Tarnished Reputation

IFNiedermayer returns at some point this season, do you think his reputation would be hurt if the Ducks didn't make the playoffs or go far into the playoffs?

If he doesn't return, everyone can say "it's because Scotty wasn't on the team, etc"

If he does return, and the team is still floundering, does it make Scott look like he wasn't as important as we thought?

Everyone will just say, "oh... it was too little too late."

Or if we get Scotty back, but no Teemu, everyone here will say, "zomg, Teemu is the only way we can win games"

The fact is we shouldn't need either player to make the Playoffs. The team we have now is a playoff team they just are not playing as they should. Carlyle doesn't seem to be doing much in the way of lighting a fire under their ***** ;/

If Teemu and/or Scott do return I think it would spark the team at least temporarily and I'd be majorly surprised if they missed the post-season then.

Well, if you look at it we are only 5 points (well, 1 but Avs have 2 games in hand so assuming worst case and they win both) of 8th. and 7 points of 4th making the same assumption. That is NOT an insurmountable lead. Being they are in our conference,we will play them a few more times and wins against those teams are 4 point swings. If this team can gel together quick, we stand a shot at a decent seed. I think what this team needs more than Niedermayer's on ice presence (as much as we could use that) is his off-ice leadership. The Ducks really don't have the same calming presence and veteran with leadership qualities like Nieds. He just seemed to have that aura around him that no other player on this team has. If nothing else, a deadline acquisition that is a great locker room guy would help this team tremendously.

I haven't been able to watch many games, but I suspect that lwvs84 has nailed it. With Selanne and Niedermayer in the lineup, the team had a quiet confidence that really reflected the personalities of these two players. They didn't often let themselves get behind in a game, and if they did, they seemed to keep the wheels on the cart and gave themselves the opportunity to come back. No panic, just the confidence that the solution is within the room, and within the gameplan. This season doesn't have the same feel. As much as I love Getzlaf, Perry, and Pronger, they haven't been able to generate the same calm confidence within the room that Selanne and Niedermayer were able to. Or, at least that's what I'm guessing. I'll be getting the Center Ice package shortly, so my guesses might be worth a **** then.