NHL Season Preview: Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim Ducks



Last Season's standing: record: 38-27-12 for 98 points. The Ducks had a great run last season finishing 6th in the Western Conference, 3rd in the Pacific Division. The ducks also went to the Western Conference finals where tey were swept by the Edmonton Oilers.

In: Chris Pronger D (via trade w/ Edmonton Oilers); Karl Stewart F (via trade w/ Atlanta Thrashers); Andy McDonald F; Stanislav Chistov F; Micheal Leighton G (prev. team: Buffalo Sabres); Shawn Thorton F (prev. team: Chicago Blackhawks); Pierre Parenteau F; Chris Kunitz F; Shane O'Brien D; Travis Green F (prev. team: Boston Bruins); Ian Moran D (prev. team: Boston Bruins); Ilya Bryzgalov G

Out: Joffrey Lupul F (via trade w/ Edmonton Oilers); Ladislav Smid D (via trade w/ Edmonton Oilers); Vitaly Vishnevsi D (via trade w/ Atlanta Thrashers); Ruslan Salei D (new team: Florida Panthers); Jeff Friesen F (new team: Calgary Flames)

Season Outlook: Good. The Ducks are going to contend in a very tight Western Conference. They have a rejuvenated Teemu Selanne who's coming off an outstanding year. Sophomore Goalie Bruzgalov will have to equal his performance of last year or Giguere will have to bounce back after a so-so year for this team to make the playoffs. They have perhaps the best defensive pairing in Pronger and Scott Nedermeyer. Unfortunately those two can't play the entire game. Sophomores Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry are out to prove their rookie years were no flukes. Scoring could be an issue if the younger players don't come through.

Season Prediction: The Ducks will finish in 7th in the Western Conference, 3rd in the Pacific Division.

Note: I couldn't find the new Anaheim Ducks logo to upload it (same goes for the Buffalo Sabres new logo). If anyone out there in blogger land knows where I can download these two images from, I'll gladly change it.