In Anaheim, what was old is new again and what has previously happened will happen again and again and again.
The Anaheim Ducks staged a furious rally from the cellar of the Pacific Division to win the title with 103 points.
John Gibson looks to be No. 1 goalie in Anaheim – file photo by Brent Clark
From there, it was the same old story with a crash and burn against the Nashville Predators in Game 6 on the road and Game 7 at home.
The failure to move on cost head coach Bruce Boudreau his job.
The Ducks have gotten old and their moves in the free agency season were not noteworthy.
General manager Bob Murray opted to go old school and rehired Randy Carlyle as head coach who was last fired by Anaheim in 2011.
Since last season, the Ducks have lost or shed David Perron, Brandon Pirri, Chris Stewart, Jamie McGinn, Mike Santorelli, Shawn Horcoff, and Frederik Andersen.
Youth and age departed in those names.
In the absence of available cash and cap space, the Ducks acquired Antoine Vermette, Jared Boll, Mason Raymond and Jonathan Bernier.
The Ducks still have Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kessler, Corey Perry, and John Gibson. Those first three are the core of the Ducks’ scoring and they will need to defy aging and keep their abilities intact for one more season in Anaheim. If not, they and their coach will be gone quickly.
Gibson had a good year, not great, but really failed in the playoffs, losing the first two games against the Preds in the opening round. Without Andersen on the team, the Ducks secured Bernier as backup to Gibson.
Boudreau manned the crease by committee but Carlyle is more apt to go with his number one and hope for the best. Bernier had flashes last season but can be erratic.
Defensively, the Ducks were solid last campaign and Boudreau’s focus on the defense ended up with Anaheim sporting the fewest goals against in the NHL. Special teams were equally good with the penalty kill and power play flirting with the top spot.
Does Corey Perry have another good year in him? – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Few pundits see the Ducks making a serious push for the Pacific title this season and the playoffs are a stretch even as a wild card. The rest of the division and the Western Conference have gotten notably better while the cash-strapped Ducks shed some quality and gained some mediocrity. Getzlaf and Perry are 31 this season and the highlight reels of their careers may not have many additions this season. And will Carlyle spin magic at the Pond despite years of futility in Toronto?
There is enough talent and pride to get the Ducks to the post season where they would hope to get past the first round.
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