2003 vs. 2007

I want to ask you Ducks fans a question about both Stanley Cup Finalists (For the record, I rooted for Anaheim to win the West- I wanted a Ducks/Sabres final)

Anyway, I would like to get your perspective on the '03 and '07 teams.

I know one was unexpected and the other was expected, but I'd like to know more.

What were the differences between the team that almost made it and the one that did?

How was Giguere different in each of the years?

Things like that.

Quick response:

Giguere had a much better defense in '07 and a more seasoned Bryzgalov.
03 had Kariya - 07 had Selanne - Selanne had heart.
Scott knew how to win a championship .
Sami and Rob had more focus in '07 (coaching - experience).
Pronger wanted a cup in '07.
Giguere played better in '03 but it didn't really matter in '07 (defense-coaching).

That's about it.

Jiggy was ungodly good in 2003. Along with a defense-first strategy, hard work, and a lot of luck, that team went far. A true Cinderella team IMO.

2007 was expected of-course. The team had a lot more talent honestly than 2003.

In 2003 we heard the f word alot..... fluke. Giggy had the team on his back. Rucchin Leclerc and Neidermayer had great chemistry, and Stumpy was on a mission. A fun team to watch, but a little (ok alot) lucky. They were never considered a cup contender, but when they SWEPT DETROIT, it just started something that would not be stopped. I was proud of those guys.

2007 was completely different as we were hailed as a favorite to win the cup. It was a result of a few years of shrewd moves by Burke. He turned the mentality of the team from a laid back "vacation spot" to an aggressive championship minded team. He cut out alot of fluff from the roster. He rid the team of questionable work ethic. The team in 2007 had a ton of young talent. They also had scotty and teemu leading the charge.

Giguere was still really good in 07. Got the Ducks through the Detroit series. But man oh man, in 03 he was brick. The team completely bailed on him in the final, but he still was amazing, and got them to game 7. One of the greatest goalie performances ever.

The team in front of him was SOOOO much better in 07. Down the roster, besides Giguere, every player in every position was better.

Jiggy was ungodly good in 2003. Along with a defense-first strategy, hard work, and a lot of luck, that team went far. A true Cinderella team IMO.

2007 was expected of-course. The team had a lot more talent honestly than 2003.

2007 not only had more talent, it also had more playoff experience. Scott Nieds, Pronger getting so close last season, and some the team players going deep into the West Conference Finals the previous season. The momentum and the hunger for a cup carried into the 2007 season and helped the team win the cup.

The '03 team was pretty physically wimpy other than the Leclerc-Rucchin-Niedermayer line. In any kind of gritty tight checking game, half our forwards were completely ineffective. And while as a whole the team wasn't slow, they weren't blazing fast either.

Essentially, the strategy was to hang on for dear life until the other team made a mistake, then capitalize. The Ducks rarely dictated the style of play, even in those games where they played fairly even.

The '07 team (and to some extent the '06 team) was able to "tilt the ice" in their favor for long stretches, seemingly whenever they needed to. Impose their will, so to speak. They had the ideal blend ... they could beat down the speedy teams, and could outskate the bigger teams. They had a speed line, a big line, and a super-checking line.

For a slightly different, but related thread, see this (http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=387583).

But this is what I see. 2007's team was better in almost all aspects. 2003 was a team that barely got into the playoffs, and was actually outplayed by the 1st opponent, and played Dallas somewhat evenly. It was pretty much all Giguere.

But here are some other differences:
-2003 had surprising offensive depth. In fact that's pretty much all it had, the primary scorers (Kariya) were pretty much useless. Leclerc- Rucchin- Niedermayer saved us in the first couple rounds, and Chistov- Pahlsson- Thomas also had some key goals. In other words, the 1st line disappointed while the 2nd and 3rd lines contributed much more than expected. 2007 had some unexpected contributions from the 3rd line, but the 1st 2 lines produced pretty much as they should.
-2003 had worse shutdown forwards. Marc Chouinard was the checking line center, joined by Kjellberg/Bylsma(after Kjellberg left)/Krog. But they also didn't match up forwards like Carlyle did with Pahlsson's line.
-2003 had no offense from the blueline. Carney was the top defenseman, he was shutdown only. Salei didn't provide much offense either.
-Team defense in 2007 was much better. The defensemen were better, the forwards were MUCH better.
-2007 was much tougher, up and down the lineup.
-2003 Jiggy was better than 2007 Jiggy. He had to be, Detroit and Dallas shelled him. It was like Homer when he boxed. Those 2 teams tired themselves out, then the Ducks scored and won.

The '03 team was pretty physically wimpy other than the Leclerc-Rucchin-Niedermayer line. In any kind of gritty tight checking game, half our forwards were completely ineffective. And while as a whole the team wasn't slow, they weren't blazing fast either.

Essentially, the strategy was to hang on for dear life until the other team made a mistake, then capitalize. The Ducks rarely dictated the style of play, even in those games where they played fairly even.

The '07 team (and to some extent the '06 team) was able to "tilt the ice" in their favor for long stretches, seemingly whenever they needed to. Impose their will, so to speak. They had the ideal blend ... they could beat down the speedy teams, and could outskate the bigger teams. They had a speed line, a big line, and a super-checking line.

That's what's worrisome about this year, we don't have speed anymore. Teemu + McDonald >>>> whichever 2 of Bertuzzi/Ryan/Weight are on the 2nd line.

What was the difference between the 03 and 07 teams? In a word: Talent. 07, from top to bottom, was a more talented team. I will never, ever call the 03 team a fluke because there's no such thing in a Stanley Cup finalist. They earned Game 7. Not through talent per se, aside from Jiggy, but from hard work, execution and a hunger for the Cup. They had the exact right pieces for the chemistry required to ride one of the hottest goalie performances ever. Jiggy was king that spring but that team had to step up big time to take advantage. Goalies don't score goals.

But 07 was almost a perfect team. They had everything you need for a champion and they executed their game plan and wanted it more the rest.

For a slightly different, but related thread, see this (http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=387583).
-2003 had no offense from the blueline. Carney was the top defenseman, he was shutdown only. Salei didn't provide much offense either.
.

Don't forget Ozolinsh, he was the quarterback on the PP that year as well as most likely to leave his post and try to put in garbage goals.

I think the amazing thing is that the Ducks had completely different D from 2003 to 2007.

2003: Carney, Havelid, Ozolinsh, Vishnevski, Salei, Sauer
2007: Niedermayer, Pronger, Beauchemin, O'Donnell, Huskins, DiPenta

The '03 group played great, but having two Norris caliber guys in their prime is huge.

What was the difference between the 03 and 07 teams? In a word: Talent. 07, from top to bottom, was a more talented team. I will never, ever call the 03 team a fluke because there's no such thing in a Stanley Cup finalist. They earned Game 7. Not through talent per se, aside from Jiggy, but from hard work, execution and a hunger for the Cup. They had the exact right pieces for the chemistry required to ride one of the hottest goalie performances ever. Jiggy was king that spring but that team had to step up big time to take advantage. Goalies don't score goals.

But 07 was almost a perfect team. They had everything you need for a champion and they executed their game plan and wanted it more the rest.

Completely agree. Flukes can't win that many games in the playoffs. That's the beauty about 7 games series, the best team wins.

Don't forget Ozolinsh, he was the quarterback on the PP that year as well as most likely to leave his post and try to put in garbage goals.

Ozolinsh was the best outlet passer the Ducks had until Niedermayer/Pronger.

From a personal level the 2003 Ducks were a more compelling story...David against Goliath.

2007 more satisfying, obviously.

Ozolinsh was the best outlet passer the Ducks had until Niedermayer/Pronger.



I always thought Ozolinsh was fine carrying the puck out of the zone, but he did make a high percentage of bad passes and coughing the puck up.