Can the Ducks get back to the top of the West
In 2009-10 the Anaheim Ducks struggled to maintain consistent play. They were left with a talented first line, but a supporting cast that was unable to contribute. The difficulties ended with the club finishing in 11th in the conference with 89 points and missing the play-offs.
This off season the Ducks have made it clear they plan to get back to the post-season this season. However, in an improved division do they still have what it takes to challenge for a play-off spot?
Roster changes
The most important roster change of this off-season was the retirement of Scott Niedermayer. The National Hockey League veteran was the Ducks' best player and team captain. Niedermayer played in all the important moments throughout the year, and will be sorely missed on the Ducks backend.
Anaheim also lost defenceman James Wisniewski when the club traded him to the New York Islanders.
Up front the club brought back Teemu Selanne, and kept their forward group relatively unchanged.
Forwards
Up front the Ducks are strong on paper but last season the same was said, and the second and third units never seemed to get it going.
The first line is arguably one of the best threesomes in the league. Centred by Ryan Getzlaf, and with Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan on the wings, it is difficult to stop Anaheim’s top scoring unit.
The second unit should have Saku Koivu at centre, with Joffrey Lupul and Selanne on the wings. However, if the Ducks sign free agent Paul Kariya, as they are expected to, it is likely he will take Lupul’s place, making the 26-year-old expendable.
The third line should be made up of veteran Todd Marchant, Jason Blake and Kyle Chipchura. The fourth line meanwhile will once again be made up of mostly of tough guys, with George Parros and Aaron Voros leading the charge on the wing.
Defence
On defence the Ducks will miss both Wisniewski and Niedermayer. The club has a serious lack of depth at the back end and is still in need of one or two more defencemen before the season begins.
As of right now Lubomir Visnovsky is set to start in the first pairing with Toni Lydman, while Andy Sutton and Sheldon Brookbank will patrol the blue line on the second pairing. Currently the third pairing is set to be made-up of Brendan Mikkelson and Brett Festerling, but that could change after camp in September.
Goalie
In net the Ducks are strong, with all-star goaltender Jonas Hiller expected to start 70 games next season. The back-up will be Curtis McElhinney, who had very limited success in his first stint in Calgary.
Can Duck get back to the post-season?
The Ducks are going to have their work cut out for them if they plan to get back to the post-season. The Western Conference has improved, and they still have not addressed their most pressing problem of defence.
In addition the Pacific Division made great strides last year, with the development of the Phoenix Coyotes and the Los Angeles Kings. One would be hard-pressed to find a hockey expert that would say the Ducks line-up is better than that of Los Angeles’.
In the end it is all going to come down to how well the Anaheim defence and second and third lines are able to perform.
Last year the defence was awful, and unfortunately this season it looks worse. Hiller will have to stand on his head in order to make the back end look good.
The Ducks need a legitimate threat from their second and third line. It is true that their first line is lethal, however, in the strong Western Conference you need forward depth to succeed. Anaheim will need Selanne to stay healthy all year, and if they can get Kariya there second line production should go up.
The Ducks are likely sit between the eighth and 10th place spots next year. Expect them to be in the hunt late in the season, however nothing will be guaranteed.
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