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

A few more things

So here are a few more articles I found on the Ducks.

An article on Sean O'Donnell va the LA Times

Sean O'Donnell has lived in Hermosa Beach for the last 12 years and has played an integral part in the Ducks' ascent to the top of the NHL since they pulled him out of a losing situation in Phoenix at the 2006 trade deadline.

So when it came to his contract negotiations in June, O'Donnell made his priorities clear to General Manager Brian Burke.

"I spoke to Burkie briefly at the year-end meeting and let him know that I was very, very interested in staying and I'd be willing to take less than what I could possibly get out there," O'Donnell said.

"If it was going to be anywhere close to what I think it should be, I'll take it. I want to stay here. I live here, I love it here."

All that it took for O'Donnell to sign his two-year, $2.5-million deal was a contract offer from Burke, one that he considered was fair. The veteran defenseman didn't contain his glee when it was certain that he'd stay in Southern California.

"He called me right after he signed," Ducks captain Chris Pronger said. "He was pretty excited."

Said O'Donnell: "We're going to compete for the next couple of years that I'm here. After winning, you kind of feel like a family and I want to be a part of that."

O'Donnell, who turned 36 on Saturday, has become the ideal complement to Pronger on defense. Whenever Pronger decides to jump up in the play when the puck is in the offensive zone, O'Donnell is usually back to cover his partner in case the opposing team gains possession.

Read the rest here - Link

MVN has a look at the Ducks upcoming schedule

Considering how the Anaheim Ducks started their season, this past week has been one of relative calm. With only one game to be played, the true home opener against Boston, the Ducks finally had time to catch their breath and get back into a regular routine. The week has seen a few rests and several practices, a ring ceremony, the raising of the Stanley Cup Champion banners and a pricey fan event at a local restaurant. Today was the last day of full practice before the games begin again in earnest.

On Sunday the Ducks will face the Minnesota Wild, a team we have not seen since the first round of the playoffs last spring. The Minnesota Wild are off to a 3-0 start this year with all their games played at home. The Wild will not have to give up home cooking on this road trip as the players’ moms are making the trip with their sons. Last year the dads had their trip and this year they are equalizing things with the moms. It is unclear whether mom’s presence will make Derek Boogaard behave or if she’ll be looking to take on George Parros’ mom in the stands.

The first game of the Wild’s trip is in Phoenix this evening, so they will have to fly to Anaheim after their game. It is likely that they will use the back up goalie in Phoenix and will save Nicklas Backstrom for tomorrow night’s game. Backstrom was phenomenal last spring for the Wild, although the Ducks found enough ways to beat him to move on in the playoffs. Backstrom has two shutouts in three starts, a 0.067 goals against average and .971% save percentage. They are the only team still undefeated in the Western Conference. Regardless of the any fatigue the Wild might have, the Ducks will still have to play well against them and figure out how to solve Backstrom.

Read the rest here - Link

BOC has a look at the Ducks Vs Wild

Well, back-to-back games starting tonight against the top two teams in the western standings, not to mention the two teams with the greatest tendency to get eliminated by Anaheim in the postseason (both got swept in 2003 and beaten again in 2007).

First off, there's the 4-0 Minnesota Wild, a game I've actually scored some tickets to. I don't know much about my seats, but I'll be somewhere in the Club Level--a first for me. One quick note about the Wild: last year the theme of this series was injuries. Marian Gaborik, Todd Fedoruk, and Chris Pronger all got hurt in the regular season, and Francois Beauchemin and Kim Johnsson were missing for postseason losses.

Now Wild fans everywhere hate the Ducks franchise, and who can blame them? Each time they've made the postseason, it's come to a quick and bitter end at the hands of Giguere and the Ducks. If there's a positive, it's that results were better the second time--the Wild not only won a game but also scored multiple goals.

Read the rest here - Link

Friday News

So, It has been an interesting week, so here is some news not involving somebody retiring or getting injured. Season ticket holders got a little surprise email today telling them that their day with the cup will be coming soon.

Ducks TV has an update of the Niedermayers with the cup - Link

 

Here is a video from the US open of Surfing that was just posted.  It has about 45 seconds with Sean and the Cup. - Link

Finally, Internet access from home. So I finally get to post the latest Anaheim Ducks News!

Well, as Earl said it was Indecisionmayer time. I hope he makes the best decision for him and his family and I will give a respite from any cajoling.  So I have for you tonight some more Niedermayer analysis, the state of Sami Pahlsson, a little news on training camp, some tales of the cup and other exciting Ducks News.  Also for AnaheimDuckFan and all the other O'Donnell fans, I have a few more pics from Total photo posted here.

Niedermayer Analysis

MVN has their look at the Niedermayer retirement issues.

With his youngest curly headed son off to the side, Scott Niedermayer took some time to talk with the media this morning about his retirement decision. Or in Scott’s case a non-decision. Niedermayer answered questions for about 30 minutes and made it clear that his decision is still 50/50 until he decides one way or the other about retirement. While he expressed gratitude to GM Brian Burke for giving him as much time as he needed to make a decision, he wishes that Burke had set a deadline that would have forced him to make a decision.

Over the summer Niedermayer has spoken with a lot of people about retirement - his children, his wife, his family, teammates, other retired players, such as Scott Stevens, Ken Daneyko and Pat LaFontaine. He has heard a lot of unsolicited advice as well, especially in Canada when people on the street felt the obligation to put in their two cents worth. What it all comes down to is that the decision is personal and it truly has to be his decision.

Niedermayer did admit that he has done nothing over the summer to train or prepare for the upcoming season and that is one of the factors in his decision. Does he have the energy and ability to commit to doing the necessary things to have a successful season? He admitted that it would take him about four weeks to prepare to be on the ice if he were to start this afternoon. It is clear that he is not going to start skating and training this afternoon. On the plus side, the stress fractures and medical issues that hampered him this past season have completely healed and they are not an issue at this point.

Read the rest here - Link

Earl from BOC has his analysis plus one of the funnier graphics I have seen.

Well, more on Niedergate: the wavering one has called a press conference for 10:30 am this morning, but word on the internet is that he will essentially tell us nothing. Per the OC Register, Scott will miss the start of training camp, but other than that his future is no more clear than it was in June: “Maybe I’ll be in camp in a week, or for that matter, I could never put on skates again.”
And while Ducks fans and non-Ducks fans alike fret and stew and wonder and wait, I gotta side with Brian Burke on this issue: "I think there's a misperception out there that this is somehow inconveniencing us. And it's not. We want this player to return. The phone call we don't want is that he's going to retire. The fact he's undecided and this might stretch into the start of the year, this is not a crisis mode for us. This is good news. Because it means he hasn't made the one phone call we don't want him to make."

Read the rest here - Link

Sami Pahlsson has a sports hernia and will be out for 3-5 weeks.  Get well soon!

Anaheim Ducks forward Samuel Pahlsson will miss 3 to 5 weeks with a sports hernia, Anaheim Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke told media Thursday.
The 29-year-old Pahlsson, entering his seventh season with the Ducks, underwent surgery on Sept. 5 in Philadelphia. Performing the procedure was Dr. Bill Meyer, who performed the same surgery on Ducks goalie J.S. Giguere in early August.
"The recovery time is 3 to 5 weeks and, as was the case with Jiggy, the question is going to be why on earth was this done in September?" Burke said. "Sammy went through abdominal pain throughout the playoffs, but the recommendation was rest. Once he did hard workouts, the pain was off and on, but he didn’t have steady pain."

Read the rest here - Link

A look at the Portland Pirates coaching staff's evaluation time of the rookies

"Part of our role has always been development, and I can look at the strides these kids have made since I saw them at our development camp," said Dineen, who will be back for his third season with the Pirates. "I'll get to see where they've taken a few steps. At 18 or 19, that's when you can measure progression month to month after they've been associated with a professional organization for the first time."

Dineen said the two exhibition games, which will be played Saturday and Sunday at the NHL team's 750-seat training facility, will provide good opportunities for him to evaluate the young players.

"Those two games are important," he said. "Once (the) main camp starts, there's no guarantee those guys are going to get much playing time because you're going from 25 bodies to 45 or 50 bodies."

A few of the young players at the camps can't be classified as rookies.

Included in that group are forwards Drew Miller and Ryan Carter, who made their NHL debuts with the Ducks during the Stanley Cup playoffs after spending their first professional season in the AHL with the Pirates.

Read the rest here - Link

Stanley Cup Playoff game worn jerseys up for auction

Own a piece of history! Welcome to the Beckett Media auction of Stanley Cup Playoff game worn HOME jerseys from the 2007 Stanley Cup Champion
Anaheim Ducks.

This special offering of jerseys will be your unique opportunity to own a game worn Playoff HOME Ducks jersey. These jerseys were used in the Stanley Cup Playoff rounds one through three. Home jerseys from the Ducks playoff run are exceptionally difficult to find, due to the fact the home Stanley Cup Finals jerseys were given to the players.

Each jersey has a special tag sewn into the inside hem, identifying it as authentic 2007 Playoffs worn. You will also receive a letter from the Ducks, individually certifying each jersey's authenticity. Each jersey, other than Brad May, has been personally autographed on the back number in black marker. The Ducks letter also verifies the authenticity of these signatures.

Ric Jackman - Auction begins September 6
Corey Perry - Auction begins September 6
Shawn Thornton - Auction begins September 6
Joe DiPenta - Auction begins September 7
Chris Kunitz - Auction begins September 7
Brad May - Auction begins September 7
Kent Huskins - Auction begins September 10
Travis Moen - Auction begins September 10
Dustin Penner - Auction begins September 10
Ryan Getzlaf - Auction begins September 11
Sean O’Donnell - Auction begins September 11
Andy McDonald - Auction begins September 12
Chris Pronger - Auction begins September 12

Read the rest here - Link

The Canadian Press has a look at the NHL and the prospects of a Ducks repeat.

Western Conference

Anaheim Ducks: The NHL hasn't had a back-to-back champion in nearly a decade - Detroit last turned the trick in '97 and '98. Which brings us to the Ducks, who have a legitimate shot at pulling it off. Much will depend, of course, on whether Conn Smythe Trophy winner and perennial Norris Trophy contender Scott Niedermayer decides to come back at some point this season. Mathieu Schneider was a nice insurance pickup by GM Brian Burke but in no way comes close to replacing the skill level, minutes played and leadership Niedermayer gives the Ducks. The addition of winger Todd Bertuzzi should mitigate the possible loss of Teemu Selanne, who also hasn't yet decided on whether or not he'll be back. Losing up-and-comer Dustin Penner to Edmonton was a tough blow. Ryan Getzlaf is just scratching the surface of what should be a superb career and the Ducks, led by Chris Pronger and J.S. Giguere, still have a championship core to contend. They'll be top four in the West and threaten to repeat as champs.

Read the rest here - Link

The Stanley Cup visits Huntington Beach and the Tiger Woods Learning Center

Riding in a black stretch limousine and accompanied by a white-gloved handler, the Stanley Cup made a surprise appearance this morning in Huntington Beach.
Stunned diners at the Sugar Shack cafe took a break from their pancakes and eggs to snap photos with the trophy, given to professional hockey's championship team.

"It felt surreal," said Kenny Brooks, who eats at the landmark diner every other week. "You always hear about how it travels around the United States and Canada, but you never imagine that you're going to be around it."
After the Anaheim Ducks won the NHL championship in June, each player and team official got to take possession of the 115-year-old silver trophy for 24 hours and could take it wherever he pleased.
Thursday was team Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Ryan's day. Ryan, who has lived in Huntington Beach for a decade, said it was fitting to start the day in his hometown. He planned to take the 35-pound cup on a visit to see children at the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Anaheim, then to a private party for 200.

Read the rest here - Link

 

The Stanley Cup takes a trip to Providence with Brian Burke

The Stanley Cup will be at Providence College on Sunday, October 7.

Sept. 4, 2007

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Providence College hockey head coach Tim Army announced today that the Stanley Cup will be coming to PC's Schneider Arena on Sunday, October 7 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Members of the media and Friends of Friar Hockey supporters are invited to a reception hosted by former Friar Brian Burke, General Manager of the Anaheim Ducks. Invitations are to follow. Burke led his team to its first ever NHL Stanley Cup championship on June 7. Anaheim won the best-of-seven series against the Ottawa Senators (four-games-to-one) and became the first West Coast team to capture the Stanley Cup.

Burke, who played in 112 games at PC from 1973-77, became the second former Friar (while serving as a general manager) to help an NHL team capture the Stanley Cup title. Lou Lamoriello `63, who was a player, head coach and athletic director at PC and is the current CEO/President and General Manager of the New Jersey Devils, has guided his team to three Stanley Cup crowns

See the original post here - Link

 

And finally, Sean O'Donnell with the cup, episode 2.  Thanks to Totalphoto's flickr blog for the photos.

 

Internet Down - Will Post as soon as it is restored

So my internet is down and I have not been able to post the latest news. I can only do a quick shot here so the only thing that I know that probably has not been posted elsewhere is this picture of Sean O'Donnell with the cup. There is a larger version of this photo available. Thanks to TotalPhoto's flickr page for this photo.

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.

Read the rest here - Link

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

One more post before I got sleep......

Well I finally found some Corey Perry pictures.  I also found an article on Burke, David Farrish, Kent Huskins and Sean O'Donnell's day with the cup.

Corey Perry with the cup courtesy of Yahoo Sports - Link

Corey Perry, of the Anaheim Ducks, finishes an eventful day with the Stanley Cup arriving late for a private party in London, Canada, Friday, August 10, 2007. Perry, from this year's NHL Stanley Cup-winning team, traveled with the cup from his hometown of Peterborough to London where he played with the London Knights OHL team. Perry and his group was delayed several hours on Highway 401 due to an accident. Perry carried the cup through the stopped traffic.

Photos copyright AP

Huskins and O'Donnell days with the cup

The Ottawa Senators didn't win the Stanley Cup this year, but the Cup will still spend two days in the region this week, thanks to two Anaheim Ducks hatched there.

The Ducks took Lord Stanley's trophy when they trounced the Senators in Game 5 of the 2007 NHL playoff finals in June.

Consequently, the Cup is scheduled to spend Sunday in Almonte, Ont., just west of Ottawa, hometown of Anaheim defenceman Kent Huskins.

It will also spend a day in his teammate Sean O'Donnell's hometown of Kanata, which is now part of Ottawa.

Read the rest here - Link

Dave Farrish is getting his day with the Cup

Dave Farrish is bringing hockey’s Holy Grail home to Lucknow.
The Anaheim Ducks assistant coach and the Stanley Cup will be in town Aug. 19. A ceremony honouring Farrish is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Lucknow and District Arena. Fans can view the Cup from 2 to 5 p.m.

Read the rest here - Link

A nice article on Brian Burke from the Vancouver Sun

Despite being unceremoniously dumped by the Vancouver Canucks and leading his new team, the Anaheim Ducks, to a Stanley Cup championship last season, our fair-but-fickle city will always draw Brian Burke back.

"This will be home when I get done working in hockey, but hopefully that's not for awhile," Burke told The Vancouver Sun Friday after addressing the B.C. Chamber of Commerce's executive luncheon in the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel.

"We hope that we'll be there [Anaheim] for 10 more years," Burke said. "We're going to be there as long as the owners want us to be there."

Read the rest here - Link