Anaheim Ducks

[Guest Shoreline]

Do they have any fans?

Only when they win. Like the Ducks most of the fans seem to be one year wonders as well. Then they take off their Scottie jersey and put on their Kobe jersey.

[eva unit zero 271]

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?

One of Burke's biggest mistakes, which I called him out on every time I would mention his failures, is the fact that despite his running a team well below the cap much of the time, he always refused to trade or waive ineffective fourth-liner Todd Marchant, whose contract was over $2.5m and only ends after this season. Look for him to either retire or get a deal no greater than $1.5m to play in a role similar to Kris Draper's this season and in the future as a veteran leader, penalty killer, and faceoff specialist with limited ice time.

[VM1138 1,921]

This is just what happens to Cup champions in the New NHL. Name a team that has been consistently good after winning the cup in the last 5 years or so. An argument could be made that without Hossa the Wings could be in dire straights as well this year, though I doubt they'd suck as bad as most Cup Champions in their following seasons.

Just the sad state of affairs.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

This is just what happens to Cup champions in the New NHL. Name a team that has been consistently good after winning the cup in the last 5 years or so. An argument could be made that without Hossa the Wings could be in dire straights as well this year, though I doubt they'd suck as bad as most Cup Champions in their following seasons.

Just the sad state of affairs.

Please elaborate. What does "dire straights" mean? Danger of not making the playoffs? Is that what you are eluding to?

I'd say we had a decent year after the 02 cup. I'd say we didn't really fall of between 03-07. We haven't fallen off from the 08 cup, in fact didn't we just take over 1st overall?

I think dire straights is a bit overly dramatic.

We still play in the Central, and although many Central teams have been better the Wings are still head and shoulders above.

Without Hossa you were still looking at a team with:

Two 90+ point getters in Z and Dats

Three Selke calibre forwards

Six potential 20 goal scorers in Franzen, Clearly, Sammy, Hudler, Filpulla & Holmstrom

Lidstrom, Rafs and Kronner

very good depth, especially plug in players like Meech, Helm, Leino & Ericsson

A great coach

A great system

Ridiculously good team chemistry

The fact is that w/o Marian Hossa, the Wings would still be considered a contender.

[Dabura 12,232]

Hossa's the s***, but the Wings wouldn't be in "dire straights" without him.

[eva unit zero 271]

Please elaborate. What does "dire straights" mean? Danger of not making the playoffs? Is that what you are eluding to?

I'd say we had a decent year after the 02 cup. I'd say we didn't really fall of between 03-07. We haven't fallen off from the 08 cup, in fact didn't we just take over 1st overall?

I think dire straights is a bit overly dramatic.

We still play in the Central, and although many Central teams have been better the Wings are still head and shoulders above.

Without Hossa you were still looking at a team with:

Two 90+ point getters in Z and Dats

Three Selke calibre forwards

Six potential 20 goal scorers in Franzen, Clearly, Sammy, Hudler, Filpulla & Holmstrom

Lidstrom, Rafs and Kronner

very good depth, especially plug in players like Meech, Helm, Leino & Ericsson

A great coach

A great system

Ridiculously good team chemistry

The fact is that w/o Marian Hossa, the Wings would still be considered a contender.

Question. Who's the third "Selke-caliber forward" you refer to above? You mean Z, Dats, and?

It's not Draper or Maltby...their defense has been mediocre this year.

Samuelsson, Kopecky, and Hudler have been solid...but certainly have a ways to go before they are called Selke caliber.

Franzen has had some moments, but has been horribly inconsistent and has had times where he has looked like more of a liability than a defensively capable forward.

Holmstrom is the worst defensive forward on the team...so that is automatic disqualification.

You said "without Hossa" so it's not Hossa.

Filppula and Cleary have played very solid defense, so I suppose you are referring to one of them?

Do you really think one of Flip or Cleary has played Selke-caliber defense, or was it just a typo?

[Broken 16 381]

Question. Who's the third "Selke-caliber forward" you refer to above? You mean Z, Dats, and?

It's not Draper or Maltby...their defense has been mediocre this year.

Samuelsson, Kopecky, and Hudler have been solid...but certainly have a ways to go before they are called Selke caliber.

Franzen has had some moments, but has been horribly inconsistent and has had times where he has looked like more of a liability than a defensively capable forward.

Holmstrom is the worst defensive forward on the team...so that is automatic disqualification.

You said "without Hossa" so it's not Hossa.

Filppula and Cleary have played very solid defense, so I suppose you are referring to one of them?

Do you really think one of Flip or Cleary has played Selke-caliber defense, or was it just a typo?

Is it fun to pick a small, insignificant portion of a post and absolutely hammer it into the ground? Or does it just make you feel smart? Because it seems like an epic waste of time.

The point remains... the Wings would still be considered contenders without Hossa. And please don't imply that the Wings may have struggled to make the playoffs. They would have DEFINATELY made the playoffs. Wings in playoffs=SC contenders.

Edited March 16, 2009 by Broken 16

[Wingsallwin 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.

To add your comment, Murray was the reason the Ducks won but because Burke has a high education degree and the job effecting, Burke became the GM. If the Ducks did not give Burke the cup, he would be listed on the one of the worst GMs in the league. What can he do? Draft? Good deal? Nothing.

It was not even the first time. When he was in the Whalers, the Whalers missed the playoff; same with the Canucks, made some incomprehensible decisions on goalies. Ducks won the cup because of these reasons

-Pronger's wife hated the city of Edmonton and some affair works, moved the city of Ahaheim which is warm and a good city to live.

-Some stupid calls against Ducks' opponents and idiot Bettman saved Pronger from the suspension.

-Because Murray made a deal to get Rob Nidermayer, Scott had a favor to come to the city of Anaheim.

-West is far better than East.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

"Grace"?

I'm an idiot, I just heard the term before and thought it fit here. What's wrong with it? (Just wondering because I really dont know )

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

I'm hoping that on Monday, April 13th, their website will print the new schedule; of the shopping mall locations where the team will be doing autograph signings.

[Dabura 12,232]

I'm an idiot, I just heard the term before and thought it fit here. What's wrong with it? (Just wondering because I really dont know )

Heh, no worries! Nothing wrong with it. I just don't think "Anaheim Ducks" and "grace" belong in the same sentence.