Anaheim Ducks

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

It was only last year when we called these goons our rivals. To the point where Dan Cleary dropped them with Chris Pronger and later in the year Downey was the focal point of a game against those same Ducks. After tonight, I have to say, that is pretty much over. What a pisspoor management Anaheim has had, be it Bob Murray or Brian Burke.

After being ousted by Edmonton in 2006, the Ducks knew they had a good shot, but needed to make some moves. Well, Lupul, Smid and a 1st for Pronger was pretty big. Burkes best move. Pronger probably is what put them over the top. Picking up a good veteran in Brad May was a good move for the playoffs too. When Scotty Niedermayer raised the Cup over his head, probably the greatest thing Anaheim fans will ever seen, because it's gone so downhill since then.

Dustin Penner, one of Anaheims top young guns, doesnt get a qualifying offer from Burke, and is purged by Edmonton for alot of money, it didnt work out, but Burkie couldve had a young power forward for 1-2 million but didnt take the time. Niedermayer and Selanne dont know if they want to play anymore. Forces Burke to overpay for Matt Schnieder and Todd Bertuzzi, a couple of injury prone vets. Not tough to say they didnt perform like he had expected. He was also in a cap crunch so what does Burkie do? Trades one of his best players to St Louis (a team in the conference) for past his prime Doug Weight, who had a terrible year with Anaheim. His next move, with JS Giguere "the number one", the guy he paid big money(6.75 million or whatever) he needed to get rid of Illya Bryzgalov, the guy who had carried them to the WCF in 06. He places him on waivers and is promptly picked up by the Coyotes (in the conference, IN THE DIVISION!). How does JS Giguere pay Burkie back? Not good, a decent year last year, but played horribly this year and was upseated by Jonas Hiller. Of other stupid moves made. Trading Sean O'Donnell a huge peice of their cup win, to LA again in the conference and division. Lets a great role player in Shawn Thornton go to FA. Another good guy Todd Fedoruk goes to Minnesota, then back in the division with the Coyotes. Shane O'Brien to Tampa, was actually a good deal getting a 1st, but never did anything with it. Then you have the strange trade for Ken Klee this year, along with others, and then goes and deals to Phoenix (that was a Murray move), Picking up random tough guys, and garbage from Atlanta. Another important part of the Cup run Chris Kunitz for Ryan Whitney, who is considered overated and overpaid by many, the signing of Brendan Morrison for too much money, the trading of Steve Montador who played great for them. Then trading 2 of there most important Cup peices, Travis Moen and Samuel Pahlsson into the Western Conference. There's probably more, but those are the notable ones for me. Include in this, Anaheim has alot of money invested, and has to re-sign alot of players. It wont even be fun laughing at them if Selanne and Niedermayer retire this off-season.

Next time you want to critisize Holland (believe me, I'm a huge critic and not always please), think about how poorly this organization was run.

[Dabura 12,232]

"Grace"?

[SDavis35 140]

Criticize Holland?

[StaticWithABeat 0]

Yeah it's looking pretty bleak for them right now, I'd be surprised if they made the playoffs but cap-wise they're actually not in too horrible of a position for the offseason...about $35 mil signed with a few small-name RFAs to take care of (Christensen, Festerling, Wisniewski) and lots of dead weight UFAs off the books. If they can sign Neidermayer for reasonable money, keep Beauchemin healthy and find some cost-effective names to fill holes they could be in ok shape, even better if they can get Giguere and his $6 mil out of town...from the looks of their prospect pool I'd say they're most likely screwed once Selanne/Niedermayer are gone, but if they play their cards right they might be able to salvage some success out of the next season or two.

[Yellowknife Redwing 57]

I would definitely say the downfall of Anaheim was losing Andy McDonald to St. Louis. If they'd maintained the basic core of the cup winning team, he could easily have become a consistent 40+ goal, 80+ point player for the next decade with that team. It's crazy watching powerhouse teams absolutely grenade after a cup run (Anaheim, Pittsburgh, Calgary next year) while Detroit has kept everything wrapped up in a tidy package year after year. We really are spoiled when choosing between Hossa and Franzen is a huge concern while we still have Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Rafalski and co locked up.

[Namingway 146]

lol I saw this coming before the season even started. I even said something about it on a thread made a bit before the preseason. Shame for them.

[eva unit zero 271]

I said it at the time that trading McDonald, their best center and arguably their best forward at the time, for Weight was a huge mistake and a precursor to many other bad things.

Just think where the Ducks would be if they had followed my advice and simply traded or waived Marchant instead, and done their best to avoid trading their young stars or their better players. For example...waiving Bryzgalov? That should have at least been a trade for a pick of some sort if he is trading Bryzgalov at all. Now, given that Bryzgalov is equal to or better than Giguere, and costs $5m less at the time, Burke should have shopped both goaltenders and seen what was available. If you can get an equal return for Bryzgalov or Giguere player-wise, you trade Giguere and open up the cap space. Now, given that Giguere won a Conn Smythe a few years prior, he's probably got better trade value despite the contract difference.

I still say I could out-GM Burke.

[EuroTwin 240]

I still say I could out-GM Burke.

A box of hair could out-GM Burke.

[Bannedforlife 403]

I still say I could out-GM Burke.

Brian Burke is a GM? I thought he was a comedian...

[Duck Guy 86]

It is just beyond me how a team with Getzlaf, perry Teemu, Scotty Nieds and Pronger is fighting for a 8th seed in the playoffs...

[Wingsallwin 0]

Not related to this topic but Burke is actually a dumb GM on drafting and signing a B level player. You guys remember about Bertuzzi and Schnieder. No one said the Ducks had to sign him for more than 1 year but Burke did. And what did he do at the end? Waiver him up.

No one said the Ducks had to trade McDonald but Burke did and same with that on other players too. He is not even the average GM if you do not consider he graduated the university of Harvard and was a lawyer. He is just a noisy guy on the media and making just some blockbuster trades.

The point is the Ducks cannot be the cup contender for next few years. Pronger and Nidermayer were the core of their defenses but they are getting worse and worse as the time is passing. Whitney? If you think this guy can take all Ducks' defenses, you are dead wrong.

You guys remember when the Sens lost in the Final, every one said the Sens had to rebuild but because of illusion of entering the final, they did not. Same with the Ducks. They failed last season and that was the time they had to rebuild their whole team but they didn't.

The worst thing in the Salary cap era is making one line team. That is the Ducks' situation right now. They do not have any 2nd scoring or 3rd scoring. Only Getzlaf, Perry, and Ryan. It was a good move that they locked up Getzlaf and Perry but what is going to happen on their defenses?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

It is just beyond me how a team with Getzlaf, perry Teemu, Scotty Nieds and Pronger is fighting for a 8th seed in the playoffs...

To be honest? It's beyond me as well.

On the other hand- Ryan has a bright, bright future.

[Duck Guy 86]

To be honest? It's beyond me as well.

On the other hand- Ryan has a bright, bright future.

Ya i cant wait to see what he does. On a diff subject i have mixed feelings about him taking number 9... even though he left on bad terms... seriously? the guy was awesome for the franchise when he was here...

Edited March 16, 2009 by Duck Guy

[19Hockeytown5 0]

The ducks fall from "grace"

Seriously though, I'm loving their demise.

[ComradeWasabi 109]

It's beyond me how people can call Burke the best GM in the game. Look at the state of Vancouver and Anaheim after Burke was done with them. Embarrassing.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

It is just beyond me how a team with Getzlaf, perry Teemu, Scotty Nieds and Pronger is fighting for a 8th seed in the playoffs...

Despite his fraudulent invite into the All Star Game, Giguere has not had a consistent season. Also, other than their top players, there isn't much depth to this team. The role players have been awful for them this season.

[edicius 3,269]

It's beyond me how people can call Burke the best GM in the game. Look at the state of Vancouver and Anaheim after Burke was done with them. Embarrassing.

I'm wondering how many bodies he'll leave in his wake in Toronto.

[egroen 384]

I believe it was the beginning of this season that Sports Illustrated (Adam Muir, I believe) deemed Burke the best general manager in the NHL. I love seeing the Ducks implode.

[Lollipop 8]

I believe it was the beginning of this season that Sports Illustrated (Adam Muir, I believe) deemed Burke the best general manager in the NHL. I love seeing the Ducks implode.

Blasphemy.

[miller76 463]

If I remember correctly, at the beginning of the season, all these radio personalities on xm, the tools on versus, and tsn all were picking the Ducks to win the Cup.

It's nice to see that analysts/writers that make their living, by way of knowing the game, are about as accurate as meteorologists!

[Z and D for the C 712]

When Scotty Niedermayer raised the Cup over his head, probably the greatest thing Anaheim fans will ever seen, because it's gone so downhill since then.

Do they have any fans?

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Proof you can have too much of a good thing.

Parros 18

Montador 11

Moen 7

McIver 6

Brown 4

Carter 4

May 4

Brookbank 3

Getzlaf 3

Perry 3

Sutherby 3

Huskins 1

Kunitz 1

Mikkelson 1

Miller 1

Keep in mind many of these guys have now been traded, but at some point in time most were on the roster.

I just can't fathom how they would need so much toughness.

IMO, I don't know why they keep Parros. The Ducks would do just fine w/o a true heavy.

Getzlaf & Perry, what a fantastic combo of size, toughness and talent

Brown is a nice depth player who is a tough middleweight

Moen they probably should've kept. Great team player and decent scrapper.

Instead, they get rid of Moen, keep Parros and bring in Sheldon Brookbank? Yeesh.

Personally, I'd just be happy to have Mike Brown riding shotgun on our 4th line. Let alone have a roster where 1/2 the guys will fight.

They need more talent and less physicality. Polar opposites to the Wings. And even though we're at the top of the league, I still think we need 1 tough

prescence in the lineup. Too bad Downey isn't talented enough to be on the playoff roster. Of course DMac was last year. Wonder what will happen this

year w/o any prescence like that.

[Datsyerberger 279]

Wonder what will happen this

year w/o any prescence like that.

We score off PPs from the instigator penalties that get called for scraps that start after Kronwall hits.

You heard it here first.

[Hank 0]

You can thank Brian Burke and his ignorance towards the Cap for their steep decline.

Heck, Burkie even said on XM that it's not his job to figure out the cap. He just signs and trades players until the capologist tells him to stop.

And yet somehow this guy makes the top of the GM list every year? Give me a break.

Ken Holland, Doug Wilson and Doug Riseborough are lightyears ahead of this clown.

In fact, I wouldn't put Burke in the top 25. He's all smoke and mirrors.

The 05 Anaheim team was built by Bryan Murray. And then he was handed Scott Neidermayer on the platter simply beacuse Scott wanted to play on the left-coast with his brother.

He made a great deal for Pronger - I'll give him that.

But all the players that helped that team win the Cup were drafted or traded for by Murray and his scouting team.

[Guest micah]

We score off PPs from the instigator penalties that get called for scraps that start after Kronwall hits.

You heard it here first.

OOOOH OOOH OOOOH OOOH!

I like free money. I realllly like free money. I want to bet you $500 USD that you are wrong and that there will not be multiple instigator penalties in this year's playoffs that result from Kronwall hits. If you accept, please PM me. I love, love, LOVE free money! All you need to win $500 from me is for 2 people to instigate fights as a result of Kronwall hits. Just two. That's all. You're a really smart guy and you know alot about hockey, I can tell. This could be a good deal for you. Please say yes. For the love of God, please say Yes!