Season previews and media reports

I thought it might be nice to have a thread devoted to various season previews and media from around the 'net. So here's 2 to start

TSN (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=248477&lid=headline&lpos=secStory_nhl)

NHL.com (http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=379990)

Another preview/offseason summary on NHL.com. This one is written by Eric Stephens, who has become an "nhl.com correspondent." Looks like the Times really is hemorrhaging. http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=381194

A lot of repeat stuff, but an interesting mention in passing that the Ducks "took a long look at Sundin at the trade deadline last season, (but) isn't one of those teams this time."

I didn't know that the Ducks only allowed 100 even strength goals! Holy ****, that is a little over 1 goal a game even strenght!

I didn't know that the Ducks only allowed 100 even strength goals! Holy ****, that is a little over 1 goal a game even strenght!
Yeah we were pretty impressive at ES. That's why I laugh at the people who laughed at Pahlsson on the MB. He and the checking line were just as good ES than the past season. Although our PK was noticeably worse, including those guys.

A couple features on the twins

Getzlaf: http://ducks.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=381620&page=NewsPage&service=page

Perry: http://ducks.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=381763&page=NewsPage&service=page


Also, an old Yahoo season preview: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=rm-anaheimpreview090108&prov=yhoo&type=lgns Although the preview is pretty lame. "The defense has to shore itself and get back to the dominating ways of two years ago." Uh, what?

It's hard for me to really get into to these until I know who's going to be on the team.

But, I love Perry's comments about the hunger of the team. He said the same thing in an XM interview earlier. I dunno, I just like what I heard in his voice.

But, I love Perry's comments about the hunger of the team. He said the same thing in an XM interview earlier. I dunno, I just like what I heard in his voice.
Was that around when he signed? I remember hearing some "we're hungry" quotes earlier but I can't remember who or when. That was a real good sign to me.

Yeah, it was right after the contract, early July. Same comments then (minus the reference to training camp enthusiasm obviously), plus a nice "whatever" to the notion that an offer sheet was a possibility.

Register Ducks blog mentions the new rule changes. http://ducks.freedomblogging.com/2008/09/21/league-tweaks-rules-yet-again/#more-938

The area of focus this season is obstruction (yet again). But this time the focus is on obstruction in the defensive zone and along the boards.
Anything with the free hand — before, players were allowed to put that stick in there. Any type of movement with that stick and arm to stop progression of a player, they’re going to be very, very strict on it.

They don’t want that ability to pin (along the boards), and hold people on the wall. They want that freedom. There will be very little pinning. There will be free hands, but there won’t be grappling.

The blog speculates that the new rule emphasis might help give more freedom for big grinders who work along the boards. Carlyle also says so, saying "I think it will still play into offensive-zone time. Robbie Niedermayer’s value, (Travis) Moen — those guys that are able to grind and grind, control that puck. It’s going to lead to more scoring chances."

Do you agree that these changes will help cycling type players more than speed type guys? Could this play a part in helping our offense besides just personnel changes? Was Burke ahead of his time in loading the team up on slow, forechecking offensive types last season?

Wouldn't that cause a ****storm on the main boards.

I think a reduction in the effectiveness of pinning would have to increase the importance of the cycle. Obviously not all pinning is done with the free hand, but a lot of it is. It's interesting that Pronger's like "yeah, whatever" to the idea that this is something new vs. a reinforcement of old rules.

Our forechecking might become even more potent, but Pronger, O'Donnell and Huskins all make liberal use of trying to pin guys with one hand and a knee.

Wouldn't that cause a ****storm on the main boards.

I think a reduction in the effectiveness of pinning would have to increase the importance of the cycle. Obviously not all pinning is done with the free hand, but a lot of it is. It's interesting that Pronger's like "yeah, whatever" to the idea that this is something new vs. a reinforcement of old rules.

Our forechecking might become even more potent, but Pronger, O'Donnell and Huskins all make liberal use of trying to pin guys with one hand and a knee.
Yeah. On one hand, if the cycle is more effective, that benefits us as much as any other team in the league. How many teams are as dependent on the cycle as ours?

On the other hand, Pronger and O'Donnell, being slower types, also rely on that quite a bit. Also, does increased cycling time really help any when we've got guys like Moen, Niedermayer, and Pahlsson who don't have hands (well mostly Rob), but even more seem to think that there's only 2 zones on the ice.

But it probably will help out Getzlaf and Perry. And Ryan, who probably won't be exploited as much for his lack of strength on the puck.

The bigger the team, the more it will benefit. Smaller d-men can't pin down big forwards that easily anymore, thus big forwards like Getzlaf and Moen should get more space in the corners.

From Tsn

14 Ryan Getzlaf Anaheim 29 56 85
21 Teemu Selanne Anaheim 38 40 78
65 Corey Perry Anaheim 30 32 62
88 Scott Niedermayer Anaheim 14 42 56
111 Brendan Morrison Anaheim 19 33 52
121 Chris Kunitz Anaheim 21 29 50
131 Chris Pronger Anaheim 12 37 49
210 Bobby Ryan Anaheim 17 21 38

Schneider was also on the list.

I have doubt about if ryan will be Playng this season.

Part fantasy/line related, part regular season related, and part just plain a media report. http://ducks.freedomblogging.com/2008/10/01/ducks-morrison-passes-big-test/

Wood's blog says that Carlyle is again going with pairs of guys, with the 3rd members swapping as needed. As expected, Perry and Getzlaf are a pair.

But the news is that the other pair is Teemu and Morrison, not Teemu and Kunitz as some people were speculating.

So then, Kunitz and Questionable Pick will spend time on both the 1st and 2nd lines. In fact, they did just that yesterday. QP played with Morrison and Selanne for the 1st half of the game, then played the 2nd half with Ebbett and Perry.

A couple days old, but here's Burke's phone interview with Leafs lunch. His section starts at ~27 minutes in. http://emedia.640toronto.com/podcasts/Leafs_Lunch_-_Sept_29.mp3

He talks about the Schneider trade, moving big cap hits, signing Selanne, how he doesn't want to move Ryan (rumors are just other teams demanding payment for Schneider, it was other GMs trying to take advantage of the Schneider situation), how he views the team's competitiveness this year, his thoughts on Sundin (and how Sundin hasn't shown interest to come here). The Ryan part is probably good for those of you trying to fight off all the Ryan-for-crap proposals we'll be getting based off of recent trade rumors.

And Burke states that he will find it hard to move Ryan because they really like him. And then Dreger concludes the show by saying "the Bobby Ryan discussion will consider throughout the course of the year." Ha, what a tool.