The Anaheim Ducks made up for a miserable start to the 2017-18 season and then had nothing left in the tank for the first round of the playoffs when they were swept by the San Jose Sharks.
Their response in the off season to early exit has been muted.
Even muted might be an understatement.
Three new additions to the roster were made since 1 July including Brian Gibbons who skated for the New Jersey Devils last season.
Gibbons, 30, had a terrific first half of the season in Newark but tailed off after the New Year.
“We needed to get faster, so the primary goal was to add some speed up front with some depth signings,” general manager Bob Murray said on the Ducks website. “… We did inquire about other big names on the market over the last week, but found the prices extremely high. We will continue to look to improve our team in other areas.”
Gibbons will be reunited with Adam Henrique who was traded to the Ducks by the Devils last season and player with whom Gibbons had developed a rhythm.
Luke Schenn was added to the defensive corps as a free agent. Schenn skated for the Arizona Coyotes last season.
Defenseman Luke Schenn is moving to Anaheim – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“We also wanted a veteran defenseman with NHL experience and strong leadership traits,” Murray said on the Ducks website. “We did inquire about other big names on the market over the last week, but found the prices extremely high. We will continue to look to improve our team in other areas.”
At 6′,7″ Andrej Sustr was also added to the blue line and gives the Ducks an imposing presence on the back line.
Sustr had two goals and seven points in 44 games last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning and was a healthy scratch throughout the playoffs.
All three players signed one-year deals with the Ducks.
The limited movement by Anaheim suggests the roster for the coming season will not be much different from last year.
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