ANAHEIM DUCKS
Record: 34-36-12
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Ryan Getzlaf
The Ducks' season last year got off to a horrible start, and Randy Carlyle was they fall guy. In stepped Bruce Boudreau, who himself took the fall for the Capitals' November swoon. A late run was not enough for them to make the playoffs. This is still Teemu Selanne's team, as he led the team in scoring with 66 points. Those are good numbers, but when you see that both Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf fell off, it looks not so good. Both Perry and Getzlaf are in the final year of their respective contracts, but the pressure will be more on Getzlaf, as his numbers have dropped since being given the Captain's C. Cam Fowler is an offensive dynamo on the blue line, but his -28 suggests that he needs defensive improvement. Bryan Allen was brought in for size and prowess in his own end, and he could be paired with Fowler. Both could benefit by playing with one another. Part of the movement on the blue line cost the Ducks Lubomir Visnovsky (pending his situation with the Islanders), and he will be missed for his offense. He will not be missed for his penchant of missing a few games due to injury (he only had one healthy season in the last five years). Goaltending looks like a gaping hole if Jonas Hiller doesn't stay healthy for 60 games. Viktor Fasth is a wild card here, as few in North America have seen him play.
Prediction: 10th in the West
Band: Opeth
Much like the Swedish prog-metal band, Anaheim hit their success fairly early in their career. Also like the band, Anaheim hasn't found that formula for sustained success since the high point...at least, according to the critics.
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