*Regular Season Finish: 8th’ *Postseason Finish: Eliminated in Western Conference Semi-Finals’
The Anaheim Ducks surprised some, but not all, with their strong performance in the playoffs, despite coming in as the 8th and final seed in the strong Western Conference. After making quick work of San Jose, Anaheim didn’t quite have what it would take to knock off the eventual Stanley Cup finalist Detroit Red Wings in the 2nd round. In the 2009 offseason, the Ducks were faced with a couple of tough decisions, as some of their aging veterans were nearing the ends of their contracts, and the club looked to add some extra pieces to further improve their roster.
First, let’s start with their losses. The Ducks lost two solid defensemen to trade and free agency, in veteran leader Chris Pronger and Francois Beauchemin. However, the Ducks were wise to trade Pronger at this stage in his career, especially for a young defensive talent like Luca Sbisa. This move enabled them to younger at the back end, while still maintaining a high level of talent on the blueline. Similarly, after Beauchemin signed with Toronto, the Ducks went out and picked up Nick Boynton from the Florida Panthers. Boynton is a very solid and physical defensive player, who should help fill the void left by the towering Pronger.
In another solid move, the Ducks picked up longtime Montreal captain Saku Koivu. The 2nd longest serving in Canadiens’ history was given less than stellar treatment as he came to the end of his contract, and it was rumored that fellow Finn Teemu Selanne played a role in helping him decide to play what will likely be the last year or so of his fine career in Anaheim. Koivu is an excellent leader on and off the ice, and will certainly provide help in more than one area. Not only is he a very talented center, he also has an excellent locker room presence, and should complement fellow veterans like Selanne and Scott Niedermayer in their leadership roles.
The Ducks look poised to make another solid performance in the 2009-10 season. One remaining question mark is in goal, as both Jonas Hiller and JS Giguere have proven that they can carry the load of a starting goalie. Giguere has slipped a little, especially in last season, while the young Hiller took full advantage of his opportunity to shine. However, a new season is just that, and the Ducks almost certainly won’t have to worry too much about keeping pucks out of their net. Pending any moves made in the near future, Anaheim has done an excellent job of prepping themselves to make another run deep into the playoffs next year. They are deep at all the key positions, especially at defense and down the middle, so look for them to be back near the top of the Western Conference come next April.