saskduckfan

It is part of the process but for years the Ducks biggest issue is scoring and how do they address it, by constantly drafting defense. Not going to solve any offensive problems that way. Hate people saying that a bad season and we can draft Power. Another defenseman

Our power play has been terrible because the Ducks keep trying the same old. Park someone on front of the net to screen the goalie and shoot from the blueline. Guys are too good at blocking shots for that to work anymore. The Ducks were 0 for 2 last night and didnt even have a shot on goal on the power play.

After this debacle tonight it's time to shake things up. GMBM needs to go. Eakins needs to go (another terrible coaching hire). And the players. Do the Ducks even have any that want to play. I'd trade Rakell in a heartbeat while he has any value left. We keep waiting for this bounce back year but it's never going to come. Henrique has looked awful. Silfverberg has looked lost. And the PP. Yikes. I thought they worked on this with their extra camp. Must have just worked on how to get worse. And every 4th line guy can go. All useless. No need for any of them. Shattenkirk was a wasted signing. Rakell, Henrique, Silf, Deslauries, Grant, Rowney, Backes, Shattenkirk, even Fowler can all be traded. Keep the young guys and bring up more. I'd rather watch the Ducks lose with promising prospects then the vets that have looked awful all year. Sadly there are guys like Mete and even Sam Bennett looking for opportunities elsewhere. I'd rather see Bennett over Henrique and more so Grant at this stage. BRING UP ZEGRAS!!!

They were about the only line worth watching. The rest of them looked terrible. Season just started but I'm already going to say it, let Zegras play. At least then we have a young and exciting player to watch. What was with Milano sitting out. I thought the Ducks needed offense, so they sit one of the guys that is supposed to bring it. You could easily scratch Rowney instead. He doesn't bring a whole lot to the team, or Deslauries.

I think it's a mix of a few things. To start with the Ducks have $13.375 million committed on their cap in two players that no longer play, Kesler and Perry. As stated, that and Backes with 3.425M is your problems. $16.8M committed there to two players not playing here and 1 that might as well not be as well. Next year though there is relief. As it stands right now the Ducks will have 30 contracts and a cap hit of $59.4M out of the 81.5 creating $22.05M in cap space next year. Also next year Getzlaf's 8.25M contract expires. He will likely resign with the team but for significantly less money. I would assume in the 4-5M range. Our RFA next year haven't shown enough for a significant raise, unless this year changes (Comtois, Jones, Steel, Lundestrom, and Heinen) so the Ducks should be sitting good after they resign them. In comparison Colorado only has 16 contracts and 58.3M committed. They will be in a worse situation next year. And they only have $898000 in space this year.

So that opening day roster is identical to the roster remaining on the Ducks website, however it is missing Zegras who is still listed as part of the team. I expect Grant was a place holder on the PP until Zegras arrived and with him still listed I fully expect he is on the opening day roster as well. As for the division, it will be tough. Colorado, Vegas, St Louis should be 1-3 in some order. After that the 4th playoff spot is wide open and leaves Minnesota, LA, SJ, Ducks, and Arizona and one of those teams gets in. Out of them I don't like San Jose, still older like last year and did nothing to improve. Goaltending is still an issue there. Arizona is a joke. They should be last in the division. Minnesota is overrated. Their goaltending is bad. Cam Talbot had that one good year with the Oilers. Other then that he has been average. That leaves the Ducks and Kings. I'm not sold on the Kings goalies. Quick has been declining in play lately. However if some of their decent prospects make the team and contribute they could fit for 4th. As for the Ducks, goaltending is still a strength, though I don't know about Miller with his age. Gibson should bounce back and hopefully stay healthy. The defense I hope can bounce back to being solid. Ducks problems will be offense again, however they were starting to turn things around last year after the deadline with the acquisitions of Heinen and Milano. And if Zegras does step in and contributes then it might not be that big of an issue. Ducks can't rely on Henrique being their top scorer in goals and points though. Rakell needs to come back to his potential. Should be an interesting year and with games all in the division the key point would be to win the majority of those games with Arizona, Minn, LA, and SJ. The 5 straight vs LA will be interesting and fun to watch. PS - I saw an article on Sportsnet with predictions and a few of them had the Ducks as their surprise team of the year with Gibson in the Veizna talk.

Can we call him something other then Grantzlaf. Not sure where that nickname came from but it's terrible. To compare him to Getzlaf is not right. For one Grant actually scores goals. Getzlaf just passes all the time. These two arent even comparable so I think he deserves for us to call him something better.

Shattenkirk, 3 years at 3.9 cap hit. Not a good deal in my opinion, unless this is more so he can be left exposed for the expansion draft.