Joe DiPenta

TSN says we signed him...

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim - Re-signed left wing Mike Leclerc to a one-year contract; signed defenseman Joe DiPenta to a one-year contract.

Looks like AHL depth.

Looks like Burke bringing over former Canuck prospects

Goggling around...

3rd Annual MooseView Awards
Apr. 19th, 2005 - Written by: Craig Ramm


Unsung Hero
Joe DiPenta

The work he did on the ice wasn't written about much in the papers, but Joe DiPenta likely preferred it that way. The 26-year old rearguard played alongside Tomas Mojzis to form the dynamic duo that played against the other team's number one line.

DiPenta never needed to be flashy...he just needed to do his job. He played a smart, simple style of defence that never showed up on the scoresheet (except maybe in the form of his +18 plus/minus rating). Also underrated was his leadership qualities--something a team can never have enough of.

Looks like Burke bringing over former Canuck prospects

DiPenta was a Nonis signing after Burke left, I think. The signing was probably influenced a great deal by Carlyle.

I assume this is to fill out the Portland roster...

O'Brien-Rome
Saunders-DiPenta

Rogers and Smid need contracts.

they have it up on LA Times now...

"The Ducks also signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Joe DiPenta to a one-year deal on Thursday.

DiPenta played for Manitoba of the AHL last season and had two goals and 10 assists in 73 regular-season games. He had no goals and five assists in 17 postseason games.

He played three games with Atlanta during the 2002-03. DiPenta was drafted in the third round by Florida in 1998."

This makes me think that one of Rome.Dipenta, or O'Brien makes the team. With Saunders already in Cincy thats a overload on tough Dman

Salei is as good as gone

This makes me think that one of Rome.Dipenta, or O'Brien makes the team. With Saunders already in Cincy thats a overload on tough Dman

Salei is as good as gone

I hope not.. if Rome, Dipenta or O'Brien is going to replace Salei on the playing roster, I tihnk we can kiss the playoffs goodbye and prepare for Phil Kessel to come to town.. ;)

This makes me think that one of Rome.Dipenta, or O'Brien makes the team. With Saunders already in Cincy thats a overload on tough Dman

Salei is as good as gone
Dunno why you'd think that. We needed players in Portland.

Dunno why you'd think that. We needed players in Portland.

You're right, CBOF. It's not a foregone conclusion. However, we do need to trim some salary and it seems to me that Salei and Sykora are prime candidates. Since we still lack scoring punch, Burke may conclude that we can more easily afford to part with Salei than Sykora.

For the record, how do you think we're going to cut salary?

Dunno why you'd think that. We needed players in Portland.

Agreed. This is simply an AHL signing. Rome, O'Brien, Saunders and DiPenta are destined for Portland.

Now Burke can sign a couple of puck movers for that team...Rogers/Smid.

You're right, CBOF. It's not a foregone conclusion. However, we do need to trim some salary and it seems to me that Salei and Sykora are prime candidates. Since we still lack scoring punch, Burke may conclude that we can more easily afford to part with Salei than Sykora.

For the record, how do you think we're going to cut salary?
If we do cut any more, I think it'll be a trade involving Sykora. Burke seems a bit fixated on the defense.

You're right, CBOF.
Chock Booger of Full?

If we do cut any more, I think it'll be a trade involving Sykora. Burke seems a bit fixated on the defense.
Good point, however if we do trade Sykora it leaves us with just one player who will score 25+ goals.
Chock Booger of Full?
:biglaugh:

Good point, however if we do trade Sykora it leaves us with just one player who will score 25+ goals.


I know it. Trading Sykora means Lupul will need to be ready to accept his top line role. I mean, potentially, we have 4 20+ goal scorers in the top six (without Sykora). That's if everything goes perfectly, which it won't.

No reason Fedorov can't match his previous output. I think if Leclerc stays healthy he can pretty easily replace Prospal's contribution on the left. Rucchin, again if healthy, could once again score 20 on the second line. But then Lupul has to match or surpass Sykora's output just for us to only suck as badly offensively as we did on 03-04. Put that way.....the situation is horrendous. HUGE years from Lupul, Niedermayer, and most probably another forward as well will be needed in addition to the needed contributions from Rucchin/Fedorov/Leclerc for this team to have a chance at the playoffs. We have the defense and the goalie to compete if we can make it there.

Alternatively, this team can ice one hell of a power play unit, and two excellent pk units. If we can be just even at full strength, our special teams could carry us into the playoffs if the chemistry's right.

It's kind of ironic that Burke is so against defensive hockey, because that's honestly our best chance.

It's kind of ironic that Burke is so against defensive hockey, because that's honestly our best chance.

Indeed, but OTOH there have been times in recent years where I've felt like the team *could* have played more aggressively and taken more chances, and possibly increased the production of everyone across the board, without significantly hurting the goals against numbers. Really, if you just eke out an extra 1-2 goals from each player it makes a huge difference.

It may be that with a better defense (particularly at moving the puck) we'll see small improvements in production amongst all forwards. And a lot of small improvements can add up to a big team improvement.

As for our new mobile defense, I think we'll see the puck spend less time in our own zone, and like I said I think the power play can be deadly. There are ways to make this roster work as a playoff contender. Not many. Not much leeway for injuries to key players or slumps here. None at all for faltering from Giguere. But I'm certainly not writing the season off. I'll get a little more excited once we have a complete roster and I can finally see what we have to work with.

1-2 goals from everyone would obviously be huge, but even with that, the defense will be the reason for victory much more often than the offense will be.