallas and San Jose twice from Nov. 3-25…the Ducks currently own a record of 1-3-0 in divisional play.
FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Members of the Ducks will visit patients at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) in Orange on Tuesday from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in celebration of Halloween tomorrow…as part of the afternoon schedule, visiting players and staff will join children at the hospital in Halloween arts and crafts…in addition, players will be signing autographs, posing for pictures and talking with the parents and siblings of the patients…media members are invited to attend the event at CHOC, which is located at 455 S. Main St. in Orange.

Read the rest here - Link

Bobby Ryan gets profiled by NHL.com

Portland Pirates rookie right wing Bobby Ryan went a long way at the start of the season just to eventually take a few strides in reverse.

Ryan started with Anaheim, joining the Ducks for their pair of games in London to start the NHL season. He then returned to North America for contests in Detroit and Columbus. He stuck around for a trip to Pittsburgh, but once there was informed he was moving to the Pirates.

Ryan arrived in Portland on Oct. 6 and played that night, contributing an assist. Last week was his first AHL three-in-three stretch, with contests at Springfield, Worcester and Lowell.

Good thing he spent much of his summer working on leg strength.

“Your first (career) NHL game, you’ll go just about anywhere,’’ he said of the London trip. “It’s tough. You want to play at home, you want to get in a comfort level. I’ll get the chance to do it here.’’

Perhaps the wonder of Ryan’s start -- one goal, five assists in seven games -- is that he’s getting all his rest on an air mattress. That’s about the extent of his furnishings in the two-bedroom apartment he calls home in Portland.

That, and a 62-inch flat screen TV. Priorities, you know.

“I have an air mattress for now, but I have a bed coming next week,’’ he said. “It’s not that bad, but I have to make do. It doesn’t bother me. It’s better than living out of a hotel room and a suitcase.’’

Read the rest here - Link

Other Saturday News

So here is the rest of the news.

Bobby Ryan has been sent back to the AHL, King and Miller brought back

The Anaheim Ducks assigned Bobby Ryan, the second overall pick in the 2005 NHL draft behind Sidney Crosby, to their AHL affiliate Portland on Saturday.

They also recalled right-winger Jason King and left-winger Drew Miller from the Pirates.

Ryan, 20, scored a goal in four regular-season games with the Ducks. He also had a goal and five assists in four pre-season games to lead the team in points.

King, 26, scored two goals in Portland's season opener Friday. He had two goals and an assist in four pre-season games with the Ducks.

Miller, 23, didn't record a point in the Pirates' opener and had one goal in three exhibition games for Anaheim

See how Hockey Sticks are made here courtesy of the AP and Easton PR

It may be more than 100 degrees outside, but inside this factory about 25 minutes south of the U.S. border, more than 500 workers are busy making equipment for a sport played on a large sheet of ice.

And they're pretty busy, churning out about 7,000 hockey sticks a week.

While Mexico is hardly the heart of hockey country, this is precisely where a large chunk of the NHL's sticks are designed, tested and mass produced.

For the most part, hockey is about as foreign as a sport can get in Mexico, but the Easton Hockey plant has its own roller hockey team -- and they're well equipped, of course.

NHL players frequent the plant, curious to see where the space-aged sticks they use to light the lamp are made. They also use the visit to make tweaks to their own sticks.

Mike McGrath, Easton's pro hockey manager, takes asap inside the factory to see just what it takes to make one of a hockey players most important pieces of equipment.

Watch the slideshow here.

Thursday Night Ducks News - Part 2 Miscellaneous News and Analysis

So I am leaving the London news for last.  Can you feel the anticipation building?  I've got some cool stuff for that post.  However here is all other non Bertuzzi, non London related news.

Ask Sevy has is being advertised again. So if you have a Hockey question, here is your chance!

Got a question about the Ducks or the game of hockey in general? You can send an email to Ducks radio analyst Brent Severyn and he'll give you an answer. He might read your question and answer it on the air during the second intermission of a Ducks broadcast.
CLICK HERE TO ASK SEVY!

See the original post here - Link

So you create a game where a person can play as a hockey GM.  How do you promote it?  By scoring and interview with Jennifer Burke and challenging her and her husband Brian Burke to a game.

See the 5 minute (funny) video here - Link

Buy the game here - Link

USA Today has a "What to watch for this season in NHL" article today and the Ducks get some coverage

Three reasons the Ducks could repeat as Stanley Cup champions. 1. Even without Scott Niedermayer, the Ducks, with Mathieu Schneider added, have one of the league's better defenses. 2. No other team can match Anaheim's blend of talent and toughness. 3. This team understands what's required to win it all.

Three reasons the Ducks probably won't repeat: 1. The Ducks are banged up. Samuel Pahlsson, Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Schneider all are starting on the injured list. 2. Teemu Selanne has unofficially retired, and his eternal optimism and jovial demeanor will be missed. Even at the most pressure-filled times, Selanne could keep his teammates loose. 3. This is the salary-cap era, and there's too much parity to allow for any hint of dynastic rule.

Most improved teams: 1. Philadelphia Flyers. 2. Los Angeles Kings. 3. Washington Capitals.

Better than you realize: The Florida Panthers. Nathan Horton and Jay Bouwmeester are coming of age, and newcomer Tomas Vokoun brings stability in net. When you add the bullishness and talent of Olli Jokinen, you have the picture of a playoff team.

Read the rest here - Link

TSN cover the top 20 rookies in the NHL, Bobby Ryan is on that list

Bobby Ryan, RW, Anaheim - Power forward taken with the second pick in 2005 has earned a spot with the defending champs and is currently working with Ryan Getzlaf and Todd Bertuzzi on a potent power line.  There's no telling how long Ryan will last in a prominent scoring role with the Ducks (particularly if Teemu Selanne was to return), but he had 102 points in the OHL last year, so he knows what to do around the net.

Read about the other rookies here - Link

The LA Times thinks the Ducks have what it takes to repeat and thoughts on will make it to the playoffs from the Western Conference

Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Washington's Alex Ovechkin, two talented forwards who play in the Eastern Conference, have been on the fast track to becoming the faces of the new NHL for a while now.
And rightfully so, based on their early success.
But news flash to the league: The Western Conference has a bunch of young phenoms too, starting with the Ducks' Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, Colorado's Paul Stastny and the Kings' Anze Kopitar.
Throughout the west, every team seems to have a youngster with enough size and skill to dominate offensively and enough grit to be known as a solid two-way player. How quickly they develop will go a long way toward determining who wins the Western Conference this season.
The Ducks hold the distinction as defending Stanley Cup champions, but for them to become the conference's first repeat winner since the Dallas Stars in 1999-2000, they are going to have to hold off several Cup-ready teams.
The San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings thought they were ready last season and are determined to take the next step this season. Colorado, Vancouver, Minnesota and Calgary believe this could be their time, while teams such as St. Louis, Dallas and even the Kings, think that they are good enough to surprise.

Read the rest here - Link

The LA Times also have a brief scouting report on the Ducks

2006-07 record: 48-20-14, 110 points, first in Pacific.
* Playoffs: Defeated Minnesota, 4-1, in first round; defeated Vancouver, 4-1, in second round; defeated Detroit, 4-2, in Western Conference finals; defeated Ottawa, 4-1, in Stanley Cup finals.
* Coach: Randy Carlyle, third season.
* Additions: Todd Bertuzzi, Shane Hnidy, Maxim Kondratiev, Mathieu Schneider, Jonas Hiller, Brandon Segal, Bobby Ryan, Mark Mowers.
* Subtractions: Scott Niedermayer, Teemu Selanne, Dustin Penner, Ric Jackman, Ryan Shannon, Mark Hartigan, Shawn Thornton.
* Outlook: And now they are the target. The rough-and-tumble Ducks started fast, survived a spate of injuries and rode a postseason wave that culminated in their first title. Now they must defend without Niedermayer and Selanne, who may call it quits for good. Schneider and Bertuzzi can put up numbers when healthy but can they replace the dynamic duo's leadership?

See the original article here - Link

The Stanley Cup visits Maine

The most famous trophy in all of sports, the Stanley Cup, will make an appearance in Maine.
The Anaheim Ducks, who won 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, will bring the trophy to Maine Saturday, Oct. 6. The NHL Ducks’ are the parent team of the AHL Portland Pirates, who open their season against the Springfield Falcons at 7:05 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5.
Fans hoping to see the Cup will have several opportunities to do so Saturday, Oct. 6. The Cup will appear at five different locations, where fans can view the trophy. The tour starts from 9-10 a.m. at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, home of the Lewiston Maineiacs. From there, the Cup heads to L.L. Bean from 11 a.m.-noon, then to the Portland Museum of Art from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and finally to Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital from 1:45-2:30 p.m.
The Cup will end up at the Cumberland County Civic Center at 5:15 p.m. prior to the start of the Pirates game at 7:05 p.m. against Lowell.

Thanks to Maine Today for the info - Link

Tuesday News - Anaheim Ducks go to London and more

So, today the team arrived in London today after a long flight.  The Official Ducks blog has great coverage and photos.  I also have player interviews, analysis, Stanley Cup Journal update and other news.

The Ducks go to London (with link to photos)

The Ducks arrived at London Stansted Airport at approximately 7:30 London time (11:30 a.m. Pacific), which is just about the same time they left Long Beach Airport yesterday. They headed to the team hotel, where they engaged in a stretch and will be having a team meal before bedtime. They practice tomorrow morning at around 11 a.m.

See photos by team photographer Deb Robinson

The Ducks travel in style during the regular season and playoffs, but it’s nothing compared to the luxury of their trek to London.

The team and various staffers (including this guy) flew across the pond on an EOS 757 aircraft, where each passenger has his own area that doesn’t so much resemble a seat as a mini-apartment. Each seat has a foot rest/ottoman across from it, and with a push of a button the seat reclines all the way back into a flat position, making sleeping on the long flight much easier.

Meanwhile, each seating area comes with its own electrical outlet, so no more fiddling with fancy adapters if you’re hoping to get some power on the plane to do some work or watch movies on a laptop. Of course, you don’t even need the laptop for movies, since near the beginning of the trip, flight attendants handed each passenger his/her own portable entertainment system, which comes with dozens of movies and TV shows stored on it.

During the flight, I caught a couple episodes of “The Office”, one “How I Met Your Mother” (a great show if you’re not already watching it) a not-bad movie called “Fracture” with Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling and fell asleep to my 112th viewing of “The Bourne Identity”. This thing was a godsend.

Read the rest here - Link

MVN has some details on the trip

After a long flight that went through New York to pick up new acquisition, Mark Mowers, the Ducks have finally arrived in England. The Ducks flew in luxury, which for the rookies will be quite the step up from their usual mode of transportation between games. With the eight hour time difference and less than four days until the games, the Ducks will need to acclimate quickly.

Tomorrow there is a practice at 11:00am and at 2:00pm the Ducks will get to visit 130 Regent Street, where the Stanley Cup was originally purchased. The Cup gets to come along as well, sporting the newly engraved names of the 2007 Champions. Thursday the Ducks will make themselves available to the media and will be seeing the sights around London. The Kings arrive on Thursday evening. On Friday the Ducks will practice in front of specially invited US military personnel.

Read the rest here - Link

Another analysis of the Ducks

ANAHEIM, California - Duck-hunting season is underway.

Not the one in which people with rifles shoot at flying fowl, but the one that will have 29 NHL teams trying to knock off the defending Stanley Cup champions from Anaheim.

And Ducks players know they are in everyone’s sights.

“We have a target on our back,” defenseman Chris Pronger said. “Each night, it’s going to be, ’Try to knock off the Stanley Cup champion.’  We’ve got to be prepared for that and make sure we are even more focused and determined each and every night.”

The Norris Trophy finalist’s thoughts were echoed by center Ryan Getzlaf and blue-liner Sean O’Donnell.

“We’re going to have to play hard every single night we step on the ice,” Getzlaf said.  “We have a target on our back from the way we played last year, and we earned it.  Now we have to earn it again.”

“We’re the Stanley Cup champions, and everyone is going to be ready for us,” O’Donnell added.  “It’s a long season, and teams get up for certain games for different reasons - division rivalries, playing against the defending champions.  Everyone is going to get fired up when it’s time to play against us.

Read the rest here - Link

The Canadian Press also has some Ducks analysis

Randy Carlyle has warned his players. After you win a Stanley Cup, 29 other teams want to take you down. There will be no easy nights for the Anaheim Ducks this season.

"We're not going to sneak into any building," said the head coach.

No team has repeated as Cup champions since the 1997 and '98 Detroit Red Wings and while the Ducks have the core that can deliver another championship, they've got all the excuses in the world to fail:

-Star defenceman Scott Niedermayer, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP, is home contemplating retirement, as is 48-goal man Teemu Selanne.

-Every Cup champion battles the effects of a short summer but it was even worse for the Ducks, who had to report to camp early because of a trip to London to start the season.

-Some people around the league believe the trip overseas will knock the stuffing out of the Ducks early on as they recover from the long trip, which includes having to play home openers in Columbus, Detroit and Pittsburgh after coming home from England.

Read the rest here - Link

Sammy Pahlsson does a quick Q & A with Sports Ticker via Yahoo

PA SportsTicker recently obstructed Anaheim Ducks center Samuel Pahlsson and held him long enough to ask the following questions:

1) What opponent do you least enjoy playing against?

I really don't like playing against Joe Thornton. He's a really tough guy to play against because of his size and his skill.

2) What CD would you have to have with you on a cross-country drive?

Any of the Takida CDs. I like them.

3) What city do you look forward to visiting during a road trip?

Find the answer to question three and two more questions here - Link

Bobby Ryan hopes to make his mark and stay with the Ducks the whole season

Bobby Ryan was able to turn his cellphone back on and pack his passport.
Ryan survived the last round of cuts made by Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle to end training camp Monday, and the former second overall draft pick boarded an airplane for London with his teammates in preparation for Saturday's regular-season opener against the Kings.

Promoted

click to enlarge

The Ducks made several moves to pare their roster to 27 players, which include injured veterans Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Samuel Pahlsson and Mathieu Schneider.
Wingers Drew Miller and Jason King were assigned to the club's American Hockey League affiliate in Portland, Maine, along with center Petteri Wirtanen and defenseman Aaron Rome.
"Some guys earned a longer opportunity," Carlyle said after Sunday's 5-0 victory over Vancouver in the Ducks' exhibition finale. "Some guys proved that maybe they weren't ready."
But it was the long-awaited promotion of Ryan that made news because many had started wondering when the 20-year-old would make the leap to the NHL after being drafted in 2005 behind reigning Hart Trophy winner Sidney Crosby and ahead of Kings rookie Jack Johnson.
Ryan got plenty of chances to win a job in camp and he probably clinched a roster spot with four assists against the Canucks, flourishing on a line with Ryan Getzlaf and Todd Bertuzzi. Getzlaf had two goals and Bertuzzi had a goal and two assists.

Read the rest here - Link

The Samueli Family had their day with the cup

The Stanley Cup arrived at the incredible Orange County home of the Samueli family on Saturday, September 8. If you think that owners are unemotional business people simply focused on the bottom line, you're wrong when it comes to the Samuelis. Both Henry and Susan, along with their children, were every bit as excited as any player, trainer or scout (perhaps more!). No doubt, these are fans first and foremost.

The Samuelis carried the Stanley Cup into the most magnificent backyard in southern California. Positioned on a beachside cliff overlooking the mighty Pacific, it's arguable that the Stanley Cup may never have had a backdrop so extraordinary. Wow!

Yes, captains of industry can be hockey fans but so too can they love their music. With Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' blasting from an incredible sound system, Henry proudly showed off his music room. There, amidst memorabilia from rockers like Led Zeppelin sat the Stanley Cup. Howie Morenz would have been listening to 'Puttin' on the Ritz' by Harry Richman when he won the Stanley Cup in 1930. Dave Keon would have enjoyed Lulu's 'To Sir With Love' when the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup in 1967. As for the Samuelis in 2007, it's rock -- and the harder the better!

Henry Samueli proudly hoists the Stanley Cup atop a large stone wall that reads "The Henry Samueli School of Engineering" at the University of California.
(Mike Bolt/HHOF)

Through the afternoon, Henry and Susan took the Cup to various spots in celebration — the Samueli Theater at the Orange County Performing Arts Center and the Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine, to name but two.

While on the campus, a young lady spotted the Stanley Cup and bolted over. "Oh my gawd," she exclaimed. "Is this the real Stanley Cup?" Henry nodded, "Yes, it's the real deal." Puzzled, the student furrowed her brow and asked, "Are you one of the Ducks?" Henry laughed and replied, "Well, no. But I own the team." The girl squinted and became incredulous. "You…you…you're Henry Samueli!! Oh my gawd!! I go to your engineering school!!"

Henry blushed, but immediately got himself tagged with a nickname by Susan. "Hey, C.M.," she'd laugh throughout the afternoon. "Chick magnet!"

The Samueli family groups together for a classic family photo on the wing of their private jet with the Stanley Cup. (Mike Bolt/HHOF)

The couple visited a few other sites, including their temple, one to which they have offered incredibly generous gifts. Henry is the son of Holocaust survivors, and has never forgotten the atrocities witnessed by his parents, their families and friends. The philanthropy of the Samuelis has extended from education to health, from the arts to their faith. "It goes back to my parents," Henry mentions. "They were nearly eradicated in the Holocaust, and this was a way to maybe make up for that by creating a permanence of Judaism in society."

That evening, Henry and Samueli hosted an outstanding party for guests affiliated with Broadcom.

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The rest of the news from last nights game

TSN has video here - Link

Bertuzzi gets some coverage

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- He wasn't Bobby Orr. He wasn't Jean Beliveau. But Todd Bertuzzi was noticeable Sunday.

Sporting the No. 4 instead of his customary No. 44 that belongs to new Anaheim Ducks teammate Rob Niedermayer, it was a memorable first game against his former club for Bertuzzi.

The hulking winger went pointless in five previous preseason games, but scored once and added two assists in a 5-0 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks.

"It was pretty strange," said Bertuzzi, sent to Florida in the June 2006 blockbuster that landed Roberto Luongo. "Obviously, they [Canucks] didn't have their full lineup and it was nice to see a lot of the guys."

Bertuzzi didn't see former linemate Brendan Morrison when he capped scoring with a power-play effort in the third period.

With the Canucks minus blueliners Nathan McIver and Zack Fitzgerald because of 10-minute misconducts, Morrison was forced to play defence. Bertuzzi waltzed around him before snapping a shot past Curtis Sanford.

"Was that him I toe-dragged?" asked Bertuzzi.

Yes, Todd, it was. Weren't you looking?

"No, my head was down as usual," he chuckled.

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Another look at Bertuzzi and other game news

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Three teams and 15 months removed from the Vancouver Canucks, Todd Bertuzzi finally played Sunday against his former team and scored like it was 2002.

Bertuzzi, signed as a free-agent by the Anaheim Ducks after splitting last season between the Florida Panthers and Detroit Red Wings, had a goal and two assists as his California dream team won 5-0. They were Bertuzzi's first points in five pre-season games for the Ducks, whose two-year, $8-million-US offer sheet for the former star was one of the shocks of the NHL off-season.

"It felt pretty strange," Bertuzzi, 32, said of facing the franchise for which he played 71/2 seasons. "They didn't have a full lineup or the majority of guys I played with, but it was nice to see a lot the guys. "It's going to be a little different when I go to Vancouver. It's going to be very emotional. But it's hockey and I've moved on and so has Vancouver."

Bertuzzi, one of the key players in the trade that landed Roberto Luongo in Vancouver, skated on a line with Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan and was able to dominate a Canuck defence missing four regulars.

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Bobby Ryan gets some coverage too.

ANAHEIM, Ducks rookie hopeful Bobby Ryan wasn't planning to take any chances after collecting four assists to spark Sunday night's 5-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in the club's NHL exhibition finale at Honda Center.

"The cell phone will be shut off and the room phone will be unplugged," Ryan said.

The last thing Ryan wants to receive is word that he won't be aboard tonight's charter flight that will carry the Ducks to London for this weekend's regular season-opening, two-game set against the Kings.

Ryan is fully aware that the Ducks must trim at least four players from their active roster to get down to the NHL limit of 23, plus an extra goaltender allowed for the European jaunt.

He did all he could against Vancouver to make sure his next destination isn't American Hockey League affiliate Portland, Maine.

Appearing considerably more confident and comfortable than he had at the outset of the exhibition season, Ryan picked up the secondary assist on a Ryan Getzlaf goal that opened the scoring 4:27 after the opening faceoff.

Ryan later had the primary assist on power-play goals by Getzlaf and newly acquired winger Todd Bertuzzi, as well as an even-strength strike by defenseman Francois Beauchemin

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Some more on Bobby Ryan and the game

ANAHEIM - Now it's time for a very long plane ride.

Ryan Getzlaf scored two goals and Jonas Hiller made 40 saves as the Ducks closed out exhibition play with a strong showing, taking a 5-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks at Honda Center on Sunday.

Rookie Bobby Ryan, the second overall pick behind Sidney Crosby in the 2005 draft, had four assists for the Ducks, who ended the exhibition season with a 3-3-1 record.

Story continues below

Vancouver's Pierre-Cedric Labrie (left) battles Anaheim's Joe DiPenta for the puck in Sunday's exhibition game. The Ducks won, 5-0.

"The morale had been a little low because we hadn't been able to find a way to put pucks in the net, we knew if we scored one the floodgates would open," said Ryan, who will be making the jump from junior hockey to the NHL this season. "Hopefully, tonight is just the start of a lot of good things."

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Friday morning quick news

I thought I'd make a quick post before going to work.  I found some video highlights via TSN and a nice article on Bobby Ryan.

TSN has video highlights (Internet Explorer only) - Link

Bobby Ryan thinks he's ready to be a Duck

ANAHEIM, Calif. — After spending the last two years playing junior hockey, Bobby Ryan appears more than ready to embark on his first full pro season.

Ryan, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 NHL draft behind Sidney Crosby, spent most of his summer preparing for training camp and his first chance to make a favorable impression on the Anaheim Ducks' coaching staff.

Nobody knows where Ryan will be when Anaheim, the reigning Stanley Cup champion, breaks camp Sept. 24 and flies to England to open the season against the Los Angeles Kings in London.

"What I'm trying to do is to take it day by day," Ryan said. "But I feel I'm ready to make the leap."

In the first two days of the Ducks' training camp, Ryan has played hard-nosed hockey in scrimmages and has shown he can keep up with the veterans.

"It's only the second day of training camp but it will be interesting to see how he does when the exhibition games start, with the pace of the games up a notch," Anaheim Coach Randy Carlyle said.

"We'll try to put him in situations where he can play with our offensive players."

In the Ducks' exhibition opener tonight against the Los Angeles Kings at the Honda Center, the Ducks' home arena, Ryan is scheduled to play right wing on a line with left wing Chris Kunitz and center Ryan Getzlaf, who both spent time in Portland during the 2005-06 season.

While finishing up his time in junior hockey playing for Owen Sound in the Ontario Hockey League, Ryan, who turned 20 last March, also had two brief stints with the Pirates.

In 2006 he had one goal and seven assists in 19 playoff games with the Pirates. Last spring, in eight regular-season games with Portland, he had three goals and six assists.

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Listening to the game, posting the news for Thursday

So, I did not get to go to the game, but thankfully I can listen to it on AM830.  I can also follow it on Yahoo Sports.  One nice thing  is that the goal song has not changed.  According to the Brent Severyn the glass hass been changed.  Well, here is the news for the day.

A nice article on Bobby Ryan via the LA Times

The date Sept. 18, 2006, doesn't register in the annals of the Ducks but Bobby Ryan vividly remembers that night.
"We got slaughtered," Ryan recalled Wednesday. "It was a bad showing by everybody on the ice."
The Ducks' 7-1 exhibition loss to the Kings is long forgotten by most. But it was a low light in training camp for Ryan, the prized prospect who spent most of the night being knocked off his feet.
Underwhelming to say the least for the guy chosen immediately after Sidney Crosby in the 2005 draft. Ryan hopes for atonement in tonight's exhibition opener against the Kings at the Honda Center.
"I felt like I played it very casual and didn't do the things I needed to do," Ryan said. "I got away from what they're looking for in trying to make that big play all the time."
Things are changing for the 20-year-old power forward.
Ryan finished his fourth and final season of junior hockey at Owen Sound of the Ontario Hockey League, where he again put up big numbers -- 43 goals and 59 assists in 63 games.
His next stop likely will be at the Ducks' American Hockey League affiliate in Portland, Maine, unless he wins one of the Ducks' roster spots up for grabs, what with Teemu Selanne still thinking retirement and Dustin Penner now in Edmonton.
"You know that there's a pretty good number of guys that are set on this roster," Ryan said. "But there's a couple of spots and I want to be one of the guys they look to fill that void."

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Individual tickets are going to go on sale Saturday

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that individual game tickets for the 2007-08 regular season (40 home games) will go on sale Saturday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. Tickets may be purchased online at AnaheimDucks.com or by phone with Ticketmaster at (714) 703-2545.  Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Honda Center box office.   

A random number wristband system will be in place for fans who wish to purchase in person at the Honda Center box office.  Wristbands will be distributed between 7-9:30 a.m., with a random number chosen as the starting point at 9:45 a.m.  Fans arriving after 9:30 a.m. will file into line after those who received wristbands.  There is a six-ticket limit per game for all regular season home games.

Ticket prices for all home games start at $18.50 and are subject to an arena facility fee, beginning at $1.50.  The Ducks will also be offering a special “Pepsi Family Four Pack” starting at $66, which includes four tickets, four Wienerschnitzel hot dogs and four Pepsis (available for select Wednesday home games).  All Ducks home games are played at Honda Center, with the exception of their Sept. 30 contest vs. Los Angeles to be played in London, England as part of the NHL Premiere.  The club will open the 2007-08 regular season schedule at Honda Center on Wednesday, Oct. 10 vs. Boston at 7:05 p.m.  All fans in attendance will receive a mini Stanley Cup championship banner as part of opening night festivities. 

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Preview of Tonight's Game via the Ducks web site - Link

7:05 p.m. at Honda Center
TV: None     Radio: AM 830   
LISTEN LIVE

The defending Stanley Cup champion Ducks open their 2007-08 preseason against an old rival, the Los Angeles Kings, tonight at Honda Center. It's the first of many meetings between the two teams, as they play again Saturday at Staples Center, then open the season against each other in London for the NHL Premiere with two games on Sept. 29 and 30.
While the Ducks had a record-breaking season that culminated in their first Stanley Cup title, the Kings struggled with a 27-41-14 record. They finished fourth in the Pacific Division and 14th in the Western Conference.

Michael Cammalleri led the Kings in assist (46) and points (80), while Alexander Frolov was the top goal-scorer with 35. Both of those players are back, as is last year's standout rookie Anze Kopitar, who had 20 goals last year. The Kings made several moves in the offseason to give them scoring help, acquiring Michal Handzus (played in Chicago last season) , Ladislav Nagy (Phoenix and Dallas) and Kyle Calder (Philadelphia and Detroit).
On the blueline, the Kings brought in Brad Stuart (Calgary) and Tom Preissing (Ottawa) to join 37-year-old Rob Blake 31-year-old Lubomir Visnovsky. Jack Johnson , the 20-year-old who made his debut late last season, is a prized prospect on the defensive end as well.

The OC Register has a look at the new uniforms.

Just one season after the logo redesign that distanced the franchise from its Disney heritage, the Ducks skate into the Honda Center for tonight's preseason opener in even newer uniforms.

No, this isn't the typical Toronto Maple Leafs-style money grab in which a team does a makeover every few years to shake more cash out of its loyal fans.

The Ducks' new threads are part of an unprecedented North American pro league-wide wardrobe change, with every NHL team this season wearing the new Rbk EDGE Uniform System.

You'll have to do more than look from the stands to notice the change because the appearance — the bold black and the county's orange accent the webbed-foot "D" and golden "ucks" unveiled with Whitesnake concert frivolity last season — remains the same.

You'll have to feel this uniform. Touch it, pet it, spend $200 on it, wear it in a sauna, sweat in it and play Twister in it to notice the difference in its more tailored cut and its four fabrics tested in Massachusetts Institute of Technology wind tunnels and Central Michigan University laboratory heat chambers.

"It's definitely lighter, no question about it," said Ducks center Andy McDonald, who, with Teemu Selanne, wore Rbk EDGE uniforms for last season's All-Star Game. "It allowed me to breathe easier, that's for sure."

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A look at the London games via Canada.com

London won't be a sellout

How do you make an NHL preseason game matter even less than it does in the first place? Set one up in a market that has little to no knowledge or interest in the sport whatsoever.

On top of that, charge ticket prices that would make Sir Richard Branson flinch.

Well, maybe not Branson, but you'd think twice about rushing out to get in line.

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The NHL debuts in London at the O2 Arena on Sept. 29 and 30 with two games between the L.A. Kings and the Anaheim Ducks

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Starting at £99 (general admission) and going up to £330 for lower tier seating, that's a whopping $200 to $600 US.

Those prices are pretty hefty for a single game, and show that the whole thing is an even more elaborate cash grab than the recent Super Series.

I know from a future brother in law from the U.K. that salaries are higher in Britain than over here, but take this for comparison: general admission to the 2008 British GP is £165 or $330 US.

I'm not sure what that includes, but it would at least let you into the race area and give you a paddock pass where you can pick up some autographs with the drivers and buy some merchandise.

I don't know who came up with the ticket prices, but I think that if you're trying to help the NHL break in with a new audience, you could at least scale back the prices to the match the same standard in North America.

The article was originally posted here - Link

Anaheim Duck News for Thursday

A few news items to report, however nothing too exciting. The Ducks will be hosting the Rookie Games. Ducks hire a new scout and some pics of Sean O'Donnell preparing for next season. One important thing is that preseason tickets go on sale this weekend at 10:00.

Ducks hosting the Rookie Games

The Ducks will host Rookie Games versus the San Jose Sharks on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. at Anaheim ICE. The two-game weekend set at the Ducks practice facility will highlight top prospects from both National Hockey League (NHL) clubs.

Featured players on Anaheim’s roster include 2007 NHL Entry Draft first-round selection Logan MacMillan (19^th overall), 2005 NHL Entry Draft first-round selection Bobby Ryan (second overall), as well as Drew Miller and Ryan Carter, who both appeared with the Ducks in the 2007 Stanley Cup Final.

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Sean O'Donnell has gets some practice in before training camp.

Pictures were posted on the Anaheim Ducks forum courtesy of www.Letsgokings.com See the rest here - Link

Ducks hire a new scout

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - The Anaheim Ducks named Trent Yawney as the newest member of their scouting team on Thursday.

The 41-year-old Saskatchewan native spent 12 years in the NHL with Chicago, Calgary and St. Louis.

Yawney was named Blackhawks head coach in July, 2005, a post he held until November 27, 2006. Prior to that, he coached the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate in Norfolk, Virginia from 2000 to 2005

Here is the link to the original story - Link