An Objective Look (No Excuses) About Ducks Season

I went to bed sick last night. I stayed up until 1am to see the Ducks play like that. Now, they're record is 11-14-4-5 and they show no signs of turning it around anytime soon.

However, there are reasons for their play. It's not because they're a fluke like some trolls would have you believe, it's because they've had some trouble with injuries, team chemistry, and just out bad play.

Injuries: We lost Dan Bylsma & Mike Leclerc for the beginning of the season. Bylsma has since returned, and Leclerc will be back next month. Bylsma, while not a scorer, added leadership & defense to the tem. Leclec is one of the closest thing we have to a power forward. These two injuries hurt the team. Not to mention the injuries to Rob Niedermayer & Sandis Ozolinsh currently. These injuries have hurt the team.

Team Chemistry: Realize it or not, this team is a whole new team then they were in the 2003 Stanley Cup. Gone are Oates, Thomas, and Kariya. Like them or not, they were veteran NHLers with playoff experience. Fedorov replaces some of that experience, but guys like Prospal, Lupul, and even McDonald (who missed the playoffs) are all new to this, and need to fit into the lineup.

And there is no excuse for bad play.

It's all of these things thrown on top of one another, and to realize this team is only 2 games (4pts) out of the 8th spot, things aren't that bad. The season is not lost yet.

It's time for Carney, Fedorov, and Rucchin to sit down with the team and get these things straightened out.

It's not over yet, and I'll have faith until the end.

I went to bed sick last night. I stayed up until 1am to see the Ducks play like that. Now, they're record is 11-14-4-5 and they show no signs of turning it around anytime soon.

However, there are reasons for their play. It's not because they're a fluke like some trolls would have you believe, it's because they've had some trouble with injuries, team chemistry, and just out bad play.

Injuries: We lost Dan Bylsma & Mike Leclerc for the beginning of the season. Bylsma has since returned, and Leclerc will be back next month. Bylsma, while not a scorer, added leadership & defense to the tem. Leclec is one of the closest thing we have to a power forward. These two injuries hurt the team. Not to mention the injuries to Rob Niedermayer & Sandis Ozolinsh currently. These injuries have hurt the team.

Team Chemistry: Realize it or not, this team is a whole new team then they were in the 2003 Stanley Cup. Gone are Oates, Thomas, and Kariya. Like them or not, they were veteran NHLers with playoff experience. Fedorov replaces some of that experience, but guys like Prospal, Lupul, and even McDonald (who missed the playoffs) are all new to this, and need to fit into the lineup.

And there is no excuse for bad play.

It's all of these things thrown on top of one another, and to realize this team is only 2 games (4pts) out of the 8th spot, things aren't that bad. The season is not lost yet.

It's time for Carney, Fedorov, and Rucchin to sit down with the team and get these things straightened out.

It's not over yet, and I'll have faith until the end.
:handclap: good points...

we always suck in the first half of the season..im looking forward to the 2nd half when everyone comes back and is healthy and playing up to our standards

we always suck in the first half of the season..im looking forward to the 2nd half when everyone comes back and is healthy and playing up to our standards

Except sometimes, we suck for an entire season.

I think we looked a heck of lot better last night than we did on sunday.. even though the result was the same.. I'm happy to see Chistov get his first goal and maybe that will get him going. This year really reminds me of the 01-02 season with the one goal losses.. well anyway hopefully we can get it going on this road trip and win some games..


Go Ducks!!!

Injuries do not really play a significant role in the Ducks collapse this season. I don't know what the man games lost due to injuries are for the Ducks. And, yes, we've had injuries to some key guys...Leclerc, Ozolinsh, Carney, Neidermayer...Bylsma is pushing it to call him a key guy although he is a real leader for the team. But every team has injuries, and there have not been so many as to derail the season.

Team chemistry is closer to reality. Kariya had been captain for what 8 years. Rucchin has never been a captain. Plus, as you mentioned, Oates, and Thomas are gone. It takes awhile for guys to find their roles on the team, especially with so many new faces.

It is my speculation, you could call it a bias, that losing Kariya has had a huge impact on the players on the team, as well as the franchise in general. Love him or hate him, Kariya has meant a great deal to this franchise, and it's tough if not impossible to replace him within one year.

thats kinda what dallas is going through only hatcher was a vocal leader and captain but it could be the problem but i duno,i think losing oates and thomas has hurt more,they were leaders and teachers for the younger guys

Team chemistry is closer to reality. Kariya had been captain for what 8 years. Rucchin has never been a captain. Plus, as you mentioned, Oates, and Thomas are gone. It takes awhile for guys to find their roles on the team, especially with so many new faces.

It is my speculation, you could call it a bias, that losing Kariya has had a huge impact on the players on the team, as well as the franchise in general. Love him or hate him, Kariya has meant a great deal to this franchise, and it's tough if not impossible to replace him within one year.
Thank you....
Kariya was the Ducks franchise.. he made the plays for people.. he was the one that every team was looking for, and that's why it left other people to step up...
right now, we don't have anyone that everyteam has to watch...
maybe next year will be a better team, but our current year needs a lot of work...

Soya...

I would disagree that Kariya made plays for the people. He would stay out in the perimeter and protect his noggin.

Fedorov is someone every team has to watch.

The Red Wings fans were right. We have good Fedorov, bad Fedorov, and by the end of the season, probably a 60-70 point Fedorov.

At least Chistov freakin scored. I hope he works hard.

We need Leclerc and Neidermayer in the lineup and a 100% healthy Rucchin (he seems 50-80% most nights). We need that line back to wear down the opposition defense with their size and hard work along the boards.

Soya...

I would disagree that Kariya made plays for the people. He would stay out in the perimeter and protect his noggin.

Fedorov is someone every team has to watch.

The Red Wings fans were right. We have good Fedorov, bad Fedorov, and by the end of the season, probably a 60-70 point Fedorov.

At least Chistov freakin scored. I hope he works hard.
the reason i say he made the plays is for the fact that Kariya had more of the teams worried than the other players...
With Fedorov, he goes in a lot near the net, and that allows the defense to jump on everyone...

I think Fedorov is a guy that the opponent always needs to keep an eye on. He has the potential to develop into a better leader than Kariya. But it usually takes time to develop that type of leadership, as well as the ability to command the respect of your teammates necessary to be a true leader.

When Fedorov goes near the net, it allows the defense to jump on everyone?

Does driving to the net force the defense to follow Fedorov and crash in towards the net also? Isn't this what Babcock wants? Doesn't this create ugly goals and free up the points?

So...when does Fedorov drive the net? Anybody have any clips of that?

him scoring against the avs?..his first goal against philly?..rebound goal against NJ?

One-timers from the slot? No.

Effective, but no.

I don't remember the Jersey goal...

carney took a shot from the top of the circle and feds skated to the net and berried the rebound