Ducks Offseason Preview (Part 2): Return of the Vets? Murray s new plan.

Three huge players this season are not signed through next year's season. They combined for 56 goals and 152 points. Their names are Saku Koivu, Scott Niedermayer, and Teemu Selanne.

It will be the same old story again this season as we wait for these veterans to make their decisions. Only this time the story will be written a bit differently. The one thing that changed? The Anaheim Ducks missing the playoffs. The moves that GM Bob Murray (or someonelse?) will make this offseason will be greatly dictated based on the decisions these players make. They have all shown they have the skills needed to play the game (and play it well). They make up 2/3 of the 2cd scoring line and (in my opinion) Scotty is worth two defensive spots in our roster.

The Anaheim Ducks organization has made it unofficial policy to keep plans close to the chest. This year it has been different. A series of interviews from the 3 players and the Anaheim Ducks GM have brought forth clues as to what may happen. At the very least they gave us food for our speculative thoughts.

Saku Koivu: (35 years old, 71gp 19g 33a 52p, 2cd line center)

Koivu had the most positive news out of the trio. In a recent interview from anaheimducks.com, Koivu made it clear that he wants to stay a Duck. He says he loves it in Anaheim and even though he wasn't satisfied with the last season, he has enjoyed his time and his role on this team. He's been a smash hit with the fans after his one year stint. Of course Koivu is the best 2cd line center since (if you count 07-08) Andy McDonald. But Koivu brings so much more than 19 goals and 52 points to the team. Koivu works night in and night out, he never gives up, he performs when he is called on to step it up, and brings an overall positive attitude and leadership that the Ducks were missing in Chris Pronger (Koivu will even take a checking role if he has to). It's no wonder the fans in Montreal loved Koivu so much.

Koivu has made it his goal to get a contract in Anaheim (he wants 2 more years) and haas stated that he hadn't even thought of and doesn't even think he will test the free agent market. Hopefully if Koivu returns it will prompt teammate Teemu Selanne to return.
My Prediction: Murray would be an idiot not to sign it.

Teemu Selanne (39 years old, 54gp 27g 21a 48p, 2cd line RW)

41 goals 31 assists 72 points.

That was Teemu's projected numbers, had he played all 82 games. That would be 2cd on our team in terms of points and 7th in the NHL in goals…7th. I hope someone tells Teemu that.

But, something tells me he knows. Well he unofficially tells us he knows. In a recent interview Teemu was asked about his retirement plans. He said he wishes he hadn't played so well, because the decision would be much easier. And he's right, he hasn't played this well since the 06-07 season. He clearly has plenty of hockey left in him. He missed 28 games and he still almost hit the 30 goal mark. Plus he still scored 600 goals and passed his boyhood idol Jarri Kurri on the all time goal scorers list. And there are still so many milestones within reach, his for the taking. That makes it tougher still on Selanne.

A factor that could cause him to lean toward his retirement is the injuries he suffered. In his mind he is more injury prone because he is getting old and frail. He is being a little too modest in this scenario. He took a speeding puck to the jaw and the hand, those kind of impacts would have injured anybody in the NHL. Still, he's got skills, he isn't getting worse (cause he's a hockey legend), he has all kinds of milestones still within reach, and he had fun in the most dismal Ducks season to date.
My Prediction: One More Year (at least)

Scott Niedermayer (36 years old, 10g, 38a, 48pts, Top Anaheim defenseman)

Scott Niedermayer has made several statements about his plans to retire over the past few days. None of them were too telling about which way he is leaning. He is more cryptic this year than any of the previous years. Although from the audio on the final thoughts, Scotty's tone didn't seem too optimistic about his answer (but who can sound optimistic after missing the playoffs, especially a captain who is a perennial winner.) plus Murray is scouting big name dman at the moment. One bit of information he HAS given is that he will make his decision very soon, not before the season begins (this coincides with Murray's comments below). This statement isn't too convincing though as he has said it before.

Scott Niedermayer is still a defensive force. The whole league wants him, and even though his play has slipped lately he is still our best dman. The Ducks should not pay him more than or 6 million dollars though, they need money to look to the future and if he demands more, they should search other options

My Prediction: Could go either way but. I say he goes this time. Koivu or Getzlaf new "C" (I'll have a separate blog on why I think "someone" should get it).

Bob Murray

Murray's game plan has changed up a bit. Since he took over for Burke, he has played the same conservative role as his predecessor. Making smart trades maintaining respect for players who have historic background with the team. That is all changing. All eyes are on him this summer to make amends for this last, horrific season. Murray went forth to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun and spoke as openly about his offseason plans as any GM has since the lockout.

He informed LeBrun that the Anaheim Ducks organization would not play the waiting game with Niedermayer and Selanne this year. He has spoken to both and has given them a strict draft day deadline. He is looking to boost the blue line and said he is open to trades and that he is unafraid to make one OR two big moves at the deadline.

This could have negative repercussions on the decision's of Selanne and Niedermayer as mulling retirement takes real time and thinking. It's a life choice. If they do not make up their minds until the season starts, they should be prepared to be paid whatever salary money is left over after free agency.

Murray obviously doesn't want to lose these players. Under ordinary circumstances he would wait. These aren't ordinary circumstances. He is responsible for organizing the first Anaheim team to miss the playoffs since the lockout. It is a mess that he is preparing himself to clean, at whatever cost.
Prediction: Well this whole Offseason preview saga is about what he will do. Stay tuned.

So thank you for reading, if you haven't done so already, make sure you check out the other parts of my offseason preview. It's pretty good, I have to say.

The next part of my preview will be on the free agents.

Ducks Offseason: Part 1 Bobby Ryan

Ask anyone NHL fan which player they would realistically trade for on the Ducks this time of year. The answer would be Bobby Ryan.

Bobby Ryan was the Anaheim Ducks' top goal scorer this year, picking up 35 goals and 64 points (not quite the expected production out of him but it's forgiveable.) finishing the the NHL season as the 10th best goal scorer and 45th in overall production.

That kind of player is without question someone the Ducks will need to have in their lineup.

Early attempts at contract extension talks failed as Ryan (or his agent/ or both) were not satisfied with the offers. Then both sides agreed to put talks off until this offseason so that Ryan could focus on his playing. But in interviews Ryan stated that he does want to remain in Anaheim and his first goal in the offseason is getting resigned.

“This is my home," said Ryan, who is due to be a restricted free agent. "I spend my summers here. I love being here and don’t want to be anywhere else. There will be some time still before we get to negotiations and talking. The dust will settle here and we’ll go from there. Anaheim is without a doubt a unanimous No. 1 for me.” (from Anaheimducks.com)

Ryan is looking to get as much money as he can because he knows he will be looked at hard by other NHL teams. But it is almost a guarantee that he will make no more than 5.325 million dollars (the same salary as Getzlaf/Perry) since such a salary will cause Perry and Getzlaf to underperform.

That means Ryan has an unofficial draft day deadline to come to terms with the Ducks organization.

The reason behind this comes from a situation that may still be fresh in Duck fan's minds. Dustin Penner back in the offseason of the 06-07 year, refused Anaheim's contract extension offer and was signed by Edmonton to an offer sheet. In return Anaheim got the 1st, 2cd, and 3rd picks in the following year's draft.

If he cannot be signed it leaves 3 options.
1.)Trade him alone or in a package for a Left Winger better or with similar talent.
Although that is very difficult to do, since the only players of that caliber are pretty much impossible to pry from their respective teams.

2.) Let him pull a Penner
If we do this we have no way of knowing what position draft picks we will get. A team like Washington could give him an offer sheet and then we're stuck with some terrible draft picks.

3.) Use him to move up in this year's draft.
Option one is the best if we can find a team to trade with, but this is a much better option than option 2, because this way we can know what kind of pick we get, hell maybe one of the top 3 teams will bite (at the risk of our other two picks.) But if Ryan doesn't get signed come draft day, option 2 is the only option left, and we're screwed (unless we trade his rights but our return won't be as high as it would be at the draft).

This is all hypothetical of course. But lots of Ducks fans are dead set on the notion that Ryan is staying. I wouldn't fully expect him to leave, but I wouldn't fully expect him to stay either. As much as I want him to.

Hopefully both sides can come to an agreement soon and we can stop worrying about losing such a key member to the organization now and in the future. In the meantime we wait. Hope he doesn't keep us waiting too long.

Storylines: Anaheim Ducks Offseason

Well, the Ducks have failed to qualify for the post-season this year, and now it's time to look ahead at the team that will be playing come september. There are so many different factors that will go into what changes will be made this offseason that it will take several blogs just to preview it all. Here is my outline, and intro to the offseason preview, and what to look out for.

Empty roster spots.
The free agents we have leave 6 key holes in the roster. We could either resign or replace those players with new FA's or prospects. All of our UFA's add up to 20 million dollars in cap room.

Bobby Ryan
Ryan has been a key force on Anaheim's roster and re-signing him his at the top of Bob Murray's to-do list guaranteed, and many subsequent moves revolve around whether or not he is signed.

Old Timers, Retiring?
Scott Niedermayer, Teemu Selanne, and Saku Koivu are all UFA's this postseason. The 3 of them combine for about 11 million in salary but play huge roles on the team.

New Money coming in
The NHL salary cap will be raised by 900k next season plus this was the final year of the Todd Bertuzzi contract buyout.

The Lupul/Blake issue
Lupul and Blake both combine for 8.25 million dollars in salary cap pay. Yet the two only produced 30 points altogether. If Bobby Ryan is resigned, the Ducks will have up to 13 million dollars tied up in 3 left wingers. One or both (lots of salary freed)needs to be traded.

The Draft
The Ducks hold 2 1st round picks in this year's draft. One of which is guaranteed to be top 15 overall. Either way neither of the picks will be lower than 20th overall. Murray can either trade up and draft well. Or use the picks as trade bait since this years pool is weak as it is.

Youngsters
What role will the rookies play and will they crack the lineup? Sexton, Bodie, and Beleskey are all mainstays in the lineup and Sbisa is guaranteed a spot. But what about Gardiner, Clark, Mikkelson, Bonino, Newton, and Holland? Could they crack the lineup come Game 1?

New Coach?
Murray said he wanted to keep Carlyle at the reins, and obviously missing the playoffs one year is no reason to fire a coach. But, the success of the 06-07 season has not even been close to being duplicated and each year we see a record worse than the last. There is always one first step to every turnaround success story in the league today, a new coach.

There is plenty to watch out for this offseason, so make sure you stay tuned.

P.S all of the topics I covered will have their own blog.

It s official.

Never thought i would have to post this. At least, not my first year blogging. Following a Colorado victory tonight. The Anaheim Ducks will miss the playoffs for the first time since the lockout. Thats really all there is to say since its so depressing. Expect a few blogs about the positives and what to look forward to, before my long detailed preview of the offseason.