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 Non Game News

Here is the news that is not related to details of tonight's game. By the way, Pahlsson is back.

The Los Angeles Times has great coverage of Giguere's Beauchemin's, Kunitz's, Getzlaf's, Moen's, Pahlsson's, Selanne's and the Niedermayers days with the cup. They are called "Audio Galleries" - Link

An article on the banner raising, but more interestingly quote from Scott Niedermayer on his potential retirement

"Yeah, I'm in quite a different situation than I've ever been before," Scott Niedermayer said. "To be able to go there and be a part of putting that banner up to the ceiling, to be there to support everybody who was part of that, is a great moment. I knew it was going to be a big moment, going back to the rink, There will be some different feelings on my part, as to what the future holds.

"I'm going to have to make a decision sooner or later. I don't have a time frame. It's hard for me to judge 'soon' — within two weeks, or two months. I don't know exactly what 'soon' means. I hope the sooner the better, but there still could be some time here."

Red the rest here -Link

Ryan Carrter has gone back to Portland

Ryan Carter was sent down from the Anaheim Ducks to the Portland Pirates yesterday evening. This is to make room on the roster for Samuel Pahlsson who is coming off injured reserve. Carter has had a surreal life since last spring. He was called up to the Ducks during the playoffs and played four games for the Ducks, including one game in the Stanley Cup Finals. That earned him his name on the Cup and his own 24 hours with Stanley in the summer. Carter, along with the rest of the team, received his Stanley Cup ring on Monday evening.

Read the rest here - Link

Glass Seat Auction, get them for the Red Wings game here - Link

Earl from BOC has a look at the Ducks

After a road trip that can best be described as "predictably brutal", the Ducks finally raise their banners tonight in front of the home crowd--Scott and Teemu are supposed to be in attendance, so that should be an interesting ceremony, at least. I'm not going to overcriticize the team for the lackluster start, even though the last three cup-winners have all had excellent starts to their year: Tampa Bay took points in 14 of its first 16 games (11-2-3), Carolina earned points in 13 of 16 (12-3-1), and last year's Ducks got points in all 16 (12-0-4).

This year's Ducks have only taken points in 2 out of its first 5 games, but I'm staying optimistic. Here's some semi-random thoughts I've been mulling over:

1. Last year's Senators recovered from a brutal start to make the cup finals, so a rough start isn't insurmountable. Ottawa took points in only 7 of its first 16, but unlike the Ducks so far, the Senators' goal-differential was pretty promising. Just a side note on the Sens' top line: it took them less than 2 games this season to score as many goals and points as they got in all 5 games against the Ducks last spring. Just sayin'.

2. Fortunately, the rest of the Pacific Division has started slowly as well. The Ducks will have a games-in-hand issue as the season goes on, but I'm surprised nobody in the division has passed the Ducks in the standings yet. Last year, the Pacific produced three 107-point teams; so far this year nobody in the division sits above the .500 mark and every team is getting outscored.

Read the rest here - Link

Some coverage of the Ducks Stanley Cup event

Eight big floodlights started at 4 p.m., which didn't seem to make sense since the sun was still shining high above Honda Center.

But this was no ordinary evening at the hockey rink. The place was so decked out it looked like it was ready to play host to some Hollywood premiere and not the Ducks' home opener.

Fans stood three and sometimes four rows deep along the red carpet that stretched from the parking lot to the Southeast entrance of the arena. They waved towels, signs, jerseys and even stuffed teddy bears in a frantic attempt to catch the players' attention. Those stuck in the back waved their camera phones in the air trying to capture this historic moment

Jenn Pletcher and Stephanie Broyles, both from Long Beach, were some of the first to arrive, staking out a spot in front of the makeshift stage that was set up just outside of the glass doors leading into the Honda Center. That's where the defending Stanley Cup champions would stop for their TV interviews. Broyles and Pletcher said it felt like they had been there for five hours, but really it was more like 45 minutes.

An hour before the Ducks were scheduled to arrive, there were about 10 people waiting outside the arena, and Tammy Sides of Cypress was one of them.

Read the rest here - Link

Anaheim Ducks name Chris Pronger Team Captain!

This is not truly a surprise.  He has the experience and has been captain before.  What is a surprise is that Chris Kunitz was named alternate captain.  I was thinking Getzlaf would get the job.  Rob Niedermayer continues as the other alternate captain.  Here is the official PR release.

Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle announced today that defenseman Chris Pronger will take over as captain, with last year’s captain Scott Niedermayer still mulling retirement.

“The coaching staff and management had a discussion and ultimately it was left up to us, the coaches, to make that decision and we made it through consultation through the last 48 hours,” Carlyle said. “We came to the conclusion that we thought Chris Pronger would be best suited to fit the captaincy role.”

Carlyle also announced that Rob Niedermayer would again be an alternate captain and Chris Kunitz would also be an alternate captain for the first time with the Ducks. “Rob Niedermayer was an [alternate] last year and did a fine job, and we thought it was important to involve our younger players in the leadership role. Chris Kunitz fit that role.”

Said Pronger, “It’s a tremendous honor. I’m following an excellent leader in Scotty and I’m certainly trying to build on what he’s done the last couple of years, things we’ve accomplished as a group and as a team. I’m just going to pick up where he left off and use the other leaders we have in the room to further develop as a group and try to repeat or play as well as we can.”

Pronger first became a captain in the NHL as a 23-year-old in St. Louis, and said that he would approach it differently this time. “Certainly I will,” Pronger said. “I was a little wet behind the ears then and now I have more experience in this league and more experience with this team.”

Carlyle acknowledged that several Ducks veterans could have fit any of the three captain role, but “we don’t just rely on these three individuals. Some are more noteworthy in the sense they have more experience, like Todd Marchant. It wasn’t like we passed Todd Marchant over. We just felt that he didn’t need the letter to establish his leadership role. We feel it can spread out through our whole hockey club.”

See the original here - Link

Part 3 - Friday News

So here is the rest of the news that is not related to Teemu Selanne or to last nights game.  I've got Stanley Cup coverage, training camp coverage and more.

Hockey Hall of Fame has updated their Stanley Cup Journal.

When you achieve a dream, you want to share it with those who helped you along the way and, as a result, will revel in your successes most. Sean's first stop was to visit his grandmother at St. Patrick's Home, a long-term care facility. The affection was evident, as Sean had long intended that should he win the Stanley Cup, he'd bring it to show his grandmother, who had encouraged him through many an early morning boyhood hockey game. "I've been coming here for 15 years," Sean mentioned. "My grandmother's here. She wouldn't be able to come to see the Cup anywhere else, so I thought I'd bring it to her. She was pretty excited about it!"

The Stanley Cup had actually arrived in Ottawa early, and O'Donnell had called to see if he could arrive a little early at St. Patrick's. "I'm sorry, but would you mind waiting for a little while? Thursdays are our bingo afternoons," he was told. Sean could only grin. "Fine, I'll see you a little later then," he responded.

At the Ottawa Hospital, even Senator fans were pleased to be greeted by O'Donnel and the Stanley Cup. (Mike Bolt/HHOF)

The Ducks' defenceman then took the Stanley Cup over to The Ottawa Hospital, where he walked the hallways visiting youngsters who were receiving treatment. The spirit of kids is amazingly resilient, and belies bandages and tubes. You wouldn't know that any of them had a care in the world when they got to see, touch and get a picture with the Stanley Cup. There's an amazing healing quality that seems to emanate from Lord Stanley's mug.

Sean then pulled up with the Stanley Cup to 24 Sussex, the well-known address of the Prime Minister of Canada. Once he was ushered in, Sean was greeted by Stephen Harper, his wife Laureen and their children Ben and Rachel. The Prime Minister greeted O'Donnell wearing a Ducks' jersey, one that been given to him during the Stanley Cup final by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Asked why he wasn't wearing an Ottawa jersey, the Prime Minister responded, "I'm wearing the Anaheim jersey out of respect to Sean. By winning the Stanley Cup with Anaheim, we have reason to celebrate, because Sean O'Donnell, a hometown boy, has brought honour to our city."

Read the rest of it here - Link

The Cup Keepers journal has been updated as well

See the rest here - Link

The Duckcast has been resurrected.  The first one of the season features an interview with Brad May - Link

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NHL.com has a quick look at players who are ready for their best season.  Chris Kunitz is on that list.

Chris Kunitz: It's great to ride shotgun with a star. Just ask Kunitz, who put up 16 goals in 35 games - just three short of what he managed all last season. His goal-scoring has slowed, but he's been piling up assists and showing he's worthy of first-line time.

To see who else is on that list go here - Link

The Sporting News has a look at the Anaheim Ducks

With the possible retirement of Scott Niedermayer, the Ducks will rely more heavily on a potential-laden young forward line led by Ryan Getzlaf in their quest to repeat.

Even while the confetti was still fluttering in the air and the Stanley Cup was swaggering from one victory party to another, the questions had already begun.

Can the Anaheim Ducks repeat? Can they do it if two key players retire? Few NHL teams in recent years have stepped up to meet preseason expectations and hype as well as the Ducks did last season.

After adding Chris Pronger to a team that had reached the Western Conference Finals in 2006, Anaheim was a consensus Stanley Cup favorite before the first puck was dropped last October.

The Ducks responded by setting an NHL record for earning standings points in their first 16 games.

The team essentially led the Pacific Division from wire to wire and quickly advanced through the first two rounds of the playoffs. There were a couple tough moments early in the conference finals against Detroit, but Anaheim won the final three games of the series and dispensed with the Ottawa Senators in five games to win the first Stanley Cup for the state of California.

Read the rest here - Link

MVN has a look at day three of training camp

It’s been a whirlwind week for the Ducks, who are on an accelerated schedule for training camp. Monday saw physicals and assessments. Tuesday and Wednesday were two heavy practice and scrimmage days. Thursday saw the first pre-season game. Friday brought another practice and scrimmage day as a prelude to three more games in three days.

As of yet, there have been no cuts made to the roster, but those are likely to come after the next three games. Therefore the team still practiced in two groups. Group A was on the NHL rink again and they went through the usual drills and sprints for an hour. Everything has a harder, faster tempo and the players are looking much sharper than they did on Tuesday.

After a brief break to resurface the ice, the two groups had another scrimmage. Group A was in black and group B was in white. The first scrimmage black came out on top. On day 2 the white team managed to put together a narrow victory. Today was another blow out, with the white team coming out on top. 24 year old right winger, Brandon Segal, who was acquired from Nashville for future considerations in June, stood out in the scrimmage with three goals (a penalty shot, banging in a rebound and a nice shot that clanged in off the post) . The final score was 8 - 2, with the black team only scoring on Todd Bertuzzi and Andy MacDonald’s penalty shots. If the black team had converted on more penalty shots (which were used instead of 2 minutes in the penalty box), the scrimmage would have been much closer.

Read the rest here - Link

The Portland(Maine) Press Herald has a look at Ducks prospect Clay Harris

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Clay Wilson got a chance to add to his playing resume while spending last season with the Portland Pirates, and it's made him a unique player in the Anaheim Ducks organization.

After spending his entire career playing defense, the speedy Wilson was inserted into one of the Pirates' forward lines in the second half of the season.

That move was made when the Pirates, Anaheim's AHL affiliate, ran short of forwards.

Wilson has become a swing player, a role seldom filled in professional hockey.

"There are not a lot of those types of classification of those players who play to the highest level in the American Hockey League and the NHL," Anaheim Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said. "We think it's unique for him."

The move was made during the offensive-minded Wilson's first full professional season.

"About halfway through the season, we were kind of short up front," Wilson said.

"I had a little bit of success and got the hang of it toward the end of the year."

Last season, Wilson, 24, was the Pirates' third-leading scorer with nine goals and 34 assists in 79 games.

Before he went home for the summer, he was told by the Ducks' management he would continue to play a dual role.

"I don't mind at all," he said. "Anything that will give me a chance to spend more time with Anaheim is a positive thing."

He's listed as a left wing on the Ducks' training camp positional roster.

However, he spent the first three days of practice playing defense.

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

Four More Years!!!!!! - Monday News

Well if you have not heard yet, the Anaheim Ducks have signed Chris Kunitz to a four year contract extension.  The price tag?  $14.9 million. The contract does not start until the 2008-2009 season.  He has one year left on his current contract ($1.15 mil).  Chris is a great player who works well as the tough guy/skill player for the first line.  He is a proven player who I look forward to watching for the next few years.

Here are today's articles

Official Ducks announcement with audio

The Ducks announced today that they have signed left wing Chris Kunitz to a four-year contract extension (beginning in 2008-2009). Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.

“Chris has been a very important multi-dimensional player for us the last two seasons, providing skill, physical play and leadership,” said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke. “We are very pleased to have him signed prior to his eligibility as an unrestricted free agent next summer.”

Kunitz, 27, (9/26/79), played in 81 regular season games last season, scoring 25-35=60 points with 81 penalty minutes and a +23 rating. The Regina, Saskatchewan native added 1-5=6 points in 13 playoff games (missed eight games due to injury), helping Anaheim win the Stanley Cup. Over the last two regular seasons, Kunitz has scored 44-57=101 points with 150 penalty minutes and a +42 rating. He and Teemu Selanne were the only two NHL forwards last season with 25 plus goals, 80 plus penalty minutes and a +20-or-better ratin

Read the rest here - Link

Hear the audio here - Link

Orange County Register Coverage

Often overshadowed by better-known, bigger-name teammates, left wing Chris Kunitz probably didn’t receive the attention he deserved last season, when his 25 goals and 60 points made him the Ducks’ fourth-leading scorer.

The payoff came Monday, when the Stanley Cup champions signed Kunitz to a four-year contract extension worth $14.9 million.

“We have a lot of bright-lights players, and he doesn’t get much recognition,” Ducks general manager Brian Burke said. “Recognition is a four-year deal at this kind of dough. We regard Chris Kunitz as a critical player. He’s one of our Swiss Army knives. He can do almost anything on an ice rink. He’s good enough to play on the first line, tough enough to play on the fourth line, and can do almost anything in between.”

Kunitz, 27, will receive $1.15 million this season, after which he could have become an unrestricted free agent. Instead, the new pact beginning in 2008-09 calls for him to receive yearly salaries of $3.5 million, $3.6 million, $3.8 million and $4 million, with the Ducks taking an annual salary-cap hit of $3.725 million.

“When a great deal like this comes on the table, you have to jump on an opportunity to stay with a great team,” Kunitz said. “I always wanted to be in Anaheim. Obviously, the security of getting a deal done and knowing your future for a while is nice. Once you find a good fit, with the system and the coaches and the organization, it’s tough to leave something like that.”

Read the rest here - Link

Here is an LA Times article on the Kunitz signing

Heading off any contractual issue before his current deal expires after the coming season, the Ducks signed left wing Chris Kunitz to a four-year, $14.9-million extension that will become effective in 2008-09.
Kunitz, 27, will make $1.15 million this season and would have become an unrestricted free agent next July if he chose to test the market. Instead, the Ducks have one of their top scorers under contract for the next five seasons.

"Chris has been a very important multidimensional player for us the last two seasons, providing skill, physical play and leadership," General Manager Brian Burke said. "We are very pleased to have him signed prior to his eligibility as an unrestricted free agent next summer."
Kunitz set career bests of 25 goals and 60 points and added a goal and five assists in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He sat out most of the Western Conference finals against Detroit because of a broken finger but returned to play in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals against Ottawa.
According to a source close to the negotiations, Kunitz will make $3.5 million in 2008-09, $3.6 million in 2009-10, $3.8 million in 2010-11 and $4 million in 2011-12.

Read the rest here - Link

CBC Coverage

The Anaheim Ducks signed left-winger Chris Kunitz to a $14.9-million US, four-year contract extension on Monday.

The 27-year-old Regina native recorded 25 goals and 60 points and boasted a plus-23 rating in 81 regular-season games last season.

Kunitz also had one goal and five points in 13 playoff games during Anaheim's Stanley Cup run.

"Chris has been a very important multi-dimensional player for us the last two seasons, providing skill, physical play and leadership," Ducks general manager 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."

Kunitz's new deal goes into effect at the start of the 2008-09 NHL season.

Read the rest here - Link

Stanley Cup Fun - Teemu, Kuni, Getzi and more!

Hello all! It's time for some fun. Lets travel around the globe from Regina to Finland to see where the Stanley Cup has been. I've found some great photos and video of Teemu with the cup. Also the Stanley Cup journal has been updated with Kuni and Getzi's day with cup. Also the Anaheim Ducks have updated their website to include a history of the Ducks. So sit back and click away!

A look into the history of the Anaheim Ducks. It contains info about jerseys, roster, career leasers, captains, coaches, draft picks, major announcements, game by game, year by year leaders, hat tricks and leaders - Link

Stanley Cup Journal Update with Kuni and Getzi - Link

Photo Links
Teemu with the cup via Flickr - Link 1 Link 2

Video

Kuni with the Cup



Selanne with the cup - 5 videos, thanks MrJones36

Morning News Roundup

Good morning, here are todays links. Most of them are about Kuni's day with the cup. The Hockey Hall of Fame has their thursday update covering Giggy and Beauchemin. There is one small article on the referee who reffereed the Stanely Cup Finals.

Chris Kunitz has his day with the Cup

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Giggy and Beauchemin have their day with the cup - Link

Dan O'Halloran interview - Link

Saturday News Roundup

Happy Saturday. Not much going on today except for some great scoring analysis by Earl at BOC and some Cup news.

Scoring since lockout analysis at BOC - Link

Kunitz and Getzlaf cup days are coming up! - Link

Stanley Cup DVD Release

Well it is officially out and the Ducks Wire roving reporter Diana was on the job(and buying me a copy at Wal-Mart). She took pictures, one shaky video (sorry). I got a chance to see Andy at FYE in Fullerton and that was fun. So here are the links!

Can't make the signings? Order your DVD from NHL.com (WalMart was $20) - Link

OC Register Coverage - Article, Video and Preview - Link

Want to see a few pictures from the autograph sessions? - Link

Quick shaky video from the Giggy session



Missed todays sessions? Still want to get at least one autograph? See Kunitz at the following locations:

Sport Chalet
16242 Beach Blvd.
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Noon – 2:00 p.m.

Fry’s Electronics
3370 E. La Palma
Anaheim, CA 92806
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Monday Evening News - Autograph Sessions

Summer Hockey News slowdown. Hey at least I have all of these cup appearances to write about!

Giguere, McDonald and Kunitz are set to make appearances promoting the sale of the championship DVD. Link

A nice write up on Penner - Link

"They came barging into my bedroom," he recalled. "They were yelling,
'Penner! Get up! Let's have some beer!!' "

Ducks Merchandise sales have skyrocketed. Although Buffalo did better. Sigh
lets go buy more stuff! - Link