ANAHEIM DUCKS: 08-09 Season Preview

07-08 RECORD: 47-27-8 102 points
DIVISION: 2nd
CONFERENCE: 4th
RESULT: Lost in 1st round

07-08 OFF-SEASON:
ARRIVALS: C Brendan Morrison(VAN), D Steve Montador(FLA), RW Eric Boguniecki(NAS), D Brennan Evans(FA), G David LeNeveu(NYR/PHO)
DEPARTURES: D M-A Bergeron, LW Todd Bertuzzi, C Doug Weight

A fairly quiet off-season for Brian Burke and the Ducks not including his on going feud with Kevin Lowe. The Ducks locked up Corey Perry to a 5-year deal to kick off the summer just before anyone could take a shot at his restrictive free agent status. The biggest need was secondary scoring and Burke addressed the problem by signing often injured but useful Brendan Morrison from his former team the Vancouver Canucks. Morrison will come into training camp with alot to prove after only appearing in 39 games last season. If Morrison can stay healthy he is definitely an upgrade over Doug Weight who left via free agency. Burke still had alot of work to do coming into training camp to solve the Ducks secondary scoring problem. Teemu Selanne still hadn't been re-signed, though is in training camp under a try-out contract, so Burke has been working the phones to try to make space for the most prolific goal scorer in Ducks history. Reports have swirled that defensemen Mathieu Schneider has played his last game as a Duck. Schneider was put on waivers but cleared without any takers on his 5.75 million dollar contract. It looks like Burke will have to take some salary to dump some. Can Burke dump salary while getting under the cap and still sign Selanne? Stay tuned on this one!

CAP HIT: 58.013 million

FORWARDS:
My Projected Lines:
1- C.KUNITZ-R.GETZLAF-C.PERRY
2- B.RYAN-B.MORRISON-T.SELANNE
3- T.MOEN-S.PAHLSSON-R.NIEDERMAYER
4- B.MAY-T.MARCHANT-R.CARTER
E- J.LINDSTROM-B.SUTHERBY-G.PARROS

Assuming the Ducks do find a way to re-sign Selanne, they look set up front. Lead by Ryan Getzlaf and Perry the Ducks have two of the best young players locked up for a long time. Adding Chris Kunitz to the top line will bring a little more grit and hopefully help get Kunitz's production up. Selanne will anchor the second line. He will add excellent secondary scoring while help bring young Bobby Ryan into the NHL. This is a big year for Ryan who was taken 2nd overall to Sidney Crosby, he has to really show that he can be an NHL player and contribute offensively. Selanne can't play forever and Ryan has to set into his shoes. The Ducks also have a very good shut down line who can also contribute offensively here and there. Pahlsson is really under valued in the NHL and is great at what he does. Brad May and Todd Marchant add some leadership while brining grit down from the 4th line. Ryan Carter played well at times last season and will push Ryan for 2nd line ice-time. Sutherby adds good depth down the middle while George Parros can throw them with the best of them.

DEFENSE:
My Projected Pairings:
1- C.PRONGER- S.O'DONNELL
2- S.NIEDERMAYER-F.BEAUCHEMIN
3- K.HUSKINS-B.MIKKELSON
E- M.SCHNEIDER-S.MONTADOR

Scott Niedermayer proved two things last season: 1. how much of a distraction it can be to a team when they are waiting for a player to make up his mind on whether he wants or doesn't want to play(now see Mats Sundin) and 2. how valuable he really is. Without Niedermayer the Ducks are a different team. He is a leader on and off the ice and more importantly he is a winner. The Ducks will benefit greatly with Niedermayer in the line-up. Oh and the Ducks also have another pretty good defensemen in Chris Pronger who had an outstanding year, even though I hate his guts, but ran into injury trouble halfway throughout the season. Francois Beauchemin is more than capable of playing 25+ minutes a game while Sean O'Donnell and Kent Huskins bring good depth as the 4th and 5th defensemen. If Selanne is there that obviously means Schneider isn't so look for rookie Brendan Mikkelson to try to crack the line-up. He is a smooth skater and can move the puck well, kind of like Schneider but younger and a cheaper price.

GOALIES:
1- J-S.GIGUERE
2- J.HILLER
3- D.LeNEVEU

Giguere is simply an elite goaltender. He comes up big in key times and is always up with the leaders in wins and GAA. With Giguere in net the Ducks have a good chance to win every night. Jonas Hiller was played good enough last season to make Ilya Bryzgalov expendable. The same will be looked upon Hiller again this year when Giguere needs a rest. With Niedermayer and Pronger patrolling the blueline, Giguere's and Hiller's jobs become much easier.

OVERALL:

The Ducks look set at every position especially with Selanne coming back for another season. Along with Niedermayer playing a full season there is no doubt the Ducks are Cup contenders once again. Getzlaf and Perry will be among the league leaders in goals and points and will really push the Ducks into an elite franchise for years to come. Look for Ryan, Carter and Mikkelson to crack the Ducks roster and make an impact as rookies this up coming season. The only question I have is, will the Ducks have enough left when it comes playoff time after playing in such a tough division with the Stars and Sharks?

PREDICTION: 3rd Division, 5th Conference