Bobby Kittleberger: A Flawed Anaheim Team Still Has a lot of Cause for Optimism The Anaheim Ducks have flaws in their defensive system that causes them to give up a lot of shots, but they're winning games and have a lot of other factors working in their favor.

JG is just 25 he is coming into his prime. This has been building for a couple of years. Play him 55 to 60 games let RM handle the rest and you have championship caliber tandem. Although I don't like him getting run like in Dallas with no pushback from the guys.

Don't reinvent the wheel here. Isac better not be going anywhere. He's shown he belongs.
1st- Line - Raks / Getz / Kase when he gets back
2 or 3 - Max / Rico / Silf - if Silf is not long term injured with the hand.
This has been Ducks best line. Don't mess with it. These 3 mesh very well.
Now here is where it gets tricky -
Kes has been killing it recently - So put him between Cogs & Richie.
Then the kid line. Isac / Sam / Sherwood. Which has been showing real promise, and getting better.
Make sure all lines play at least 12 minutes a night.

That leaves Troy ... who has been not as good as I thought and passed by the other kids so far. Gibbons / Rowney / Street as SD or Press box bound for now.

The D looked much better against the Isles, Interested to see how they look in Vegas tomorrow night and Sun against the Sabres.

This season has been a bonus. I wasn't really expecting much with all the injuries and new players with the rookies and on top of that all a new system. And some of these expectations were augmented buy the moves that other teams in the Pacific division made to better there teams.
But in the end it's been the total opposite. Especially the part of the Pacific being better. They have really made things easy for us. But I'm not going look a gift horse in the mouth. I'm going to enjoy the ride. Because the season has a lot of ups and downs, even in a good season.
Buy the way. Nick Ritchie signed. He got a small raise. And the contract escalates. I'd say it was less than I was expecting. Both on term and money. But he has only been playing 2 1/2 years. So to him I say. "Good to have you back man. Now go kick some butt. "

Guys, they are still figuring this new system out, there's going to be bumps in the road. What's amazing is that while they are figuring the new system out, they are winning games! They had a bad 2nd in Dallas but then come back and beat St.Louis the next night. I think that game says more about this team than the Dallas game.

Guys, they are still figuring this new system out, there's going to be bumps in the road. What's amazing is that while they are figuring the new system out, they are winning games! They had a bad 2nd in Dallas but then come back and beat St.Louis the next night. I think that game says more about this team than the Dallas game.
- duxcup07

Most def. But I don't think the Blues are near as good as people thought...

Anyways seeing the Isles on a B2B totally obliterate the Kings is the absolute best. We can play and win without our top guys .... Kings .... not so much.

Most def. But I don't think the Blues are near as good as people thought...

Anyways seeing the Isles on a B2B totally obliterate the Kings is the absolute best. We can play and win without our top guys .... Kings .... not so much.
- dozerD10

It was fun reading Kings fans female dog about not having Kopitar and Brown. I told them to imagine how they'd play if they added Tofoli, Pearson, and Kempe to that list. (I tried to pick players similar to Perry, Eaves, and Kase). They weren't too happy with me bit on a positive note I DID learn some new curse words.

Another thing, does anyone else think the Ducks told Josh Manson not to fight this year? He's had several opportunities so far and he's skated away from every one. I think he got injured in a fight last year so maybe they told him not to take a chance this year. He had a perfect chance against Benn and skated away. Just wondering.

Another thing, does anyone else think the Ducks told Josh Manson not to fight this year? He's had several opportunities so far and he's skated away from every one. I think he got injured in a fight last year so maybe they told him not to take a chance this year. He had a perfect chance against Benn and skated away. Just wondering.
- duxcup07

Well than good that NR is back because he can really go. Gotta have a hammer so JG doesn’t get run.

Comtois and Lundestrom will both be sent to Juniors imo. Neither player will play more than 9 games with the Ducks thus not burning a year off their ELC. Once Ritchie, Kase and Silf return, I could see Steel/Terry sent to San Diego. Both can travel back and forth between the Gulls and Ducks without having to pass through waivers.

These moves will be made based on the assumption Getzlaf, Ritchie and Kase are back on the team within the next couple of games, with Silf maybe shortly thereafter.

Comtois and Lundestrom will both be sent to Juniors imo. Neither player will play more than 9 games with the Ducks thus not burning a year off their ELC. Once Ritchie, Kase and Silf return, I could see Steel/Terry sent to San Diego. Both can travel back and forth between the Gulls and Ducks without having to pass through waivers.

These moves will be made based on the assumption Getzlaf, Ritchie and Kase are back on the team within the next couple of games, with Silf maybe shortly thereafter.
- quackup

That is horrible management ... If you send that message to the kids... You earn your way onto the team, don't do anything to deserve to be sent back and we send you back anyways, cuse it might be inconvenient for the current roster.... Come on that's inexcusable. You don't punish players for excelling. Yes you can lose your job to injury and holdout. Max and Isac have been integral parts of this start... Hell Max has been the Ducks 3rd best F this year. Isac is proving game after game that he deserves not only to stay but have increased ice time.

That is horrible management ... If you send that message to the kids... You earn your way onto the team, don't do anything to deserve to be sent back and we send you back anyways, cuse it might be inconvenient for the current roster.... Come on that's inexcusable. You don't punish players for excelling. Yes you can lose your job to injury and holdout. Max and Isac have been integral parts of this start... Hell Max has been the Ducks 3rd best F this year. Isac is proving game after game that he deserves not only to stay but have increased ice time.
- dozerD10

The kids are playing because Ritchie, Silf.,Kase and Getz. aren't. If you want to argue they could form an effective 4th line, I won't disagree. Since RC has been playing all 4 lines somewhat evenly, they would get decent playing time. There's just too many variables (ie. expansion draft) at play imo. Time will tell.

The kids are playing because Ritchie, Silf.,Kase and Getz. aren't. If you want to argue they could form an effective 4th line, I won't disagree. Since RC has been playing all 4 lines somewhat evenly, they would get decent playing time. There's just too many variable (ie. expansion draft) at play imo. Time will tell.
- quackup

I really don't care why they're playing .. that's not the point.

Now expansion draft ... I didn't factor that in. That could and most likely is a very viable reason to send the kids back. Good point.

Luke Scheen was a good pick up by Anaheim .

Troy Terry sent to San Diego.

Troy Terry sent to San Diego.
- quackup

He was def. struggling the most of the rooks. But I don't know why they called up Pontas... Seems like the perfect time to insert NR.

He was def. struggling the most of the rooks. But I don't know why they called up Pontas... Seems like the perfect time to insert NR.
- dozerD10

Per RC needs to get game ready. Shouldn't miss more than a couple of games. No different than when Rakell finally signed.

Terry scored 2 goals in his first game in San Diego, both of them were beauties, too. The kid just needs to get his confidence up, he'll be back soon.

Terry scored 2 goals in his first game in San Diego, both of them were beauties, too. The kid just needs to get his confidence up, he'll be back soon.
- duxcup07

Yeah they were sweet ones.