Anaheim Ducks
NHLPA releases list of players who’ve filed for salary arbitration
Per the NHLPA, 23 players chose to file for salary arbitration hearings with their NHL teams. Teams have until 5 PM on Wednesday, July 6th to file arbitration with players, and here’s the NHLPA’s list of arbitration-filers:
23 PLAYERS ELECT SALARY ARBITRATION
TORONTO (July 5, 2011) – Twenty-three players have elected Salary Arbitration:
Anaheim Ducks
Dan Sexton
Buffalo Sabres
Andrej SekeraContinue reading “NHLPA releases list of players who’ve filed for salary arbitration”
Where are the Offer Sheets?
From Adam Kimelman at NHL.com:
What general manager wouldn’t want to see Steven Stamkos centering his first line? Or Drew Doughty or Keith Yandle patrolling his blue line? Those players, and other emerging stars, are available for all 30 teams.
So why aren’t they getting any offers?
Because those players, and others like them, are restricted free agents, meaning their current team reserves the right to match any offer that player receives.
Since the summer of 2005, only six restricted free agents have been signed to offer sheets, most recently last year, when the San Jose Sharks signed Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson to a four-year, $14 million deal. Of those six offers, five were matched; the exception was Dustin Penner, who left the Anaheim Ducks for the Edmonton Oilers and a five-year, $21 million contract in the summer of 2007. The Ducks received first-, second- and third-round picks from the Oilers in the 2008 Entry Draft as compensation.
Why th…
Player Predictions: Ryan Getzlaf
Ryan Getzlaf (C)
Last year’s stats:
GP: 67
G:19
A:57
P:76
This year’s prediction:
GP: 81
G:32
A:69
P:101
It’s only a matter of time before Getzlaf breaks the 100 point plateau, and I think it happens this year. He will be joined by last years Rocket Richard and Hart winner, Corey Perry, and Bobby Ryan, who is probably the best young LW in the game. As long as Getzlaf can stay healthy, he should be able to finally break 100 points. I have no doubts that this will be a career year for him and Bobby Ryan, maybe even Perry if they can all stay healthy. A facial injury held him back last year, but it was a freakish injury that probably won’t happen again in his career. If this guy can stay healthy, he may even lead the league in points.
Josh Green signed for OKC
The Edmonton Oilers have signed free agent winger Josh Green to a 1-year, two-way contract. Green played a dozen games for the Anaheim Ducks last season, scoring no goals or assists. In the AHL, he went 69, 15-31-46 with Syracuse. This is Green’s second time around with the organization. He was part of the Roman Hamrlik return from Long Island (along with Eric Brewer and the pick that turned into Brad Winchester). Previous to that deal, he was sent by the LAK to NYI in a massive deal for Ziggy Palffy. Green has played in the NHL for Los Angeles, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Washington, Calgary, the Rangers again, Vancouver and Anaheim. He’s a big power winger with a plus shot, but has battled injuries over the years. He has played 334 NHL games, scoring 35-39-74. Green would appear likely to play the entire season in OKC.
Edmonton Signs Josh Green
General Manager Steve Tambellini announced today the Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms with forward Josh Green on a one-year two-way contract.
Green, 33, skated in 12 games with the Ducks last season with six penalty minutes and he also played in 69 games with the Syracuse Crunch recording 46 points (15G, 31A) and 74 penalty minutes.
Ducks trade Sutton to Oilers
The Anaheim Ducks have acquired defenseman Kurtis Foster from the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Andy Sutton.
Foster had eight goals, 14 assists and 45 penalty minutes in 74 games with the Oilers last season. The 29-year-old defenseman has played eight seasons in the NHL, including stints with Atlanta, Minnesota and Tampa Bay before joining the Oilers.
Sutton had no goals, four assists and 87 penalty minutes in 39 games with Anaheim last season. The 36-year-old defenseman has played 13 seasons in the NHL, with other stops in San Jose, Minnesota, Atlanta, the New York Islanders, Ottawa and the Ducks.
2011 Toronto Maple Leafs Draft Grades
22. Toronto Maple Leafs from Anaheim Ducks Tyler Biggs RW USHL I did a scouting report on Biggs and he’s a physical power forward who is mainly used for defense. Biggs doesn’t possess the offensive attributes to succeed at this point. Luckily Briggs won’t be up until 2014-2015. Plus with the players Toronto has under contact the earliest he’d be up is 2014-2015 so he may be walking into an ideal scenario.
Biggs should have been a top 20 pick based on production, but I’m not sold on his long term potential from an offensive standpoint.
I’m giving the Maple Leafs a C- grade because I’m torn between giving Toronto an A grade or F grade for the Tyler Biggs selection.
I would not have traded up to get Biggs. I think Brian Burke is making another draft day mistake. Anaheim capitalized on this trade with Toronto and got 2 quality players who will contribute in the long term for the Ducks.
Pick Grade C-
25. Toronto Maple Leafs from Philadelphia…
Etem wants to follow Fowler to Ducks’ roster
Last year, the Ducks took two players in the first round of the NHL draft.
One, defenseman Cam Fowler, made the team in training camp. The other? He’s still knocking on the door.
Emerson Etem is one of 22 of the Ducks’ top prospects participating in a conditioning camp that started on Thursday. The camp is designed for the younger players to showcase their skills while receiving instruction, participating in drills and learning about nutrition and conditioning.
There’s very little the right winger who the Ducks selected with the No. 29 pick overall in last year’s NHL draft won’t do to earn his keep. Even if it means a position change.
The 19-year-old from Long Beach, Calif., is fully aware that the Ducks have depth and youth up front, headed by one of the top lines in all of the NHL with Hart Memorial Trophy winner Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan.
“I wasn’t really thinking defense,” Etem said, chuckling. “Just right wing, left wing, I played center down at Shattuck-St. Mary’s (a prep school in Faribault, Minn.).
“It doesn’t matter. If they put me in a position, I’m going to work as hard as I can to execute whatever they want me to do. I’m going to have the mindset of making the team and do whatever it takes.”
The Ducks selected Fowler with the No. 12 pick of the 2010 draft. Fowler not only made the roster, but he ended up having a huge impact on the team while becoming the second youngest player ever to suit up for the Ducks. He appeared in 76 games, scored 10 goals (six on power play) and broke the Ducks’ rookie assist record with 30.
“Cam’s a good buddy and obviously an inspiration,” Etem said. “(I) kind of just look what he did on the floor.
“I’m the same age he was going into last year so I’m definitely looking forward to (training camp). I set high expectations for myself and I’m going to go into camp looking to make the team just like he did.”
Rickard Rakell, the 30th pick overall from this year’s draft, goalkeeper John Gibson, who was taken with the 39th pick and Devante Smith-Pelly (42nd pick of 2010) were among the group that kicked off the week-long camp with a scrimmage.
Etem scored two goals and made a nice pass to multiple-goal scorer Chris Wagner for an assist, showing his dazzling speed and nice feel for the game.
“You don’t see him for a whole year and he’s come a long way,” Syracuse Crunch head coach Mark Holick said of Etem. “He’s a good player, a good skater and loves to shoot the puck.
“He’s a guy that certainly I think has a bright future.”
In his second year with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL this past season, Etem scored 45 goals (including nine short-handed) and had 80 points in 65 games.
After attending the Ducks summer conditioning camp last year for the first time, Etem acknowledged he was a bit overwhelmed, but followed the advice he got from the staff to improve his game.
“(They told me to) Just try to use my big frame in the corner and try to protect the puck,” Etem said. “. . . Not minding the crosschecks and slashing in front of the net and stop the loose pucks, just try to bear down every chance in front of the net.
“That’s what I worked on all last year. It definitely helped me out last year so I’m looking to take that into training camp.”
Etem’s passion for the game and desire to make it to the NHL is what led him to leave sunny California to attend Shattuck-St. Mary’s for two seasons where he helped the team win a national championship.
“It was more to put myself on the map,” Etem said. “I felt that California hockey had great skill development, but the exposure back at that time was very limited.
“We always had to go to Ontario and other places to get exposure so I just thought it was a great idea to go to the state of hockey and show what I can bring.”
After two years at Shattuck, Etem spent a year training with the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich.
As a kid, Etem began playing roller hockey and later honed his skills on the ice while playing for LA Hockey Club. He says he loved the game because of the speed and the incredible joy he got from scoring goals.
“For me, it was a lot of skill development, a lot of 1-on-1 individual puck skills, a lot of battling,” Etem said. “Now I’m just starting to finish my checks and use my bigger frame in the corners and the net front.
“Back in the day, it was mostly stick-handling and shooting and that’s where I get a lot of my goal scoring today, just from working on my individual skills.”
Off the ice, the 19-year-old was forced to grow up quickly last December during the World Junior Championship held in Buffalo, N.Y. He caused an uproar by posting this unflattering though truthful remark on his Twitter page: “much needed day off, buffalo is a ghost town!! the worst city ever, it makes medicine hat look like paradise, never thought I’d say that.”
Needless to say the comments rubbed the locals from both towns the wrong way.
When asked what he learned from about being brutally honest, he smiled wryly.
“Just like uh, keep my thoughts to myself,” Etem said.
But there is no dimming his focus and desire to follow in the footsteps of his friend Fowler.
Holick believes it’s only a matter of time before Etem is in a Ducks uniform, but first he needs to continue to get stronger and mature physically.
“He’s certainly got all the tools,” Holick said. “He’s a hard worker, he’s very, very conditioned, put together pretty good, he’s a strong kid and good skater.”
Selanne Has Knee Surgery
via Eric Stephens of Ducks Blog, Teemu Selanne underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in his native Finland on Wednesday, which could delay his decision on whether he’ll return to the Ducks for an 18th NHL season.
Selanne’s agent, Don Baizley, confirmed to the Register on Thursday that Selanne had the procedure done after it was first reported by the website MTV3.fi. Baizley would not offer any specifics on what the surgery was supposed to repair in the knee, which was reconstructed during the 2004-05 lockout.
The Ducks also confirmed Selanne’s surgery, which was believed to be done in order to remove loose cartilage]
Ducks C Marchant announces retirement
Anaheim Ducks veteran center Todd Marchant announced his retirement on Wednesday.
A Stanley Cup winner in 2007, Marchant collected 186 goals and 312 assists in 1,195 career games with the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Ducks.
“I’d like to personally thank Todd for his invaluable contributions to this organization over the last six years,” Anaheim general manager Bob Murray said. “His character and presence in our locker room will be missed, but we’re extremely grateful that he has agreed to join the front office as director of player development. Congratulations to Todd and his family on a wonderful career.”
The 37-year-old Marchant holds the franchise record with eight shorthanded goals.
Ducks Announce Todd Marchant Retirement
From the Anaheim Ducks:
The Anaheim Ducks announced today that 18-year National Hockey League (NHL) veteran Todd Marchant has retired as a player from the NHL. Marchant will join the Anaheim Ducks front office as Director of Player Development. In his new role with the club, the Buffalo, NY native will help prepare and educate Anaheim prospects to succeed in professional hockey.
“I’d like to personally thank Todd for his invaluable contributions to this organization over the last six years,” said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray. “His character and presence in our locker room will be missed, but we’re extremely grateful that he has agreed to join the front office as Director of Player Development. Congratulations to Todd and his family on a wonderful career.”
continued…
Perry Accepts His Hart Trophy
from Eric Stephens of the OC Register, It is no secret that Corey Perry has often let his emotions get in the way throughout his hockey career and that might never change.
But as he tried to give a short thank-you speech upon winning the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player Wednesday night, Perry couldn’t keep from getting choked up as the words came out.
It was a heartfelt moment for a player who isn’t afraid to rub someone the wrong way on the ice.
“I’m an emotional person,” Perry said at the league’s awards ceremony at the Palms Casino Resort. “It’s like going back when we won the Stanley Cup. I cried after that. That’s just the person I am.”
continued and watch as the full Hart Trophy presentation below…
Continue reading “Perry Accepts His Hart Trophy”
Ducks’ Perry wins Hart Trophy
Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player on Wednesday.
Perry led the league with 50 goals and beat out scoring champion Daniel Sedin for the honors at the NHL Awards ceremony in Las Vegas.”I didn’t expect this,” Perry said during the show’s telecast.
The 26-year-old Perry had a career-high 98 points and was tied for the league lead with 11 game-winners this season. His 50 goals were the most by a Ducks player since Teemu Selanne scored 52 in 1997-98.Tampa Bay’s Martin St. Louis finished third in the MVP voting while also capturing the Lady Byng Trophy for exhibiting sportsmanship and excellence.
RLD Awards Predictions
Here are our staff’s predictions for tonight’s Awards.Hart Trophy…Bryan – Corey PerryChris – Corey PerryWhile offensive performance seems to be the barometer for being recognized as a Hart finalist this year, it truly is about being the regular season MVP in all respects to their team. The Anaheim Ducks wouldn’t have been the fourth seed in this year’s playoffs without the late season heroics of Corey Perry (30 points in the final 16 games).Erika – Corey PerryPerry’s had his best season yet in the 2010-2011 campaign, reaching 50 goals for the first time. Add 48 assists, and Perry’s 98 points were also a season-best for him. But Perry’s not only a goal-scorer; he can act as an agitator, not to mention throw a couple hits. He does whatever it takes for his team, and that makes him my Hart favorite.Patrick – Daniel SedinHe was the man for the Canucks this season. He led the team in goals, assists, points, power play goals and had 10 game-winning goals. When his line w…
Making a Case: Hart Trophy
Leading up to the Awards show on June 22nd, we will be making a case for each nominee for the major awards as to why they should take home the hardware. Today, we continue with the Hart, given to the top MVP. Corey Perry By Ryan Porth Yes, the Ducks have a lot of weapons on offense. Yes, their Hart candidate only took off in the last month and a half. With that being said, of these three nominees, who was the player most valuable to his team (as the Hart is officially defined)? Corey Perry. Perry was the only NHLer to reach the 50-goal mark this season; 11 of those goals were of the game-winning variety, tied for the league lead. Furthermore, Perry scored 21 times in the third period, proving how important he was late in games. With the Ducks hovering around the playoff bubble, Perry raised his game to an unstoppable level. From Mar. 9 to Apr. 6 – a 14-game stretch – the 6-foot-3 right winger accumulated a staggering 19 goals and 29 points and scored five game…