Anaheim Ducks News - Vacation Catchup Part 1

Chris Kunitz is interviewed on the latest  Duckcast - Link

Brian Bochenski profile and an upated on Pahlsson/May

Brandon Bochenski first had Orange County on his mind about two weeks ago.

His wife, Jennifer, bought a DVD box set of "The OC," the teen soap opera set in Newport Beach. A week later, on Jan. 2, Bochenski was traded from Boston to the Ducks.

The other, more important twist of fate is that Bochenski has gone from a peripheral player in Boston to a second-line wing for the surging Ducks.

Read the rest here - Link

May is ready

Brad May has been in the NHL long enough that he doesn’t need to be told that there’s always someone ready to fill your shoes.

Nothing is a certainty, even for a 17-year pro like May. The veteran moved closer to returning to the lineup Friday when he skated with the club. But he knows the Ducks have changed dramatically since he went down with a broken bone in his right foot in practice on Dec.15. They’ve gone 8-2-1 with first place San Jose in their sights.

Young players like Ryan Carter and Brandon Bochenski have capably filled roles held by injured Samuel Pahlsson and re-assigned winger Bobby Ryan. The fourth line of Todd Marchant, George Parros and Brian Sutherby had been intact for some time until Parros injured a knee.

Read the rest here - Link

Pahlsson is waiting.....

Samuel Pahlsson wants back in the Ducks' lineup but his sore abdomen isn't allowing it.
Pahlsson missed his eighth consecutive game Wednesday as additional rest has not helped alleviate inflammation in the area. The veteran center has been able to participate in practice but he isn't ready to go back up against the game's top forwards.

"It's frustrating," Pahlsson said. "I felt good for a while and it's frustrating when it comes back. And it doesn't get better. It's no fun to play when you don't feel good."

Read the rest here - Link

But he and May seem to be ready

Back at practice after a day off following their decisive victory over Toronto on Wednesday, the Ducks got some more good news Friday as forwards Samuel Pahlsson and Brad May went through a grinding session without a hitch.
Both appear set to return from injury for the Ducks' home game Sunday against San Jose, leaving Coach Randy Carlyle with this question:
Whom does he sit?
Pahlsson figures to jump back into his customary spot centering the checking line after sitting out eight games because of abdominal inflammation. If that's the case, the Ducks will have to find a new place for rookie Ryan Carter, who has shined in place of the veteran.

Read the rest here - Link

Pronger and Getzlaf are all stars

Back in his early days of junior hockey, Ryan Getzlaf was like many youngsters who dreamed of being a star in the NHL but also worried if they would ever be drafted.
Getzlaf's only worry now is dealing with impending stardom, after the Ducks' center earned his first All-Star game selection Thursday as the Western Conference reserves were announced for the Jan. 27 event in Atlanta.

A participant in the NHL's YoungStars game last year in Dallas, Getzlaf earned a spot in the showcase game as he leads the Ducks with 48 points. The 22-year-old center is on a career-best nine-game point streak and has 17 goals and 31 assists.

Read the rest here - Link

Ryan Getzlaf is an All Star

Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf admits he’s still a kid at heart. He enjoys playing with his three dogs, enjoys watching football or Seinfeld re-runs and will watch plenty of hockey highlights on his off nights.

But don’t let that youthful exuberance fool you. When the 22-year-old Saskatchewan native laces on the skates and steps on the ice, he’s all business. As if leading his team in scoring during its Stanley Cup run last season wasn’t proof enough, now Getzlaf gets an opportunity to skate among the League’s elite after being named to the Western Conference roster yesterday for the NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 27 in Atlanta.

"It’s a real exciting opportunity for me and I consider it an honor being selected," Getzlaf said. "I’ve looked up to a lot of the players that I’ll be playing with and against in the game. It’ll give me a chance to talk to them about the different experiences they have been through. I hadn’t made any plans for that day, so I’ll be there."

Read the rest here - Link

Perry not quite an all star (although he is)

Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf and defenseman Chris Pronger were obvious choices for selection to the Jan. 27 NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta. The unfortunate part of the equation is the exclusion of right wing Corey Perry.

Perry is tied for eighth in the NHL with 23 goals, and ranks higher on that list than every player in the Western Conference except Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames and Henrik Zetterberg of the Detroit Red Wings, each of whom earned an all-star berth in fan voting to choose the game’s starters. And yet, Perry will not be going to Atlanta.

Read the rest here - Link

A profile on Bertuzzi

Since the smiles haven't been coming a lot the past two seasons, it's a relief to hear Todd Bertuzzi say he's "having fun" playing the game lately. The usually stoic Bertuzzi has reason to be happy, since he's playing his best hockey in a long time. It's something he had hoped would happen much sooner after he was signed by the Ducks over the summer. 
After back surgery and a concussion limited Bertuzzi’s 2006-07 campaign to just 31 total games (15 in the regular season and 16 in the playoffs) between Florida and Detroit, Bertuzzi was glad to be healthy to start this season. But while just getting comfortable with the Ducks, the Sudbury, Ontario native suffered another concussion after a hit from Minnesota enforcer Derek Boogaard on Oct. 14. The injury would end up costing him another 14 games.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News for Wednesday

Well it was no surprise that the Ducks made a move.  The Ducks traded Hnidy, a 6th round pick and eliminating part of the Chistov deal to get Brandon Bochenski.  There is also a new Duck Cast among a lot of other news.

New Duck Cast featuring Marchant, Moen, Miller and DiPenta having a round table discussion of the Winter Classic- Link

Bochenski NHL Profile - Link

Bochesnki in Action - Link

Ducks trade Hnidy

The Ducks announced on Wednesday that they have acquired right wing Brandon Bochenski from the Boston Bruins in exchange for defenseman Shane Hnidy and Anaheim’s sixth round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. In addition, the Ducks relinquished their option to exchange fourth round picks with the Bruins in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft (as part of the Stanislav Chistov deal, Nov. 13, 2006).

Read the rest here - Link

Ducks Blog coverage of the trade

While the 6-foot-1, 187-pound Bochenski might give the Ducks more depth up front, a bigger part of this deal is getting out from under the two-year, free-agent contract the club had given Hnidy last summer, when Niedermayer appeared destined for retirement.

Whereas Bochenski’s $600,000 contract runs only through this season, after which he will become a restricted free agent, the Ducks would have been on the hook for a salary-cap hit of $757,500 to Hnidy next season. While that is a relatively small number in today’s NHL, being free of it does provide a little more wiggle room for the Ducks in their quest to re-sign budding star right wing Corey Perry.

Read the rest here - Link

Pahlsson still injured

“I think we found out the reason,” Pahlsson said Wednesday. “I was compensating for the injury and put stress on some muscles because of that.”

In all likelihood, bad habits Pahlsson developed while playing with the sports hernia last season, all the way through the club’s playoff run to the Stanley Cup championship, came back to haunt him.

Obviously, the hope had been that the off-season surgery would leave Pahlsson good as new. Now it appears he will have to manage the situation for the remainder of this season, and then hope that rest and further rehabilitation and strengthening work next summer will resolve it once and for all.

Read the rest here - Link

The OC Register takes a look at the Ducks

As the NHL's first team to reach the season's official halfway point — 41 games — the Ducks have played anywhere from one to four more games than all but one of their conference rivals.

A more accurate indication of where the Ducks truly stand is winning percentage, which places them 11th in the West with a 19-17-5 mark entering tonight's matchup with the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets.

"Yeah, we're right near a playoff spot, but we've played so many more games than other teams," Ducks right wing Rob Niedermayer said. "Everyone looks at where we're at in the standings. We know it's very urgent. Forty-three points — double that is 86. That's not near enough."

Read the rest here - Link

Brad May interview (thanks to BuchananHermit at the official Ducks board)

Ducks forward Brad May is out of the lineup because of a broken right foot, but it freed him to represent the team and the city of Anaheim in Tuesday’s Rose Parade.

May, who came to the Ducks via trade in February 2007, appeared in 18 playoff games to help the Ducks win their first Stanley Cup championship last season.

Before his early wake-up call for Rose Parade duty, May answered five questions from The Register. Here’s what May had to say:

Question: What is the first thing you bought with your first pro paycheck?

Brad May: I bought a Dodge Daytona hatchback. It was a used car. A Dodge Daytona, red with a white stripe. … It’s just because I needed a car. It was $3,000. It cost me $3,200 Canadian. And it was the coolest car. … I was 18 years old.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News - Pahlsson Update and other things

Pahlsson update via MVN

Pahlsson, who is currently on the IR for an abdominal strain and did not go on the most recent road trip, skated full out with his teammates. He had been skating on his own this past week, in addition to doing other therapy for his injury. After practice he talked about his most recent injury and his status. “I felt pretty good. I’m getting closer to where I want to be.” Although the extra time off helped with the healing process, he still is “not where I want to be at.” Pahlsson admitted “I don’t think I am going to be 100% this year.” The goal is to get things manageable and feel well enough to be able to contribute on the ice.

Read the rest here - Link

Pahlsson update via the LA Times

Once the holder of the Ducks' record for consecutive games played, Samuel Pahlsson might be spending the rest of this season trying to stay in the lineup. The problem isn't his play. It's his health.
Inflammation in Pahlsson's abdomen caused the defensive whiz to skip the recent three-game trip to western Canada and it could keep him out of Wednesday's home game against Columbus.
Pahlsson skated on his own in Anaheim while his teammates dropped two of the three road games. On Monday, the center took part in the Ducks' optional practice with 10 other players but offered no guarantees regarding his status.
"I want to play," Pahlsson said. "But I'm not going to do it if it's going to make it bad right away. Everyone wants to play but you have to be smart about it too."

Read the rest here - Link

Schneider has his take on the Ducks

"I think we're getting to a point now where it's kind of put up or shut up," defenseman Mathieu Schneider said. "We've talked all year about the same things. The guys in this room now are going to be the guys that'll have to be responsible night in and night out."
What's clear is the Ducks have plenty of work to do over the final 41 games. Calgary needed 96 points to squeeze into the eighth spot in the playoffs last season and over the last four NHL seasons, the eighth-seeded teams have averaged 93.5 points.

Read the rest here - Link

Brad May was in the Rose Parade

AP Photo by Reed Saxon

Flickr photo by yausser

Video

Anaheim Ducks News for Friday

Some gems from  today's practice in Calgary

Moving on, the Ducks are practicing this morning at the old Calgary Corral arena, which is across the street from the Saddledome, where they will play the Flames tomorrow night. The locker room at the Corral (which somehow hosted the Flames from 1980-83) is apparently so small you have to go outside to change your mind. Because of that, the Ducks are forced to change into their gear at the Saddledome, then walk about three minutes across a snow-covered city street with very light traffic to the Corral in everything but their skates.

 

Read the rest of the post and see more pictures here - Link

How Niedermayer brings value to the Ducks

The addition of Niedermayer has also dramatically improved the club’s penalty-killing, which had been a sore spot all season. Before Niedermayer’s arrival, the Ducks languished near the bottom of the NHL’s penalty-killing rankings, succeeding only 78.8 percent of the time, having given up 41 power-play goals in 193 times short-handed. In the past five games, opponents have converted just one power-play chance in 22 tries, giving Ducks penalty-killers a 95.5 percent success rate.

Read the rest here - Link

Weight gets profiled

Doug Weight said he didn't want to ruffle any feathers in the Ducks' room.

Just fill the bill as a second-line centre and make sure nobody in Anaheim plumage has reason to believe he's in a foul mood following the unexpected end to his six-year National Hockey League stay in St. Louis.

"I want the guys to know I care," he said Thursday morning. "I want them to know I'm happy to be here. I want them to know I don't need to run the show."

Read the rest here - Link

Marchant is a jack of all trades

With standout defensive-minded center Samuel Pahlsson back in Orange County attempting to deal with abdominal inflammation that has hampered him all season, veteran Todd Marchant figures to move into a significant role on the checking line as the Ducks open a three-game, Western Canada road swing Thursday night against the Edmonton Oilers.

Marchant, a former Oiler, will get the first crack at filling Pahlsson’s usual spot between wingers Travis Moen and Rob Niedermayer on the Ducks’ shutdown unit that spends most of its time playing against other teams’ top offensive players.

“Those are primo minutes,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. “We’ll see where it takes us.”

Read the rest here - Link

Is Pronger as evil as Edmonton thinks he is?

Chris Pronger pretends to be surprised by his place among the NHL's most suspended, and some would say dirtiest, players.

Ask him about his seven career suspensions, second only to Chris Simon's eight, and his jaw drops in mock disbelief.

Read the rest here - Link

Brad May gets to have some "fun"

Our Anaheim city reporter, Sarah Tully, caught up with the Ducks’ Brady May, who next week will ride in the Rose Parade with the Stanley Cup. Here’s her report:

Ducks left wing Brad May’s misfortune became a coup for the Rose Parade this week.

The forward was tapped to ride in Anaheim’s float in the New Year’s Day parade shortly after May broke his foot and was put on injured reserve. Until May’s injury, Anaheim organizers had yet to find anyone to ride on the float, except for the security guard watching the Stanley Cup.

“I would have to think I’m the easy choice since I’m not playing,” May said. “I’m sure if Scott Niedermayer could do it, they’d probably bump me at the last minute.”

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks News Update for Tuesday Morning

I made the right call on the return of Ryan Carter except for one thing.  Brad May is out with an injury not Pahlsson.  The LA Times is reporting Brad May is out indefinitely with a broken foot - Link

Thursday Night News - Part 3, London

Well there has been a lot of coverage the Ducks in London. I've got video, photos and other news coverage. So here you go!

The Latest update from the Ducks Blog

You know one of the great things about staying in a nice hotel? When you come back to the room after a long day and you see that the chamber maid has taken your mess and organized it nicely for you. I came back yesterday to see all the junk I had dumped on the desk in this room had all been put in nice little piles. Today I noticed that all of my toiletries were carefully arranged, all facing the same way and lying on a washcloth. It gives me a warm feeling to think of this anonymous woman taking the time to put everything in its little place so that I'll be just a little happier. Makes me want to leave an anonymous tip.

Incidentally, what's the deal with using a new towel every time you take a shower at a hotel? Why do we do that? You never do that at home. I'll go weeks without using a new towel at home. But there is something about a hotel that makes you feel like you're justified in using a brand new towel for every shower, even if the once-used towel is completely dry. (By the way, this is funnier if you read it in a Jerry Seinfeld voice.)
Speaking of tips (in the first paragraph), I still can't get used to tipping people with coins, even though I did it in Canada too during the playoffs last year. Since there are 1 and 2 pound coins here, you often tip a bartender or a bellman with them, and it always makes me feel cheap. Try tipping a guy with coins in the States. He'll look at you like you just stepped on his foot. Or he'll give you that look people always give at a ballgame when you want to walk past them down the aisle and they have to actually rise out of their seat.

Read the rest here - Link

Ducks TV has posted on a new episode here - Link

NHL.com interview with Brad May - Link

NHL.com interview with Todd Bertuzzi - Link

NHL.com interview of Corey Perry - Link

NHL.com interview with Giggy - Link

Video of the Ducks seeing their names on the Cup - Link

Shawn Rourke got to go to London. 

Wednesday, NHL.com took an abbreviated double-decker bus tour of London. But the company couldn’t be beat as I joined the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks and the Stanley Cup itself for a quick jaunt through the city.

We all climbed aboard a 30-year-old traditional red double-decker bus that is only used for special occasions. And, what could be more special than escorting the Ducks and the Stanley Cup on a sight-seeing tour?

We saw it all in the course of two hours. First stop was Tower Bridge – and not the London Bridge, as I mistakenly called it yesterday. I publicly apologize to all the Brits that I offended and especially to those that took the time to gently point out the error of my ways.

Then, we sped past the Tower of London (good thing I stopped for the tour Tuesday) and on to Big Ben, Westminster Abby and Parliament Square. We stopped here briefly for some pictures with the Cup in Parliament Square and then it was back on the bus for a quick pass past Buckingham Palace – where I learned there are 94 washrooms at the disposal of the royal family – and a slog through rush-hour traffic back to the Canary Wharf hotel.

I must admit, at times, it seemed too close to the classic Vacation scene where Chevy Chase can’t merge out of traffic and keeps looping around the same London circle, pointing out all the same tourist attractions to his kids over and over.

See his NHL blog here - Link

See his photo gallery here - Link

See his videos here - Link

Earl Sleek has posted his thoughts on London

As the Ducks and Kings finish preparing for actual games this weekend, I thought I’d devote a post to the apparent problems of having two BoC teams starting their season in London. This is not to say that there won’t be any positives to these two teams taking the trip—but without knowing what the actual point of this Euro-experiment is, it’s tough to say how well the NHL did in its preparations. Anyway, here’s four reasons why the NHL’s decision-making seems odd to me.

1. Distance
In terms of miles traveled, the Ducks and Kings are the two most geographically distant NHL cities from London, England. It’s quite strange that the NHL would take its two furthest franchises and fly them 5,400 miles out of their way to start their season. But travel distance isn’t even the main concern here—there’s also an issue of time zones. If the NHL is trying to make more fans in the UK, maybe a smarter plan might have been to send two teams that don’t start most of their games at 3 or 3:30 am London time.

Read the rest here - Link

The AP has coverage of the Ducks trip

So ends the summer when the National Hockey League stood out by simply laying low.
No talk of lockouts, doping, rogue referees or police blotters in the North American ice hockey league during the few short months following the Anaheim Ducks' landmark championship for California.
The league that usually gets noticed when things

go wrong, was glad to let the other Americans sports own the scandal-focused spotlight. Ice hockey escaped embarrassment and turmoil, and now is readying its next attempt to matter in the U.S. sports landscape.
From new streamlined uniforms with peculiar colors and designs, to season-opening games played outside North America, to one played out of doors, the NHL is trying gimmicks and novelty to create buzz.
Having a star like just-turned-20 Sidney Crosby doesn't hurt, either.
It all begins this weekend in London where the champion Ducks begin defense of their Stanley Cup title against their closest neighbor and biggest rival, the Los Angeles Kings.
«Obviously the purpose in going to England is opening up a new building for the Kings' owner,» Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger said, «but at the same time it's a chance for us to go over there and show off our product and try to bring some fan following in England.

Read the rest here - Link

The BBC has coverage as well

Some of North American sports biggest stars will showcase their skills in London over the next month as a roadshow of ice hockey, basketball and American football hits the capital.

October sees NBA and NFL games, but this weekend it's the turn of NHL as the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings meet twice at the 02 Arena in the first regular-season games ever staged in Europe.

"This is an exciting place to be, with an opportunity to showcase the NHL to people in the UK," said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, whose team begin the new season as defending Stanley Cup champions.

"We just hope it gives more exposure to the sport. It's a world game and we're playing here in London. I think there are 200-plus media outlets here that are going to cover it, so it's an excellent opportunity," he added.

Billed as the UK Premiere Series, the two sell-out games are being televised in 115 countries and follow three previous successful season-opening games played in Japan in 1997, 1998 and 2000.

Read the rest here - Link

MVN has coverage

The Ducks continue their British jaunt with sightseeing, soccer matches and golfing in addition to their practice schedule. The highlight of the trip, however, is something that the Ducks have been waiting all summer to see - the Stanley Cup engraved with their names. In spite of months of partying and days with the Cup all summer long, the reality didn’t sink in until they saw their names on the Cup. They will be there for the next 62 years until the ring they are on will be removed and retired to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Amazing stuff!

In other Ducks news, Jean-Sebastian Giguere anticipates being ready to go in the next two weeks, which will cause a great dilemma with Brian Burke. Which goalie will be the back up? Will Jonas Hiller take the job away from Ilya Bryzgalov? Will Burke find a good trade for Bryzgalov? Both Hiller and Bryzgalov have the opportunity this weekend to make the answers easier or more difficult, depending upon how they play.

Read the rest here - Link

The National Post has coverage

How is the National Hockey League being met here in Jolly Old England? Well, put on your best British accent, then say this: "Is that hockey?"

Perfect. Now, you are beginning to grasp the mountain of a job that lies ahead for the NHL--or the National Ice Hockey League, as they need to be reminded here -- as it dips a toe into the waters of the rare Western European capital where the game is still on the fringe of the fringe sports. Even behind what we would call field hockey.

When the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks meet the Los Angeles Kings this Saturday and Sunday evenings at the O2 Arena in East London, they will be the first NHL regular-season games played outside North America. But yesterday, as members of the Ducks used the Tower Bridge as a backdrop for some photos with the Stanley Cup, most Londoners walking past had no idea who they were and why they were carting around that giant silver thing.

"Is that the Carling Cup [an English soccer trophy]?" one fellow asked a reporter, after some discussion with his mate as to what the big, shiny Cup represented. "I'm just wondering, which footballers are these?"

Another man approached Anaheim's Todd Marchant, inquiring as to what they were doing in London.

"We're in town to play the Los Angeles Kings," Marchant explained.

"And who might 'we' be?" the man asked.

Read the rest here - Link

Burke does not mind going to London

LONDON -- The Kings' ownership tie to London's O2 Arena and the Kings' get-accustomed trip to Austria would seem to give them an edge in effusiveness regarding this monster trip to open the season.
But then you might listen to Brian Burke.

"When I come to London, the first thing I think of is how many of the greatest people who have walked this planet have walked here," the Ducks' 52-year-old general manager said Thursday in the lobby of the team hotel.
He mentioned the "soldiers, sailors, authors, poets, leaders."
He glowed about past visits to the Tower of London, where they keep the crown jewels.
During a news conference that preceded his remarks, he sold the need to sell the league in all corners.
Given that the Ducks signed on to this before the Stanley Cup run that consumed them all the way to June 6, it's an unusual start, he agreed.
"Yeah," he said, "but when the league asks you to go, you go. When the NHL asks you to represent them overseas, you go."

Read the rest here - Link

Fox Sports has a preview of the Ducks/Kings games

Nearly a decade has passed since the NHL crowned back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. The Anaheim Ducks' hopes of ending that streak have taken a number of hits even before the team has gotten on the ice.

The league's 90th season kicks off Saturday when the Ducks meet the Los Angeles Kings at the O2 Arena in London in the 2007 Premiere Series, a two-game set that concludes Sunday.

Anaheim is trying to become the first repeat champion since Detroit in 1997 and '98, but the Ducks look like a much different team than the one that defeated Ottawa in five games to become the first Cup winner from California.

Scott Niedermayer, the team captain and Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP, said in June he was mulling retirement and the 34-year-old defenseman was suspended for failing to report to training camp. Veteran forward Teemu Selanne, who scored a team-high 48 goals in the final year of his contract, remains a free agent.

Injuries and defections have also hurt Anaheim. Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere will not play in London while he recovers from surgery on a sports hernia - the same injury that has sidelined forward Samuel Pahlsson. Former Red Wing Mathieu Schneider, signed as insurance against Niedermayer's possible retirement, broke his left ankle during the Ducks' preseason opener.

Giguere may not play until Anaheim's home opener Oct. 10, while Pahlsson and Schneider are expected to return later in the month.

Read the rest here - Link

Tuesday News - Stanley Cup Update Day

Well it's Tuesday and we all know what that means!  The HHOF has updated their Stanley Cup Journal and the keepers of the cup have updated their photoblog.  I also found a short video of the Niedermayer's riding around an arena on their day with the cup, Chris Kunitz was NHLPA player of the day and some analysis on Kunitz's contract.

Shawn Thornton via Stanley Cup Journal

Shawn Thornton was drafted into the NHL by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1997. For an Oshawa boy living just east of the metropolis, this was a dream come true. But Shawn's career took him from the Leafs organization (he never got to pull on the Leafs' sweater at the NHL level) to the Chicago Black Hawks from 2002-03 until 2006-07, when he joined the Anaheim Ducks' organization.

Shawn began the season in the AHL, where he captained the Portland Pirates. But an injury to scrapper Todd Fedoruk meant a quick call to Portland to tell Thornton to pack his bags — he was head to Anaheim.

A year that began with the uncertainty of whether he'd play in the NHL finished with a season that saw Shawn play 48 games during the regular season, 15 more in the playoffs and culminated gulping victor's champagne from the bowl of the Stanley Cup.

 

Ric Jackman

Ric Jackman was raised in Barrie, about an hour north of Toronto, and on Tuesday, August 14, he took the Stanley Cup home to meet his parents.

In a career that has had more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, Ric got to enjoy the rewards of persistence. Drafted in the first round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars, Ric has had stints with the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, and began the 2006-07 season with the Florida Panthers. In December, Jackman was placed on waivers by the Panthers, and was gobbled up in January by the Ducks, who saw a defenseman with size and a booming shot fitting nicely into their blueprint. Ric found a spot on the blueline with the Ducks, but back spasms almost robbed Ric of his chance at the Stanley Cup. Missing the last handful of regular season games, Jackman was out for all of Rounds One and Two and parts of the Conference Final against Detroit. But feeling healthy and strong coincided with a need to insert Ric into the line-up. In his first game in two months, Jackman scored a goal to help Anaheim to a 3-1 win over the Red Wings. In all, he got into seven playoff games on the march to the Stanley Cup. "Having a chance to play at the end where it's fun, and obviously to win the Stanley Cup, was real special," he stated.

 

Brad May

A veteran of the battles of fifteen NHL seasons, Brad May must have been haunted wondering whether he would ever have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. But wonderful things happen to good people. After starting his sixteenth season, May was traded from Colorado to Anaheim on February 27, 2007. The Ducks clearly were looking at infusing some veteran savvy and moxy to their line-up, and came up with both in a package called Brad May.

When the Stanley Cup arrived at the Markham, Ontario home of Brad's Mom, Linell, on Wednesday, August 15, Brad had not yet arrived, but he showed up shortly afterwards, ready to start his celebration.

Brad first took the Stanley Cup to show his grandmother in Markham. There was a reception for Brad at Grace Anglican Church in Markham, the church attended by his mother and grandmother. Then, it was over to his father's house in Goodwood, a lovely home edging onto the Coppinwood Golf Club. While there, Brad visited his paternal grandmother in Uxbridge, then returned to the house where he saw a number of old friends, including George Burnett, who was his coach with the Niagara Falls Thunder. Over at the golf course, Brad set the Cup on display on the third tee, and members could get a picture with Lord Stanley's prize.

Read the rest of their stories here - Link

Here are a few selections from the Keeper of the cup photoblog.

See the rest of the photos here - Link

A short video of Scott and Rob with the Cup.

Chris Kunitz was player of the day at the NHLPA -

Position: Left Wing

Team: Anaheim Ducks

Shoots: Left

Height: 6'0"

Weight 195

Birth Date: 1979-09-26

Birth Country: Canada, REGINA

Year Drafted: 2003

Round Drafted: Not Drafted (my edit)

Overall Choice: Not Drafted (my edit

Jersey Number:14

Need to Know:
What a difference a year makes. At the start of the 2005-06 season, Chris Kunitz, one of the most promising prospects in the Ducks’ system was told there was no room for him on the NHL roster, was waived and claimed quickly by the Atlanta Thrashers. Chris didn’t even have a nameplate on a locker before the Thrashers had to waive him after just two games. With a 2-4 start to the season, the Ducks scooped up Chris for another go with the club. It was a wise decision because the Regina native went on to score 19 goals and 41 points in just 67 games for the Ducks in his proper rookie season. His second full season is one he’ll never forget: 25 goals, 35 assists, and despite an injury he came back in the playoffs to help his teammates lift California’s first Stanley Cup. A former star with Ferris State of the Central Collegiate division, Chris was a Hobey Baker finalist in his senior year (2002-03) with 79 points in just 42 games.

See his featured profile here - Link

Chris Kunitz signing analysis from AOL Fanhouse

Chris Kunitz, the former Hobey Baker finalist, joined the list of Anaheim Ducks scoring a big payday, as he signed a 4-year/$14.9mil extension this morning. Coming off of a Stanley Cup winning performance and break-out season, a raise was well-deserved for the 27-year old.

Kunitz will earn $1.15 million in the last year of his old deal this season before the new contract kicks in, paying him $3.5 million in 2008-09, $3.6 million in 2009-10, $3.8 million in 2010-11 and $4 million in 2011-12.
"Chris has been a very important multi-dimensional player for us the last two seasons, providing skill, physical play and leadership," Ducks GM Brian Burke said in a statement. "We are very pleased to have him signed prior to his eligibility as an unrestricted free agent next summer."

What's easy to forget, especially given the kind words Burke has for his player, is that it wasn't too long ago that Kunitz wasn't even wanted by his own team!
Yes, at the start of the 2005-06 season, Kunitz was put on waivers by the Anaheim Ducks, and plucked by the Atlanta Thrashers. Two games later, the Thrashers put him back on waivers, and Anaheim took him back. Hardly the road to stardom that most take.

Read the rest here - Link

Battle of California has some analysis as well.

Well, I’m a day late on this, but top line winger Chris Kunitz, who is already under contract for $1.15 M this coming season, signed a UFA-avoiding extension yesterday: 4 years, $14.9 M (with a cap value of $3.725 M per year).
I’m fairly happy with this signing, though I will note that it is a bit difficult to peg a value on Kunitz’s contributions. After all, Kunitz is rarely the opponent’s focal point on any of his line combinations. But whereas some players are purely "passengers" on scoring lines, Kunitz is more of an "enabler"—he noticeably improves scoring results around him.
To demonstrate this, I stole some numbers from an even-strength teammate evaluation site created by HockeyAnalysis.com’s David Johnson. Basically, this site looks at last season’s even-strength ice time and determines scoring rates (GF and GA) when certain players play together and when they play apart. Below are the top 4 forwards and the top 4 defensemen that Chris Kunitz played with at even-strength last year. Note how all 8 players had improved results playing with Kunitz compared to their even-strength ice time without him.

Read the rest here - Link

One more thing....

Brad May had his day with the cup.  Here is an article.

STOUFFVILLE, Ont. — It is a scene that plays out in Canada every summer.

Only the names — of the towns and the players — change.

Wednesday, it was May Day in Stouffville.

Anaheim Ducks forward Brad May, a 15-year NHL veteran who won his first Stanley Cup this spring, returned home to a hero’s welcome with the Cup in tow. Every player from the NHL champions gets his time alone with the Cup, but May decided to share it with the town where he began his hockey journey.

He played with the Stouffville Clippers until age 10, and would go on to play junior hockey in Markham, Ont., and Niagara Falls.

“Honestly, I just want to share it,” May said. “It is so much greater than just us as hockey players. There is an idealism to winning the Stanley Cup and in there is a fabric of Canada: being a kid, chasing the dream, and celebrating your friends that succeed.”

Read the rest here - Link

No pictures yet.  I will post them when I find them.

Evening News Roundup

It looks like the off season blues have kicked into full effect. I can not tell you how many different websites that I have visited for just a nirgil of info on our Anaheim Ducks. So without further ado, here are tonights links:


Retirement RUMORS/Facts - Not necessarily to be taken seriously but I will post it here because everybody loves a rumor. This one is courtesy of CBCSportline Here is the quote:

Don Baizley, Teemu Selanne's agent, told the Daily News his client would
not decide on retirement for several months.

Earl from BOC is going through hockey withdrawl - Link

Sean Skahan (Strenght and conditioning coach) gets his day with the cup - Link

A nice profile on Brad May from the NHLPA - Link

Some rehashed Scotty retirement article from MSNBC - Link

Friday Evening News

Slow news day today. Only Stanley Cup news for you!

Todd Marchant with the Stanley Cup - Link

Brad May future date with the Cup - Link

Ducks sign Brad May

It has just been released that the Anaheim Ducks have resigned Brad may to two year $1.2 million dollar contract. I have not seen a team this mean, and there have been some comparison to the Broad Street ullies of the 70's.

Here are the links.

Link - Official Ducks Website

Link - Orange County Register

Link - TSN

Link - Fox Sports

No other news. So continues the Niedermayer/Selanne retirement watch.