Is it time to pack it in?

Inconsistent all year, Anaheim has played the most games in the western conference and is only two games over .500....is it realistic anymore, considering how the team has played the year so far, to think that the team is capable of a large late season push? Some questions:

1) Is the locker room a problem like Bob Murray has suggested?

2) Is it time to trade one of the big dmen, or both, and rebuild?

3) Does the season's (presumed) failure fall more on the players, or management's shoulders?

4) Would it be better for the team to squeak into the playoffs and be eliminated in the first round, or sell at the deadline and regroup for next year?

Re-build in the off-season, it should be a short process. We've got a lot of young players that are pretty well experienced in the playoffs so it shouldn't take more then 2 years to go deep again.

As for number four, I don't think we should sell at the deadline. It never really works out well for anyone AFAIK. Squeaking by into the playoffs might give the remaining players more confidence and determination next year (or so one would think).

I think the owners want/expect that revenue too. I don't think he can pack it in unless he has a pretty convincing argument.

at this point its all dependent on what Neidermayer wants to do after this year. if he's waivering at all about retiring/signing with anaheim trade him for a buttload to a team in the east.

Inconsistent all year, Anaheim has played the most games in the western conference and is only two games over .500....is it realistic anymore, considering how the team has played the year so far, to think that the team is capable of a large late season push? Some questions:

1) Is the locker room a problem like Bob Murray has suggested?

2) Is it time to trade one of the big dmen, or both, and rebuild?

3) Does the season's (presumed) failure fall more on the players, or management's shoulders?

4) Would it be better for the team to squeak into the playoffs and be eliminated in the first round, or sell at the deadline and regroup for next year?


1. I was not aware of any problem? Anyone have any ideas of what it might be?

2. I think we should trade both when it is the right time. Let's get some high round trade picks as well as decent prospects in order to build for the future. I suspect that it will take 2 to 3 years to rebuild after this year.

3. I believe it is both. The team, except for a few players, are not playing up to their potential. Management made a bad mistake in not playing Ryan at the start of the season. RC stayed with Morrison too long and never really gave Carter a chance to grow.

4. I would rebuild as this team is going nowhere.

SELL SELL SELL!

Seriously though, this team isn't going anywhere. It's pretty awesome how bad we are when Getzlaf is cold.

This team is so frustrating. On paper we look excellent, with the exeption of our bottom four defensemen, although that should be covered up by our two former Norris trophy winners. The execution and motivation just has not been there. I think we should just keep pushing, another playoff run would be good for guys like Ryan and ebbett. If we get rid of anyone it should be scotty. Love him, always will. But if we are essentially out at the deadline, he will get the greatest return.

I think if by the trade deadline we're not in a comfortable position to make the playoffs then we need to sell.

IMO I think the Ducks should keep at least one of Pronger and Niedermayer. If Niedermayer will re sign then I would rather see the Ducks trade Pronger, and I think Ducks management sees it that way too.

This team is so frustrating to watch, one night they will dominate the opposition and look like they're back on track and then they lose two straight games to Nashville and Minnesota, two teams that the Ducks shouldn't have any trouble with.

I think losing to the Islanders before the All Star break was probably one of the last straws, and if we continue to play the way we have been we need to sell.

The team is actually 3 games below .500. Those aren't ties, they're overtime losses (meaning the other team got an extra point).

The Ducks need 37 points in 27 games to get to 94 (roughly the magic barrier). That works out to like 19-8-0.

They were 5-7-1 in December, 6-7-1 in January, and are 1-2-0 in February. Slowly losing ground.

We're pretty much done. I actually had declared it when Beachemin went out.


I actually think it would be better to at least reach the playoffs though, we have quite a few rookies who could use the experience. Ryan, Festerling, Ebbett, Miller (sort of), Carter (sort of), Mikkelson. I just don't think they'll make it. As such, I would not be willing to trade significant assets away for a rental to bolster a run. Although I'm not opposed to making minor or no moves (or even major moves for pieces that'll be here for a few years) and hoping the team pulls it together. If it doesn't, they just lose some UFAs, it's not a big deal.

But if they are like 10th come deadline (even if 8th is only a few points away), they should sell. I can see them treading water, but find it hard to believe they'll go on a significant streak.


I'm not sure who I blame more. Management screwed up big time, especially with the Bertuzzi fiasco (I still think Bertuzzi was the domino that started it all, knocking off McDonald and still hurting our cap next season). Also doing things like taking Larsen or whatever that further kills cap flexibility. Because of this, we have a gaping hole where top-4 defensemen should be and no cap space to improve it.

But they also made a bunch of decisions off of some reasonable assumptions (like OD and Beauchemin being on the team, or Huskins stepping up in a pinch). Or that at least 2 of our 3 6+ million dollar players would play at least as well as 5 million dollar players. In that sense, players have disappointed.

Inconsistent all year, Anaheim has played the most games in the western conference and is only two games over .500....is it realistic anymore, considering how the team has played the year so far, to think that the team is capable of a large late season push? Some questions:

1) Is the locker room a problem like Bob Murray has suggested?

2) Is it time to trade one of the big dmen, or both, and rebuild?

3) Does the season's (presumed) failure fall more on the players, or management's shoulders?

4) Would it be better for the team to squeak into the playoffs and be eliminated in the first round, or sell at the deadline and regroup for next year?

1. I wasn't aware of a locker room problem. Care to elaborate?

2. I for one am not for trading Pronger. We need him next year IMO. I'd be in favor of trading S.Niedermayer IF he will definitely not resign next year, AND we are completely out of the playoff picture. If we're still in it, I wouldn't trade either of them.

3. Both. I don't care what anyone says I think RC should get a lot of the blame. Call me stupid if you want, but some of his line combos are ridiculous.

4. I say getting in the playoffs at all should be the goal. It helps moral for next year, and personally I think it's dumb to rebuild when you're still in the playoff picture. That's why I say wait and see if we're out of it before we sell one of our two best defensemen.

PS, If they're going to sell, I'm against selling both Dmen. One or the other. If Nieds is willing to re-sign, trade Pronger. Else sell Nieds.

Unless the plan is to get Hall next season, we need some defensemen.

We are still in this race there is absolutely no reason to pack it in.
Yes the team has played like garbage but there positives.

Pronger + Neids both have stepped up their play
Murray finally realized he stripped some of the toughness and added Brookbank (Much better than Mikkelson) + Mike Brown (was one the most effective players last game)
They will be looked at as underdogs if they make the playoffs(always helps motivate teams)
If they make it they need to treat every game like the playoffs especially the last 10 games that helps teams getting them in a playoff mindset early.
We have players who are winners and have won before (minus Morrison)
Despite the criticism we have what i feel is the best coach in the game

We are still in this race there is absolutely no reason to pack it in.
Yes the team has played like garbage but there positives.

Pronger + Neids both have stepped up their play
Murray finally realized he stripped some of the toughness and added Brookbank (Much better than Mikkelson) + Mike Brown (was one the most effective players last game)
They will be looked at as underdogs if they make the playoffs(always helps motivate teams)
If they make it they need to treat every game like the playoffs especially the last 10 games that helps teams getting them in a playoff mindset early.
We have players who are winners and have won before (minus Morrison)
Despite the criticism we have what i feel is the best coach in the game
but we are not going to make the playoffs

I'm of a mind to make the playoffs for the sake of giving some of the prospects a taste of it. If we're not in a sure fire position to make the playoffs though, I think being a seller at the deadline would be the way to go. If Niedermayer gets "unsure" about whether or not he wants to retire, then we need to trade him. If he wants to play again and resign, then I don't see why can't have both. They would help quite a bit in a rebuilding mode, two guys like them would be valuable in the locker room.

As for who is to blame, I think it falls on Burke and the players. I'm grateful that Burke made the deals for us to win the Cup, but he also made some serious blunders that may have done more damage than good. (Bertuzzi, Morrison, trading McDonald, trading OD). We've also had some key players go through major slumps, such as Nieds, Giguere, and Perry, which really put us in a tough spot. Of course injuries haven't helped either. I don't know if Carlyle really knows what do when the team is in a slump like it is. He's changing lines way too frequently, not playing guys like Carter or Ebbett in favor of someone like Morrison or moving QP from line to line.

Inconsistent all year, Anaheim has played the most games in the western conference and is only two games over .500....is it realistic anymore, considering how the team has played the year so far, to think that the team is capable of a large late season push? Some questions:

1) Is the locker room a problem like Bob Murray has suggested?

2) Is it time to trade one of the big dmen, or both, and rebuild?

3) Does the season's (presumed) failure fall more on the players, or management's shoulders?

4) Would it be better for the team to squeak into the playoffs and be eliminated in the first round, or sell at the deadline and regroup for next year?

1) Not so sure what you're talking about there but I presume that the vets are tuning Carlyle out since. I think a lot of it comes down to the twin towers' leadership. I've never seen Pronger and Niedermayer played so poorly like they did in the 1st half of the season.

2) I'm all for it if we can get some good assets in return but it really depends on Scott's decision to whether resign with the team or retire/become UFA next season. If he decides to come back, then Pronger's days'll be numbered. On the rebuilding process, I don't think it'll take too long to rebuild since the team already has a great core of players locked up for at least next year minus Pahlsson. From there, all we need to do in the offseason is fill up the holes with all the potential UFAs on their way out.

3) I think it's both. The players weren't motivated for the 1st half of the season. A lot of the blame has to go to Burke granted, he did give us the Cup. Afterwards though, he made a couple of blunders that may have had long term effects i.e. signing Bertuzzi and Morrison to ridiculous contracts and putting the team in cap trouble so when Scott and Teemu decided to come back, he had to sacrifice McDonald just to get under the cap as well as not willing to open up cap space for Bobby Ryan to come up and play full-time right off as well as trading O'Donnell back to the Kings which caused this gap at #4 d-man to open up while killing the veteran leadership. A part of the blame also goes to Carlyle for his habit of line juggling in bad times just to find chemistry as well as playing the wrong players when he knew they weren't producing.

4) If I were GM, I'd take the safe route and just scrap this season and try to get as many assets back as I can through the deadline. From there, all I need to do is fill in the blanks for next season and then we'd have a strong squad going to next year along with a re-stocked cupboard for the long term future as well.

Trade S+R Niedermayer for a decent second line center next year, im sick of Weight and Morrison lol
Keep Pronger try to extend his contract...guess its gonna cost too much tho

And free whatever cap space is needed and make a serious push for Jay Bouwmeester

Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry
Kunitz-New-Selanne

Beauch-JBo
OD?-Pronger

Not the best with contract situations and all but isnt McDonald contract expiring soon? Spose he'll ask for alot more then the ducks can give him

With how poorly this season has gone, I think Scotty Niedermayer will come back for at least one more season. He will have motivation and the ducks would be wise to re-sign him despite the fact he has sucked it for the majority of the season. Unfortunately, Scotty just doesn't seem motivated to carry this team anymore. He showed glimpse of it in January but he has been completely invisible in February so far. I am so disappointed with his play and this team. For the talent we have in the lineup, we should not be struggling to make the playoffs. And it is not from a lack of effort. This lineup is not hungry anymore. We work hard but its doesn't have the
"eye of the tiger." Before, we used to intimidate teams with our physicality. Now this team isn't willing to do that anymore. The year we won the cup, we either beat teams on the scoreboard or we beat them up physically. Now, we are just stale, to use Randy Carlyle's words. This team, I would say is a leaking ship. We keep losing players and our GM is not able to fill positions. First, it was second line center. Then it became our top 4 defensemen. Now our goaltending is suspect. Is it time to rebuild? I think we can retool without giving up Scotty and Pronger. If we can get Frankie back and playing 100%, it won't be that bad. The first priority is defense and we need to invest our cap dollars there.

I'll have a contribution to make in a little bit, but I did want to mention that I love this thread. Nearly every poster has made a thoughtful, well-reasoned argument. Its a reminder of why I keep coming back to this group, despite the retarded-monkey-like reactionary posts of the GDTs.

Not the best with contract situations and all but isnt McDonald contract expiring soon? Spose he'll ask for alot more then the ducks can give him

You don't want to pick up a player who relies primarily on his speed that just fractured his leg. He will never be that fast again... I can assure you that.

1. I wasn't aware of a locker room problem. Care to elaborate?

2. I for one am not for trading Pronger. We need him next year IMO. I'd be in favor of trading S.Niedermayer IF he will definitely not resign next year, AND we are completely out of the playoff picture. If we're still in it, I wouldn't trade either of them.

3. Both. I don't care what anyone says I think RC should get a lot of the blame. Call me stupid if you want, but some of his line combos are ridiculous.

4. I say getting in the playoffs at all should be the goal. It helps moral for next year, and personally I think it's dumb to rebuild when you're still in the playoff picture. That's why I say wait and see if we're out of it before we sell one of our two best defensemen.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/rumors/post/Struggling-Ducks-have-problems-in-their-dressing?urn=nhl,137002

Inconsistent all year, Anaheim has played the most games in the western conference and is only two games over .500....is it realistic anymore, considering how the team has played the year so far, to think that the team is capable of a large late season push? Some questions:

1) Is the locker room a problem like Bob Murray has suggested?

2) Is it time to trade one of the big dmen, or both, and rebuild?

3) Does the season's (presumed) failure fall more on the players, or management's shoulders?

4) Would it be better for the team to squeak into the playoffs and be eliminated in the first round, or sell at the deadline and regroup for next year?

1 - Never heard anything about this. I'd be very surprised this is true, with how many veterans like Teemu, Nieds, Pronger, Giggy etc... they have.

2 - I am for moving one or both for great returns, IF the return is only a slight downgrade for this year while adding valuable pieces for the future. Example if Pronger was sent for a package including a younger but only slightly less valuable D like a Bouwmeester/Seabrook type (not exactly those 2, but players like them)

3 - Both. I blame RC for failing to motivate the team properly and get the needed effort on a consistent basis and also for giving BMo way too many chances and ice time when it's clear he's not working. I blame the players for not motivating themselves or leading by example (in the case of the vets).

4 - There are no guarantees we'd be out in the first round, so yes they should go for it. It'll bring the owners extra revenue, to hopefully prevent them from tightening the team budget next year, it'll give the fans hope and give the younger players a taste/experience. Not to mention, our team is capable of catching fire at any time and if they do in the playoffs, hey you never know. If they miss the playoffs, you guarantee there is no hope/chance for a Cup.

Historically, Anaheim has been a second-half team and I think they will go on a tear soon and make it in. Guys like Teemu and Perry will start scoring in bunches and we'll string together a win streak.

Here's hoping it starts today! :D

I don't really know which would be better.

But after these next 3 games the Ducks are on a hell of a road trip that should probably decide the matter.

This jokester seems to think so.

http://ducks.freedomblogging.com/2009/02/12/ducks-should-pass-on-the-playoffs-this-season/6751/

This jokester seems to think so.

http://ducks.freedomblogging.com/2009/02/12/ducks-should-pass-on-the-playoffs-this-season/6751/

Hahahah that what a joke. :laugh:

Yeah that's the same crappy journalist who wrote that the NHL doesn't need the Blue Jackets. http://ducks.freedomblogging.com/2008/12/31/does-the-nhl-really-need-the-blue-jackets/4852/

Or that Avery should be a Duck because OCers are attention whores just like him. http://ducks.freedomblogging.com/2008/12/03/sean-avery-should-be-a-duck/3696/