Anaheim, Ca – Last season, the Anaheim Ducks became the first California-based team to win the Stanley Cup. This season, the Ducks season ended much sooner than expected as Anaheim was eliminated in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs by the Dallas Stars.
While the Ducks might not be so “Mighty” anymore, the team is still in a good position to make another run next season, but one thing is for certain. This time, the Scott Neidermayer-Teemu Selanne fiasco that was a distraction for the most part of the season, will not have sequel. Ducks General Manager Brian Burke has already laid down the law and told both players that they’re will be a deadline this time around.
Selanne is a free agent, Neidermayer is not. Both players have talked
about retirement in the past, but will one or both finally go through with it? At least this time around we won’t have to wait until mid-season to find out what happens.
Photos courtesy of the NHL
Regardless of what happens, the team will return with a solid, but not spectacular offense. Eight players had 10 or more goals, and three with 20 or more. Despite only playing in 26 games, Selanne had 12 goals. If he decides to retire he will be sorely missed. Top prospect Bobby Ryan will surely find his way into a full-time role this season to help fill the void. Outside of Ryan, the Ducks do not have many strong offensive prospects. The Ducks have the twelvth pick in the first round. Baring a trade, the pick might be for some much-needed offense.
The defense is solid, but aging. Due to age and retirement, Mathieu Schneider and Niedermayer are both on the verge of being replaced by some top prospects. University of Michigan’s Mark Mitera will have to replace one of them either this season or next. Brendan Mikkelsen so far is pegged to be the other, but if you believe Brian Burke’s words, both players might be bumped in the depth chart if Burke trades his pick. If the strategy is to move up in the draft it might be to get into the top 5 to draft any of the top 4 defensive prospects.
Anaheim picks twelvth (from Edmonton), which means some offensive talent could slide into the Ducks lap. However, according to Josh Brewster of www.hockeytalk.biz and the host of the Ducks post game show on radio, the Ducks will go with defense at the draft.
The Ducks will have their choice between Yann Sauve and Micheal Del Zotto each who will be there for the taking should the Ducks decide to go defense. Zach Boychuk and Joshua Bailey will also be there should the Ducks decide to go with some offense.
Photos courtesy of the NHL
According to our man on the scene, Brewster thinks the Ducks will take Yann Sauve.
“ He’s got a good amount of international experience. He’s big and mobile. Recent press in The Hockey News and elsewhere makes it likely that he’ll continue to climb. The Ducks see him in the Francois Beauchemin mold.”
Sauve is only rated #26 by Central Scouting, but Burke is in a position to take someone he really likes rather than take best player available. Due to that fact you are likely to hear, “with the twelvth pick of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, the Anaheim Ducks select, from Saint John of the Quebec Major Juniors, defenseman Yann Sauve.”
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
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