SB Nation - Patrick Maroon

Better Know a Hockey League: The AHL

Hayley — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 22:43:26 -0000

With an NHL lockout of some length or another practically unavoidable at this point, I thought now would be a good time to start looking at other hockey leagues both here in North America and abroad that may well draw hoards of abandoned NHL fans to their rinks in no time.

Enter the American Hockey league, known as the AHL, formed in the 1930s, which has mainly served as a minor-league development system for NHL teams (See the complete list of AHL/NHL team affiliations from last season here), but teams are also free to sign undrafted and free agent players of their own accord to fill out their rosters and compete for the league trophy, the Calder Cup. Some of these players even make the jump to a big league squad (i.e. Mark Giordano, who got his start with the now defunct Lowell Loch Monsters).

There are 30 teams in six divisions in the AHL, mostly located in small to mid-sized cities across North America, and those six divisions are allocated into two conferences called Eastern and Western, just like the NHL's current set up.

The AHL's regular season is slightly shorter than it's major league affiliate at 76 games and the playoff format is different as well. The conference quarterfinals are a best of five series where the higher seeded team gets to decide where they want to start the series (at home or on the road) and plays three games on home ice. The remaining three series are each seven games long.

After the jump, the best and worst of the 2011-12 AHL season and notable dates on the schedule for the upcoming season.

We Are The Champions

The Norfolk Admirals, Tampa Bay's AHL affiliate, captured the Calder Cup this past spring after defeating the Toronto Marlies in four games in the Caalder Cup Final. Some familiar names on the Admirals are former Canadian World Junior goalie Dustin Tokarski and former Flames draft pick and pawn in the Dion Phaneuf trade Keith Aulie.

The Marlies beat out the Abbotsford Heat, the Flames' AHL affiliate, in five games in the Western Conference Semifinals, ending their somewhat surprising playoff run.

The Hershey Bears, one of the league's oldest franchises, hold the most Calder Cup titles with 11.

Best of the Rest

The aforementioned Norfolk Admirals were the best team in the AHL when the regular season wrapped up, finishing with 113 points and 55 wins, including a 10-0-0 streak down the stretch.

The Oklahoma City Barons, the Edmonton Oilers' AHL affiliate, were #1 in the Western Conference in 2011-12 with 45 wins and 99 points. Linus Omark, Magnus Paajarvi, Olivier Roy, and Teemu Hartikainen are just a few of the players on that team that people familiar with the Oilers' upcoming crop of young players may be familiar with.

Despite finishing with 92 points, one more than the third-seeded Chicago Wolves, the Heat finished fourth in the West due to the fact that they share a division with the Barons.

There's No "I" In Team

Chris Bourque of the Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals) was the highest scoring AHL player last season, accumulating 27 goals and 93 points in 73 games. Other top scorers were Cory Gonacher (39 goals and 80 points for the Norfolk Admirals), Patrick Maroon (32 goals and 75 points for the Syracuse Crunch), and T.J. Hensick (21 goals and 70 points for the Peoria Rivermen).

Krys Kolanos was the highest scoring Heat player, collecting 30 goals and 61 points in 47 regular season outings.

Toronto's Ben Scrivens finished at the top of the pile where goalies are concerned with 22 wins, four shutouts, and a 926 SV% in 39 games.

In comparison, Leland Irving also had 22 wins in 39 games and three shutouts, but finished the season with just a .902 SV%.

Best Fans in the Game?

The Hershey Bears finished atop the league in terms of attendance last season, averaging 9,872 bums in the seats per game. The Heat finished second last in the league, averaging only 3,545 and only 2,389 throughout the playoffs. See complete attendance here. In the case of an NHL lockout, an influx of talented young players who have broken ranks with the minor league could help boost the attendance of some clubs, but it seems the league has decided to prohibit players who did not play in the AHL last season to play for its teams when players take to the ice in a month's time. As a result, NHL squads have been sending down players on two-way contracts en masse in recent days.

What's Next?

The 2012-13 AHL season begins on Friday, October 12th with seven games on the docket. The Norfolk Admirals begin their defence of the Calder Cup when they face off against the Worcester Sharks while the Heat take on the Peoria Rivermen. Head Coach Troy Ward will attempt to follow up his team's better than expected performance last season after missing out on/turning down a job with the big club this summer.

That concludes this chapter of Better Know a Hockey League, stay tuned for more as the lockout will 99.999% be declared official by one minute to midnight tomorrow.

Chirping the Bench: T-Minus 72 Days

shawndubstep — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:47:36 -0000

The Norfolk Admirals officially announced the first game of the Calder Cup defending season. The season will kick off on Friday October 12, 2012 with an always awesome celebration on Military Appreciation Night. [Ed. Note: Strange coincidence, it's the Ducks home opener, too.] This will likely be the night of the official banner raising for the Calder Cup Championship. The some of the other guaranteed home games are: Saturday, October 13th; Friday, December 14th for Boy Scouts night; Friday, January 25, 2013 for Norfolk Public Schools Night; and Saturday, January 26th for the annual 'Guns and Hoses Game' pitting the Police against the Fire Department in a surprisingly competitive and entertaining series. The full schedule, with opponents and start times, is usually released mid-August.

Coming off a season where the Admirals broke multiple records, from individual to all time North American professional hockey records, they look to continue their success alongside their new parent club, the Anaheim Ducks. While the Ads were running their record streak, the Syracuse Crunch were gaining momentum in the second half thanks to a coaching change, promoting then Crunch assistant coach and former Norfolk head coach, Trent Yawney, to right the ship. They closed the season going 22-14-2-4, finishing 37-29-5-5 overall and snagging a playoff position. Going into the 2012-13 season, the Admirals will attempt to have the same success that the team previously had under Yawney. In five years, they made the playoffs each year in a row and they won the division twice with Chicago as the parent.

The Ducks have signed two former Admirals, Jordan Hendry and Matt Smaby, to one-year deals. They bring a veteran presence to the blueline. Other signings include: Corey Elkins who could add some secondary scoring. In his rookie season, he netted 21 goals and followed that up with 18 goals last season. I haven't seen the team in action, so from my vantage point of outside looking in, it seems like Igor Bobkov and Marco Cousineau will be battling for the starting job in net with less than 30 pro games between them. [Ed. Note: We have a stockpile of goalies. They will be battling Jeff Deslauriers and/or Viktor Fasth for starts, as well. It depends on which one is chosen to stay with the big club to backup Jonas Hiller.] One of the returning forwards that should really excite Admirals fans is Patrick Maroon. He scored 32 goals and had 42 assists in 75 games for the Crunch last season.

I don't know about everyone here, but I am excited for the hockey season to come upon us. I am still learning about the players so please forgive anything that may be wrong. Don't hesitate to holler and shout about what to look for in some players. I am doing this to help you keep up with the prospects and the team. It is very reader driven.

A Nightmare On Hockey's Christmas?

JuMowbray — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 02:29:30 -0000

Last night I referred to the optimism of heading into a new NHL season as, "Christmas Eve". When noon struck on July 1st, the Ducks were ready with cap space in hand: a plentiful $14.9 million separating them from the cap floor, and a shade over $30 million from the cap ceiling.

After putting much due diligence into last weekend's NHL Draft, the Ducks came out as early winners with their sixth overall selection of Hampus Lindholm, along with a steady supply of big-bodied, college-bound defensemen. Today, that might be a different story. The Ducks spent a hefty amount on three serviceable players, adding for both replacement and improvement.

Let us begin.

With just under two hours into NHL Free Agency, the Ducks made a stringent move to acquire a fighting presence. Ducks fans and media alike have long considered George Parros to be expendable after playing in just 46 games this past NHL season, with the brunt of his healthy scratches coming when Bruce Boudreau assumed the Head Coaching position. The move that is meant to replace the mustached fan-favorite, was acquired in right-winger Brad Staubitz. Staubitz, now considered to be an NHL journeyman, amassed 121 penalty minutes with one goal in 19 games with the Montreal Canadiens last season. He signed a two-year contract worth $1.28 million, and is essentially a glorified Jean-Francois Jacques.

The one thing I like about the Staubitz signing, and I'm sure the Ducks organization did too, was the fact that Staubitz stepped into the Canadiens dressing room and immediately became a likable veteran presence, and one who stuck up for his teammates. This same trait, along with his penchant to drop the gloves (15 NHL scraps last season) gives him at least some sticking power to the NHL level. And if that's not the case, his inexpensive cap hit ($637,500 over the duration of his two-year contract) gives Anaheim the luxury of burying him in the minors. The Ducks of course have 4th line options in Matt Beleskey and Patrick Maroon, along with top wing prospects who need NHL time to develop, so it'll be interesting to see where and how Staubitz can figure into the lineup.

Just before 6 pm ET, the Ducks made a move to bolster their blue-line in the form of signing defensive-defenseman Bryan Allen. Allen's game is dependent upon physicality, grittiness and an overall tenaciousness. His 6'5" frame is optimal for clearing the front of the net, something the Ducks have tried to achieve since trading Chris Pronger in 2009. And like Staubitz, Allen isn't afraid to fight (33 fights during his NHL career).

What makes Allen so enticing is the fact that he can fill the pressing void left by the aforementioned Chris Pronger as a physical presence on the blue-line. Allen's mobility helps him greatly, and his punishing and voracious style makes him an immediate upgrade to Sheldon Brookbank. One thing to note is that if he fails to show the type of persistence that achieves his niche, he will be categorized with previous failed projects like Nick Boynton, Steve Eminger, Andy Sutton, and most recently, Kurtis Foster. Allen is set to make a grand total of $10.5 million over the length of his three-year contract, with an annual cap hit of $3.5 million.

The last signing of the day came in the way of 35-year old Sheldon Souray. Souray, just two years removed from a full AHL season during the prime of his career, accumulated 21 points last season with the Dallas Stars (6G, 15A).

Souray, a three-time NHL All-Star is long removed from his glory years in Montreal, and most Ducks and NHL fans really wonder what left he has to give. The quintessential player who you "take a flyer on" or "have a brief look at" was signed by General Manager Bob Murray for a grand total of three-years and $11 million. The most upsetting part isn't the fact that it was an overpay, - pay him $6, or $8 million for all I care - what is bothersome is the fact that the Ducks locked Souray up through 2015, for a total of three, long, grueling years, the equivalent of a death sentence for toxic contracts in today's NHL. If Souray had showed any sort of return to form, a NHL-born nirvana over the last six or so seasons, there would be reason for even one drop of optimism. Instead, this becomes the type of long-term contract that can wear down the patience of a fan base (read: Jason Blake) to the point of no resolve. He might end up being a roadblock to Lindholm, or Sami Vatanen, and become a sunk cost for the budget-weary Ducks. Or he might regain some inkling of the 64-point Souray we saw in 2006-2007. All that Ducks fans can hope for now is that like other aging stars, Souray can find the rare fountain of youth that can give this signing any sort of prudence.

After day one it's evident Bob Murray did what he set out to do in signing size and veteran presence. The only question left to ask is, at what cost?

Ducks Should Only Have Eyes for Dumba

Daniel AC — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 19:00:09 -0000

If you've been anywhere near this blog since February, you have probably heard me shouting from the proverbial rooftops for the Ducks to have draft Matt Dumba. In fact, suggestions for other selections have been met with a resounding: DRAFT DUMBA!!! It might not necessarily be clear why I am so sold on this kid. He's a little undersized and the biggest knocks on him are about his play in his own end. To be fair, those complaints usually come across as nitpicking more than criticism. I'd like to say that I'm 100% sold on Dumba. He is exactly the player this organization needs. In fact, I am so sold on Dumba, I think the Ducks should consider trading up to make sure they get him. I firmly believe he will be one of the heralded players of this draft. Dumba should be our first, second and third plan on draft day.

Having said all that, it's time to focus on the arguments. This post will detail the two reasons why the Ducks shouldn't be pursuing other players with their first selection in the 2012 draft. First, there isn't a need for a forward in the organization at this time. Second, Dumba is the defenseman we need in this draft.

We Don't Need a Forward

First, the Ducks don't need forward help in the organization. The Ducks have Nick Bonino and Peter Holland in the middle. That isn't spectacular, but it's serviceable. Holland put up 60 points in 71 games at Syracuse. Bonino found a home as the Ducks third line center this year. Rickard Rakell had a good year for the OHL's Plymouth Whalers with 62 points in 60 games. He's listed as a center there and a RW at Hockey's Futures, so I'll let you all decide if he adds to the organizational depth at that position or not. Raising centers is good, but chasing proven ones can be better. Two of the Kings top 3 centers this year were acquired from outside the organization, either through trade or free agency.

Meanwhile, the Ducks are doing very well on the wings. Emerson Etem demolished the WHL last year, and Devante Smith-Pelly showed he can play at the NHL level and be a physical force. Kyle Palmieri led the Crunch in goals despite getting a long cup of coffee with the Ducks. Patrick Maroon led all scorers on the Crunch, and Max Friberg looked very solid at the World Juniors. The Ducks have talent on the wings. They are certainly a little flimsy in the middle, but they have prospects that can be serviceable or can be used to get a better piece. Also, 2013 looks like a much better free agent class for centers, meaning the Ducks can use Bonino and Holland now, and buy a better second line center later.

However, we are very thin on the back end. Right now the Ducks only have two defensive prospects that have NHL potential. There's the undersized and very offense oriented Sami Vatanen, and the solid Mat Clark. Vatanen hasn't had a chance to show his skating will still be effective on smaller surfaces, and Clark is probably only a top 4 defender with the right partner. With the impending flight of Justin Schultz, the thing the Ducks really need in their cupboard is an impact defenseman. They need someone who can show some promise for the blue line in a couple years when all the veterans are gone. I think the only reason to take a forward with the 6th pick is if Murray, Dumba, Trouba, Reilly and Reinhart all manage to be gone when they pick. That won't happen.

Dumba Is The Defenseman We Need

It's hard to pick a spot to begin, but perhaps the best spot is here. This is the first of two Hockey Writers articles I'll be linking, but it has the most overarching explanation of what makes Dumba a great pick in the upcoming draft.

Reilly can skate like the wind and light the lamp, but Dumba has exceptionally quick feet and great offensive ability as well. Reinhart and Trouba are better defensively and play a physical game, but the defensive game can be learned and Dumba hits as hard as any prospect in recent memory. Ceci has a booming shot, but it’s not like you’ll find players volunteering to block Dumba’s shot from the point. Dumba is an amalgamation of all that is good in the games’ of his defensive draft peers,

Dumba offers a little bit of everything. However, it goes a little farther than that. In an online chat with fans, Craig Button of TSN stated that he uses "hockey playing abilities" to determine his draft rankings. Essentially, he ranks draft prospects based on pure NHL caliber talent. His rankings have Dumba as the number-two talent in the draft.

If you read the scouting reports, including this very comprehensive one from the Hockey Writers' Dustin Twin, you'll see all the usual observances. You'll see that Dumba is an incredibly talented open-ice hitter. He has a quick release wrister that is hard and effective. He has fantastic pure skating ability and phenomenal lateral movement. He is creative in transition offense, but still considered a coachable player. The knocks on him are that he needs to be better in his own zone, he can get caught trying to do too much, and he's a little small for a physical player. But, don't tell that to Francois Beauchemin, who is about the same height as Dumba.

You can learn to be a better defender, we've been watching Cam Fowler do it for the past two years. I don't mind a player who tries to do too much, provided it is for the right reason. Dumba sees himself as a leader and an impact player. He wants to be great, and as Dustin Twin pointed out, that's what will set him apart. Dumba is a whirlwind. He's a high-energy, high-impact player, who can affect the outcome of games. He has the ability and drive to take over a game from the back end. This is a kid who just captained team Canada to its first medal at the Under-18 tournament in four years. He also led the tournament in scoring - yes, he was the top scorer for the entire tournament.

The reason the Ducks truly need Dumba has little to do with his skill set, which is remarkable. As I've read a few interviews and reports, I'm always surprised at how the people who interview him seem to be affected by Dumba. People seem to form very positive opinions of the kid. He has a tenacity and ferocity on the ice that belies is levelheaded approach to interacting with people. The Twin scouting report offers a great story of Dumba smiling through an hour of autographs despite being very ill. This interview with the Edmonton Journal also reveals Dumba's focus on his team and overcoming the adversity of what, at that point, was a tough Red Deer season. He demonstrated that composure again, when he talked to TSN about the Under-18 World Championships. Dumba is a person who is aware of what is going on around him and he acts accordingly.

My favorite thing about Dumba is that he reminds me of Emerson Etem. Etem used to take a four-hour trip on public transit to train. When I was reading up on Etem as a possible selection for the Ducks, I was struck by how together he seemed and how driven he was to succeed. Dumba is the exact same way. There's something about him that inspires people around him. He's a natural leader, and he plays with a fire that is frequently missing in the Ducks. Dumba will be a top pairing defenseman in this league. He's been labeled a high risk/high reward prospect, but his attitude ensures that he will be a reward for the team that is lucky enough to draft him. Dumba will be the perfect compliment to the more even keeled Cam Fowler - the Chris Pronger to his Scott Niedermayer if you will.

Dumba presents an energy and fire that the Ducks need in their blueline. Beauchemin is good at that, but he won't be here forever. Dumba allows us to restock the cupboard, which is completely devoid of elite defenseman, and gain something in an attitude that will help the team. Trouba and Reinhart don't have the pure skill and upside of Dumba. I have maintained for a while, that you can always buy a solid, physical, defensive-defenseman on the free agent market. Trouba and Reinhart's skills can be found. If you look at the King's defense, they featured three skilled puck movers, who they drafted, and three veterans who focused on defense and physical play combined with good puck moving skills.

Dumba is a very unique talent with a unique personality that will benefit this organization. He's determined and he will be a great NHL player. No amount of doubt about his size or defensive acumen will drag him down. He will learn; he will improve, and he will be an impact player in the NHL. The only reason to pass on Dumba is if he isn't there at sixth, which is pretty possible. Dumba is going to be great in a Ducks sweater, launching bombs from the point and crushing anyone who dares skate through the middle with his head down.

Friday Morning Fly By: Full of Goalies and Former Flyers

Geoff Detweiler — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:00:23 -0000

Today's open discussion thread, complete with your daily dose of Philadelphia Flyers-related news and notes...

Looking at Cal Heeter and Niko Hovinen: [Examiner.com]
From a couple days ago, the 41 year mystery of Bernie Parent's Maple Leafs mask is solved: [Philly.com]
According to a report - and common sense - Ian Laperriere is expected to announce his retirement after the Stanley Cup Final: [The Checking Line]
The Ducks signed Patrick Maroon to a one-year extension: [Anaheim Calling]
Martin Biron is closing in on an extension with the Rangers, taking a fantastic backup off the market: [Blueshirt Banter]
The CBC montage from Game 4: [Backhand Shelf]
Stanley Cup Final ratings down from last year, up from Game 3: [SBNation.com]
Is Jonathan Quick weak on high stick-side shots? [Arctic Ice Hockey]

Ducks Sign Patrick Maroon to One-Year Extension

Jen Neale — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 22:54:40 -0000

The Anaheim Ducks have signed LW Patrick Maroon to a one-year contract extension. Maroon was the leading scorer for the Syracuse Crunch with 74 points in 75 games. He was acquired from Philadelphia (with RW David Laliberte) in a trade for Danny Syvret and Rob Bordson. Maroon was thought to have character problems causing Philly to want to part ways with their 2007 draft pick. As far as we can tell, none of those issues came to light once he arrived in Anaheim.

During the 2011-2012 season, Maroon was brought up to the big club to play alongside Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry in an experiment by Randy Carlyle. It was thought that Maroon's big body (6'4") and scoring touch would make him a compliment to Getzlaf and Perry. Carlyle's predilection to not favor rookies played against Maroon from the outset. Maroon was sent back to Syracuse after two games.

He wouldn't have been re-signed had Bruce Boudreau not thought he could have a shot at the roster come camp. Maroon looked completely lost on the ice in his two games up with Anaheim. If he's learned anything from those games and can find a way to score in the NHL, he's got a real chance of making the opening night roster.

Chirping the Bench: Playoff Fever

Allokago — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:15:56 -0000

Although it isn't official yet, I'm about to write a sentence I really never thought I would this season:

The Crunch have all but punched their playoff ticket.

With three games left, all to be played in a 3-in-3 this upcoming weekend, the Crunch's magic number to be in the playoffs regardless of what anyone else does is 5. That roughly translates to needing 2.5 wins out of the three possible. Should the Crunch slip once, they have a little bit of a safety net built in thanks to the fantastic run they've been on lately. March was a magical month for this team, to be sure. The war isn't won, but the battles have been fought with victory usually achieved. A post season is so close now we can taste it. Things are still incredibly tight, as you'll see, but we really can do this!

Record (W-L-OTL-SOL): 35-28-5-5 (In a fun comparison, as of 2/28/12 we were 22-25-4-4)

Divisional standing: 4th

Conference standing: 7th (up 1 spot since last update, top 8 make playoffs)

What does the whole playoff picture look like?

Conference standing	Team name	Points
6	Connecticut Whale	84
7	Syracuse Crunch	80
8	Manchester Monarchs	77
9	Portland Pirates	77
10	Adirondack Phantoms	76

Top producer: Patrick Maroon, 73 pts. (32-41), 3rd in the league

Top goal scorer: Kyle Palmieri (33 goals, 2nd in the league in goals, 20th in total scoring)

Roster moves during the past two weeks:

Kyle Palmieri (RW) was returned to the Crunch, which resulted in the demotion of Dale Mitchell (RW) to the ECHL.
Ryan Hegarty (D) was signed to an ATO.
Mat Clark (D) was recalled by the Ducks and returned to the Crunch after two NHL games played.
On Sunday, Jeff Deslauriers (G) was assigned to Syracuse.

Injury report: Mark Bell returned to the line up this past Saturday. He hadn't played a game since February.

In case you missed it:

Peter Holland was named the AHL Rookie of the Month for March. During that time period he was good for 18 points and a plus-12 rating. Here is a link to a local news affiliate talking about the award.
Rick Schofield was awarded the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award. This award is one that's selected by each player's respective club for their outstanding contributions to the local community and charitable organizations during the 2011-12 season. From the list of finalists, representatives from IOA/American Specialty and the AHL will choose the winner of the 2011-12 Yanick Dupré Memorial Award.
The American Hockey League named Kyle Palmieri to the 2011-12 AHL First All-Star Team. Basically, two top lines of players are chosen from across the league by the AHL, and Palms was named to the best line. You can read more about this through this release from the Crunch's Official Site.

End of season reports: The Defense

Mat Clark: You all got a little preview of what Clark can do at the end of this season. Down here in Syracuse, Clark was huge this year. He was sorely missed when he was out with injury, but came back like a force when he was healthy again. This season he has seriously learned to use his 6'3, 205 lb. frame to his advantage. He plays a physical, fast game. I expect great things from him.
Sebastian Erixon: Erixon was picked up in a deadline trade. He hasn't played a game for us as he was injured when we traded for him, so I really have nothing to say. His contract is for two years, so I'm guessing he was more of an insurance pick up for next season. I have no idea whether he could see some playoff time or not if he gets well.
Matt Smaby: I love me some Smaby. Up until he was injured recently, his presence made up for the departure of Mark Fraser at the deadline. Our blue line has been visibly weakened by Smaby's absence, although the guys are learning to step up to take his place. Before he went down, Smaby was at a +12 and was a huge part of our now-slightly-floundering PK line. It'd be amazing if he could come back for playoffs. Smaby will be a UFA after this season. I'd assume an offer will depend largely on ANA's defensive situation during the summer and where he thinks his best chances to get back in the NHL.
Ryan McGinnis: Although he probably won't be seeing NHL minutes for at least another year, McGinnis' learning curve has been much shorter than many anticipated. I talked a few months ago about keeping an eye on this kid, and after seeing him play some serious time the past few weeks given various call ups and injuries, I can only stress it more. In 27 games with the Crunch, McGinnis is at a plus-10. Although he doesn't pack an offensive punch, he plays a safe game defensively and makes very few mistakes. He's very useful on special teams. I see a lot of promise in him.
Kyle Cumiskey: After the bust that was Bryan Rodney, Cumiskey has quietly stepped up to fill the role of offensive defenseman in a way that even I can't find fault in. Cumiskey is your classic two-way defenseman, someone who can make the plays to get the points while also playing a strong, lock-it-away defensive game. I've really enjoyed watching Cumiskey grow this season. In 53 games with the Crunch he has 6 goals, 23 assists, and a plus-1 rating.
Gabe Guentzel: I haven't seen Guentzel play that much considering his ATO status, but what I have seen has been pretty solid. He isn't really noticeable, but that can be good in a defenseman. He has no points in 9 games played, and a -1 rating. He'll have some more time in the A--or maybe even another year in juniors, I'm not really sure of his plans--to develop.
Sean Zimmerman: Very strong defensive player. Zimmerman has been a leader on the blue line with the continued absence of our captain Nate Guenin. He has 1 goal, 6 assists, and a plus-12 rating. Unfortunately, I believe he's injured at the moment, but hopefully he'll be able to come back for playoffs. Zimmerman will be a UFA after this season. His call up value might be diminishing, but his experience at this level could be extremely valuable next season for the Ducks' AHL affiliate.
Mathieu Carle: Carle has been one of the Crunch's Iron Men this season, playing in 69 of the team's 73 games. He's also been racking up a ton of points. In that span of 69 games Carle has 6 goals and 31 assists. He has a plus-six rating and has served time on both the PK and the PP. He will be an RFA after this season. I'd expect an offer.
Nick Schaus: Schaus reminds me a lot of Mat Clark last year. He shows a lot of promise, but sometimes--and maybe too often for his own good--makes those "what were you thinking?!" mistakes. Schaus has a lot to learn, but he also came really far this season with the 42 games he spent with Syracuse. This is Schaus' third year bouncing between the AHL and the lower leagues, though last year he spent almost the entirety of the season in the A. He'll be a UFA at the end of this season, and I kind of doubt he'll be back with the organization next year. His contract this year was an AHL-only. If he does return, I'd assume he gets the same treatment next year. I don't really see any immediate call up value in him. He has 4 goals, 4 assists, and a -6 rating.
Andy Thomas: Thomas has only played in two games for us. I only saw one of them and I don't remember him at all. He has no points and a -1 rating in those two games combined.
Ryan Hegarty: Hegarty is on our roster, signed to an ATO, but has yet to play a game.

There's a lot of promise in this d-core. There really, really is. With Nate Guenin gone almost the entire season, these guys have had to struggle to find their own ways, and most of them did. Once Bryan Rodney was weeded out, many of them were given the chance to shine. Clark, Cumiskey and Carle made the most out of that chance, but McGinnis also may prove useful in the future.

I'll probably post after next weekend to give the big picture about how everything turned out and what we'll be expecting. I'll also post my impressions of our goaltending squad then. Thanks for hanging in there with me, everyone. Have a great week and, if you'd be so kind, please keep your fingers crossed for us and your prospects!

Your Friendly Friday Links Roundup: The Holding Pattern Edition

light_the_lamp — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:39:30 -0000

[Ed. Note: New video from the You Can Play Project. Look for a familiar mustache making an appearance.]

***

Everyone has an idea about where Justin Schultz will likely end up, but no one has any definitive information. I think that he's genuinely considering all three of his options - the Ducks, free agency, or another year at Wisconsin. And until he makes his choice, we'll remain in a holding pattern.

An interesting comment from the Bucky's 5th Quarter piece:

I get the feeling that if the new CBA isn’t worked out and there is a lockout, he’d rather play his senior year at WI instead of playing in the AHL or Europe. Perhaps he considers his education to be more of a priority than other college players since he knows eventually he will be signed to an NHL deal someday anyway. Somewhere. Keeping all his options available can’t be a bad move.

Everyone's favorite prospect has resumed classes, but will be returning to his hometown, West Kelowna, British Columbia, for spring break in a few days. Currently booking my flight.... [Herald Times Reporter]
Chuck Schwartz at Bucky's 5th Quarter argues that he's unlikely to sign with the Ducks before the season concludes (he also says that the Vancouver Canucks are in the Schultz derby). [Bucky's 5th Quarter]
Canadian AC readers have already seen this, but Bob McKenzie thinks that the Edmonton Oilers have a real shot at signing Schultz. Analysts Aaron Ward and Marc Crawford chose Detroit and Toronto, respectively (possible teams that have been floated around AC). [Edmonton Journal]
Eric Stephens weighs in. [OC Register]
In other college defenseman news, former University of Maine blueliner Ryan Hegarty has signed an entry level contract with the Ducks. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2008 Draft (113th overall). Hegarty is a defensive defenseman who was +11 for the season, and he won a bronze medal with the USA U18 Team in 2008. He will be reporting to the Crunch today. [PS Syracuse Crunch]
Corey Perry and Jonas Hiller are candidates for the NHL 13 cover. Vote for them! [Ducks Daily Blog]
Emerson Etem is burning up the WHL playoffs. [Yahoo Canada]
The Syracuse Crunch beat the Adirondack Phantoms 2-1 in a shootout on Wednesday. Kyle Palmieri scored the game winning goal, and Patrick Maroon scored the only Crunch goal in regulation. (Iiro Tarkki also made 34 saves). The Ducklings are now tied for seventh place in the Eastern Conference. [Your News Now Syracuse]
Bobby Ryan scored his 28th goal of the season on Wednesday, and is on track to have his fourth consecutive 30 goal season. Jonas Hiller set a franchise record with his 70th start of the season, and Teemu Selanne scored his 662nd career goal. He's only two goals away from passing Jaromir Jagr on the all-time list. [CBSSports.com]
Bobby Ryan + Nick Bonino + Kyle Palmieri/Devante Smith-Pelly = The Ducks' Third Scoring Line? [OC Register]
Montreal Canadiens General Manager (and former Ducks Assistant General Manager/President and General Manager) Pierre Gauthier has been fired. With all of the criticism that Bob Murray receives around these parts, would you like to see Gauthier resume his position with the Ducks organization? [Habs Eyes On The Prize]
Sunday's game (vs Edmonton) is Fan Appreciation Night. [Anaheim Ducks]
The Seven Sins of Internet Hockey Fans. (I know this is actually a Sharks gameday, but it's hilarious and very accurate. Especially the part about guys being gross creeps to girls). [Battle of Cali]
It's officially time for Leafs fans to jump on the Blue Jays bandwagon. [Backhand Shelf]

Chirping the Bench: 9 more rounds 'till we get a KO

Allokago — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:10:10 -0000

Well, color me surprised.

As I pointed out last week, the Ducklings are proving me wrong left and right, and I'm so thrilled I can't even find it in me to be mad.

You all aren't going to believe this.

Nope. Not one bit. You're going to call me a liar. You're going to wonder what drugs I've ingested recently. You're going to accuse me of losing my mind. I know all of this, but yet I am duty bound to report the following:

The Syracuse Crunch are actually in a playoff spot.

Yes, you read that right. With 9 games left in the regular season, the Crunch are, for the first time since the end of November, in a playoff spot. I haven't even known what to do with myself the past week or so. The knowledge that this team has battled so hard they've managed to push and shove their way into the top 8 of the Eastern Conference has me all tied up in excited knots.

And it has been a battle. The Crunch has managed to amass 19 out of a possible 22 points in their last 11 games. Almost all of those games have been come-from-behind wins. Before that stretch, the Crunch had only won four games when going into the third trailing. Now, it seems like the Crunch just has to look at the net the right way during that period to score. They have the second-best past-10 record (8-1-0-1) in the league right now, beaten only by Norfolk. That team has won their last 20 games in a row (no, that isn't a typo), so I'd say we're in pretty good company.

The usual numbers and the like after the break. Also, I break down the rest of our offensive squad. The next 9 games are going to be a wild one for those boys!

Record (W-L-OTL-SOL): 31-27-4-5

Divisional standing: 4th

Conference standing: 8th (up 6!!!! spots since last update, top 8 make playoffs)

What does the whole playoff picture look like?

Conference standing	Team name	Points
6	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	75
7	Manchester Monarchs	73
8	Syracuse Crunch	71
9	Springfield Falcons	68
10	Worcester Sharks	67

Top producer: Patrick Maroon, 68 pts. (28-40), 4th in the league

Top goal scorer: Kyle Palmieri (32 goals, 16th in the league)

Roster moves during the past two weeks:

Marco Cousineau (G) was returned to the CHL to make room for the return of Igor Bobkov (G). Bobkov played in our last two games, starting Saturday and coming in to relieve a struggling Iiro Tarkki Friday. He has a 1-0-0-1 record so far, playing well in both games.
Gabe Guentzel (D) was signed to a PTO to try to fill some holes on our blue line.
Ryan O'Marra (C) was returned to the Crunch from ANA.
John Kurtz (LW) was added to the roster once the recall of Kyle Palmieri (RW) was made official.

Injury report: Matt Smaby (D) went down with a hand injury this past Friday night, and will be out for a while. Mat Clark (D) returned to the line up after a lengthy injury-related absence. He has been a welcome addition and christened his return with the most physical, demanding play we've seen out of him all year.

End of season reports: The Forwards, pt.2

Patrick Maroon: I'd say Maroon is a front runner for Most Improved this season, and that's no insult to where he was coming into this year. His play has just gotten that much better. At the end of the '10-'11 season, Maroon had a respectable 21 goals and 27 assists in 57 games with the Crunch. As I said above, Maroon currently has 28 goals and 40 assists in 66 games played this year. He's been invaluable when making plays. He sticks up for his teammates. He logs precious special team minutes. He's been increasing his play in the crease, a sacrificing position this team has lacked all year. If Maroon can work hard this summer at keeping his conditioning up, something the Ducks have been encouraging him to do since he first came over in a trade from the Philadelphia organization, then I'd say he could log quite a few NHL minutes in the future. He'll be an RFA at the end of this year. I'll be very surprised if he doesn't get an offer.
Troy Bodie: I must admit, I wasn't satisfied with Bodie's play for much of this season. It just didn't seem like he was the Fluffy replacement we thought he would be. He wasn't protecting his teammates. He certainly wasn't showing the surprising scoring touch that Fluffy showed at the end of last season. He was just kind of there, nothing special, just there. As I watch him more and more now, I'm beginning to wonder if Holick was rendering him ineffective, because Bodie has flourished under Associate Coach Yawney. With the current crop of call ups, Bodie carries an "A" on his chest, and he's carrying it well. His voice is heard constantly out there, and I get the impression it's also being heard quite loudly in the locker room. His physicality has increased. He's gotten into quite a few impressive scraps lately, just at the right moment. He's protecting our scorers and making it so guys like Maroon can stay out of the box and on the ice where we need them. He has 5 goals and 9 assists and is an invaluable penalty killer. Bodie will be a UFA at the end of the season.
Peter Holland: At the mid-way point of the season, I made the prediction that Holland's game was going to take off. As it turns out, I wasn't too far off the mark. Holland has been playing some of the best hockey of his career as of late. He's second on the team in points with 22 goals and 34 assists. Without Palmieri here, Holland has gotten many chances to shine, and he's taken advantage of nearly all of them. His passes have gotten more confident, his game has picked up, and his physical presence has increased. I see a bright future in store for him, that's for sure.
Dan Sexton: After Rodney was traded, I was at a little bit of a loss for a few weeks. Who was I going to hate? Which name was I going to yell out in frustration? Lucky enough for me, Sexton soon proved to be that guy. If we had an award for the most 1-on-1 chances blown, Sexton would get it. Every time he manages to get by himself, he loses control and can't put it in. His play is usually lackluster and his mistakes stick out like a sore thumb. He hasn't been the same since he got sent down this year and was passed over again and again for call ups. He shows sparks of brilliance every now and then, but eventually goes back to being crap. If I was the Ducks, I'd use him for trade fodder. He still has a year left on his current contract.
John Mitchell: Mitchell rarely excites me, to be honest. His 6 goals and 7 assists in 43 games isn't something to write home about. He's currently injured and hasn't played since March 17th. Every now and then Mitchell would show a spark or two of talent, but then he'd hide it underneath mediocre speed and bad play-making ability. He isn't someone I miss right now. He's going to see at least another year in the minors, if not more.
Riley Holzapfel: When a player is traded, they usually approach it from one of two angles: the "this could be great for my career/a fresh start/let's show them what I can do" angle, or the "this sucks/I hate this place/I'm going to pout" angle. Thankfully for us, Holzapfel decided to take the trade that brought him in at the deadline as a positive. In 19 games with the Crunch, Holzapfel has managed to exceed his 29-game production with the St. John's Ice Caps. Holzapfel has 7 goals and 10 assists. In the month of March alone he has scored 5 of those goals and 5 of those helpers. His puck handling has been impressive and his help on the power play has gotten him noticed. Holzapfel will be an RFA at the end of this year and I think he deserves an offer. If anything, he'll provide leadership and call up fodder in the A.
Matt Kennedy: Kennedy rounds out the "unimpressive younger guys" list. Much like Mitchell and Brittain, Kennedy hung out on the 4th line and didn't do much. In 42 games he had 1 goal and 5 assists. He hasn't played since January and is out with an injury. He better get used to playing in the minors, because I don't see him going elsewhere any time soon.
Ryan O'Marra: In 12 games since his trade, O'Marra has 1 goal and 2 assists. He has already been called up by the Ducks once. This is a case of a player's numbers not exactly representing their true value on the ice. He knows how to use his 6'2 frame well, especially on the PK. Although we wish he'd make more of a splash offensively, he certainly has value elsewhere and has been a part of the run the Crunch is currently on. He'll be a UFA after this season.

There's a lot of work ahead of this team coming down the stretch. As you saw, the last spots in the East are tighter than a drum, with only a few precious points separating those solidly in the playoffs and those not in at all. Our destiny isn't completely in our hands and we're going to be doing a lot of scoreboard watching in the next few weeks, but as long as the team continues to stick to the plan a post season is absolutely possible.

Thanks for reading this update! My next one will cover the defense and hopefully have a clearer playoff picture, one way or the other. Happy Spring!

Anaheim Ducks State of the Summer Address

Kevin Riach — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:01:00 -0000

[Ed. Note: We have two new additions to our dysfunctional (yet happy) little family. Welcome the first of the two new writers, you know him, you love him - Kevin Riach]

For most Duck fans, you've come to the realization that we can't reach the playoffs. The season is all but over for our beloved team. While this time can be somber, or even down right depressing, there are things to be thankful about. First and foremost, the Ducks at least tried to make it interesting instead of sitting in last place with the Columbus Blue Jackets and waiting for their draft pick. Secondly, this team has a bright future ahead of it. A core that is reaching their prime, two fantastic young defenseman, a long list of young forwards with amazing potential, and a new head coach that has everyone believing again.

Naturally we look to the summer and free agency, a time of endless possibilities and unexpected results. A time when fans believe that anyone can be signed or traded for. Where even the most pessimistic fans can feel optimism, and even last year's bottom dwellers have a chance to make the playoffs. But it would be silly and premature to start talking about signings a trades when there is still so much hockey to be played and a Cup to be won.

Instead I leave you all with a guide to the team's financial situation going into the summer, a run down of all the current Ducks who are to be free agents, and what our roster looks like without any moves or signings. My intent is to create a guide for people to start formulating their own opinions on who to sign and who to trade this coming summer. Hopefully it is useful in the coming months and even more people can get involved in the discussions come summer.

Financial situation: The Ducks currently sit at $59,447,874 against the $64,300,00 salary cap limit. Next season the Ducks will have $41,060,000 against the cap, before players are resigned, signed as free agents, or traded. The Ducks are not a cap team and have probably spent a bit more this season then they are comfortable with. [Ed. Note: Ducks are a budget team and want to be around $54M.]

Their cap payroll is different than their actual payroll (contracts like Lubo's count more against the cap than they do actual payroll) but this is a fairly accurate figure to go off of. This means no proposing ridiculous trades or signings that put the Ducks over this number. Another thing to keep in mind is that Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, and Cam Fowler will all be up for new contracts at the end of NEXT season. It is unlikely for the Ducks to take on too much salary or long term deals if it renders them unable to resign these three key pieces.

Free Agents: This offseason the following players are Unrestricted Free Agents (or UFAs) and can either resign with the Ducks or any other team this summer.

Teemu Selanne - current cap hit $4,000,000

Jason Blake - current cap hit $4,000,000

Saku Koivu - current cap hit $2,500,000

Nicklas Hagman - current cap hit $1,500,000

Dan Ellis - current cap hit $1,500,000

George Parros - current cap hit $875,000

Sheldon Brookbank - current cap hit $750,000

Jean-Francois Jacques - current cap hit $650,000

Matt Smaby - current cap hit $600,000

Rod Pelley - current cap hit $550,000

Mark Bell - current cap hit $575,000

Troy Bodie - current cap hit $550,000

This offseason the following players are Restricted Free Agents (or RFAs). If another team offers them a contract the Ducks can either A) match the offer and keep the player or B) let the player sign else where and receive draft picks as compensation (the round and amount of picks are determined by the size of the contract).

Iiro Tarkki - current cap hit $1,325,000

Rick Schofield - current cap hit $900,000

Marco Cousineau - current cap hit $850,000

Dale Mitchell - current cap hit $759,000

Ryan O'Marra - current cap hit $735,000

Mathieu Carle - current cap hit $726,000

Kyle Cumiskey - current cap hit $709,000

Nick Bonino - current cap hit $693,000

Riley Holzapfel - current cap hit $575,000

Patrick Maroon - current cap hit $550,000

Sean Zimmerman - current cap hit $525,000

Luca Caputi - current cap hit $525,000

Current 2012-2013 Depth Chart: Without any roster moves or re-signings our team would look like this next year.

Emerson Etem - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry

Andrew Cogliano - Peter Holland - Bobby Ryan

Matt Beleskey - Brandon McMillan - Devante Smith-Pelley

Dan Sexton - Matt Kennedy - Kyle Palmieri

Francois Beauchemin - Cam Fowler

Lubomir Visnovsky - Luca Sbisa

Toni Lydman - Nate Guenin

Jonas Hiller

Jeff Deslauriers

Hopefully for everyone's sanity Murray signs, resigns, and/or trades some people because that line up (especially the forwards) is not going to cut it.

Positions Wanted: This last part is more personal than factual, but I would like to leave you all with a some positions I think the Ducks could be looking to fill come the summer. These players can be on the current roster and resigned, traded for from another organization, or signed via free agency.

1st Line Winger

2nd Line Center

2nd Line Winger

4th Line Center

4th Line Winger

Top 4 Defenseman

Bottom Pairing Defenseman

Backup Goaltender

Hope you all find this information useful and use it to your advantage come this summer. Make sure to answer the poll about the team's biggest offseason need. Sound off in the comments if you would like to start day dreaming about how awesome our team is going to be next season (hopeful trades, signings, in house guys we should resign, etc).

Poll

What is the Ducks biggest offseason need?

Top 4 Defenseman

42 votes

1st Line Winger

10 votes

2nd Line Center

47 votes

Backup Goaltender

6 votes

105 votes | Poll has closed