Christenson inked 1 year [Archive]

Elvstrand

07-01-2009, 04:04 AM

Giving him up for nothing would have been stupid. 750k is a good. If we could land Koivu I could see the Ducks going with 3 scoring lines.

Ryan - Getzlaf - Perry
Christensen - Koivu - Selanne
Carter - Ebbett - Lupul

I'd would like to see Christensen with Lupul though as he is a better passer than Ebbett... But I wouldn't like that line defensively.

But I thought we had to wait until the ufa's were released before we could sign him without giving him a 5% raise?

Talentless Practise

07-01-2009, 07:42 AM

Oh, **** my life. Re-signing this guy only compounds the mistake that was made before.

xxgt465xx

07-01-2009, 09:39 AM

I really feel like Christensen is going to be solid this year. The kid was supposed to be the number 1 center in Atlanta last season and when he didn't play to that level, he let get into his head. When you are supposed to be the #1 center on any team in the NHL, you are usually pretty darn good. Hopefully he gets it going this season, although, having shoulder reconstruction is not going to help this whole thing.

ALSO, more fans need to look at this as us filling a Center role for a very cheap price so that we can not be squeezed out of a free agent we go after.

snarktacular

07-01-2009, 10:47 AM

Go_Krog

07-01-2009, 11:18 AM

its cheap and its 1 year, so theres really nothing wrong with it. he's a good reserve to have in case a winger gets hurt. dont expect much from him beyond that.

Duckstudd269

07-01-2009, 11:27 AM

When ducksforcup posted that Christensen had a contract more or less, I was more or less annoyed. Now that he definitely has one, I'm definitely annoyed.

Well at least he's cheap. Should be cheaper, but cheap. Maybe Carlyle will play him on the 4th for a 3rd offensive line, or let him be a shootout specialist, or have him be the 13th forward. He could work there. And as a 2nd line fill in in case of injury.

I agree. 750k is to high IMO. It's still pretty low, but I think he should have been signed for aroun 600k. He's a perfect depth player though. Although I for one am not in favor of being in a top 6 role for any extended amount of time.

Giguere27

07-01-2009, 12:14 PM

I can not understand,why some are arguing this deal.Christensen had some bad games last season,but there were also some games,where he showed his potential.And 9 points in 16 games is not too bad.If he can score on this pace over the whole season,he is a bargain at 750k.
You have to understand,that he is not consitent enough to play as a regular top 6 froward,but he is a good top9 guy,who can add some points.And that's something,we have been missing.In addition,he has the talent to replace a top6 forward for some games.So I think,750k are a pretty good deal for us.

Pakeha

07-01-2009, 12:18 PM

$750K is an OK deal the Ducks. As noted he will provide depth and he is always tradeable. The injury problem that hampered him last year is going to take a while to heal. For his sake I hope he doesnt come back too early.

A piece of trivia for you guys - Lupul (Forth Sask), Christensen (St Albert) and Booumeester (Millwoods) all played against one another as kids.

Pakeha

07-01-2009, 12:19 PM

parrosfan16

07-01-2009, 12:52 PM

Dirk316

07-01-2009, 01:21 PM

ugh

What a waste of money, hopefully this is a 2way contract.
Horrible player that has no business being on this team

Dirk316

07-01-2009, 01:23 PM

Oh look, we just became the Redwings :shakehead

unfortunately some people miss the Disney/Gauthier era

Elvstrand

07-01-2009, 01:38 PM

Pakeha

07-01-2009, 02:44 PM

Posting this here too:

Let's face it... The style of game the Ducks played when they won hasn't worked out very well since then. We have been taking the most minor penalties in the league (no contest) and how many games did we actually win the number of shots in? 20? This team has barely reached the playoffs. IMO, we have been stairing ourselves blind on thoughness and size since we won, forgetting that guys like Selanne, McDonald and Scotty were keys to our sucess. I don't want our team to be the weakest in the league, but I don't think it's nessecary to be toughest. We still have plenty of physical players, the team is starting to look like the one in 05/06 when we had a mix of physical and non-physical players, a team that made it to the WC-finals.

---

IMO, it's not nessecary to be toughest, we still have Brown, Parros, Wisniewski (likely), Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan, Carter, Nokelainen and Miller who all play physical. Obviously we were sucessfull being the thoughest team in the league for a while, but we are not sucessfull with that identidy anymore to be honest...
You got it - the game has changed completely

1. look at the Pens - tough NO
2. look at Detroit - tough NO

And these guys have been the finalists the last 2 years

The Ducks went real close this year and they did not lose because of toughness. They came up bit short on scoring depth against a very good and experienced playoff team. The guys who had their first taste - especially Ryan - will be completely different players next season. Look at Malkin over the last 2 playoffs - hit the wall in year 1 and MVP this year. I see Ryan making that kind of progress this year (not tryng to say he is Malkin).

Sure, Pronger is a big hole to fill, but I really like what the Ducks are doing. I see no reason why they cant get back to the final 4, or better this season.

bumperkisser

07-01-2009, 02:57 PM

Dirk316

07-01-2009, 03:50 PM

Posting this here too:

[QUOTE=Elvstrand;20191778]Let's face it... The style of game the Ducks played when they won hasn't worked out very well since then.

And the funny thing is when most of the year when the team was playing soft we sucked and duck fans complained about it

We have been taking the most minor penalties in the league (no contest)

And that has what to do with tougness??????

and how many games did we actually win the number of shots in? 20? This team has barely reached the playoffs.

Wait wasnt most of this due to lack of a 2nd line and some size on it? Also we had a dismantled checking line that was useless other than Marchant

IMO, we have been stairing ourselves blind on thoughness and size since we won, forgetting that guys like Selanne, McDonald and Scotty were keys to our sucess. I don't want our team to be the weakest in the league, but I don't think it's nessecary to be toughest. We still have plenty of physical players, the team is starting to look like the one in 05/06 when we had a mix of physical and non-physical players, a team that made it to the WC-finals.

You posted a 4th line that rivals the toughness of a West Hollywood Thai Bo class, 05/06 had 3 enforcers (Parros,May,Thornton)

IMO, it's not nessecary to be toughest, we still have Brown, Parros, Wisniewski (likely), Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan, Carter, Nokelainen and Miller who all play physical. Obviously we were sucessfull being the thoughest team in the league for a while, but we are not sucessfull with that identidy anymore to be honest...

Players in bold are not physical nor tough players and i agree the Ducks do not need to be the toughest team but it sure doesnt hurt but we are getting soft and need toughness on D badly and on the 3rd line

Talentless Practise

07-01-2009, 03:58 PM

I love the idea that having Christensen in the lineup will make the team more talented and thus more capable in the playoffs.

Ofcourse you need talent, this is where Lupul and "Koivu" come in, but to try to justify Christensen in a top-6 role (or a role of any kind for that matter) by saying "look at the Red Wings" is just... ...well.. the Red Wings don't have guys lke Christensen as their talent.

Elvstrand

07-01-2009, 04:02 PM

[QUOTE=Elvstrand;20191778]Posting this here too:

And the funny thing is when most of the year when the team was playing soft we sucked and duck fans complained about it

And that has what to do with tougness??????

Wait wasnt most of this due to lack of a 2nd line and some size on it? Also we had a dismantled checking line that was useless other than Marchant

You posted a 4th line that rivals the toughness of a West Hollywood Thai Bo class, 05/06 had 3 enforcers (Parros,May,Thornton)

Players in bold are not physical nor tough players and i agree the Ducks do not need to be the toughest team but it sure doesnt hurt but we are getting soft and need toughness on D badly and on the 3rd line

1. I agree to a part... But I don't agree it might have been actual thoughness we were missing, but rather work ethic, motivation and confidence. Even goaltending for that matter...

2. Nothing... Just that we haven't been able to play tough without taking penalties since we won. And we don't have the good penalty killing anymore to make up for it.

3. Because of size? no... Rather because of skill... Lupul and Koivu would make a pretty good 2nd line on paper, neither of them is big. Well Lupul is kind of, but his not physical...

4. Parros, May and Thornton all came to the Ducks in 06/07, not in 05/06. Back then Fedoruk was our only enforcer. Moen and Konopka could also fight but were not any ordinary players back then.

5. Ryan and Miller may not be the most physical players. But the word "physical" has gained a new meaning to it for Ducks fans. I don't think other teams fans would call them non-physical.

Dirk316

07-01-2009, 04:10 PM

[QUOTE=Dirk316;20201043]

1. I agree to a part... But I don't agree it might have been actual thoughness we were missing, but rather work ethic, motivation and confidence. Even goaltending for that matter...

2. Nothing... Just that we haven't been able to play tough without taking penalties since we won. And we don't have the good penalty killing anymore to make up for it.

3. Because of size? no... Rather because of skill... Lupul and Koivu would make a pretty good 2nd line on paper, neither of them is big. Well Lupul is kind of, but his not physical...

4. Parros, May and Thornton all came to the Ducks in 06/07, not in 05/06. Back then Fedoruk was our only enforcer. Moen and Konopka could also fight but were not any ordinary players back then.

5. Ryan and Miller may not be the most physical players. But the word "physical" has gained a new meaning to it for Ducks fans. I don't think other teams fans would call them non-physical.

The checking line lacking size led the Getzlaf line being matched against the bigger opposing lines, the 2nd line lacking size led to zero space for Teemu and nobody to go to the net. It was a big problem
Worth ethic/motivation etc are usually traits of gritty physical players not finesse cream puffs like Miller,Ebbett,EC. Despite everything we were basically 1 Travis Moen away from basically beating Detroit and more than likely getting another cup. You dont dismantle a style of play because we came 1 goal short during a game 7 against the defending champs, you correct the flaws and too much toughness is not a flaw it was lack of size/scoring.
Also the minor penalties where not "tough" penalties they "hooking,holding etc by players like Whitney,Perry,Miller not Parros,Brown

Regardless this year seems like a major rebuild and as of now they are confused which direction to go in

Elvstrand

07-01-2009, 04:23 PM

[QUOTE=Elvstrand;20202113]

The checking line lacking size led the Getzlaf line being matched against the bigger opposing lines, the 2nd line lacking size led to zero space for Teemu and nobody to go to the net. It was a big problem
Worth ethic/motivation etc are usually traits of gritty physical players not finesse cream puffs like Miller,Ebbett,EC. Despite everything we were basically 1 Travis Moen away from basically beating Detroit and more than likely getting another cup. You dont dismantle a style of play because we came 1 goal short during a game 7 against the defending champs, you correct the flaws and too much toughness is not a flaw it was lack of size/scoring.
Also the minor penalties where not "tough" penalties they "hooking,holding etc by players like Whitney,Perry,Miller not Parros,Brown

Regardless this year seems like a major rebuild and as of now they are confused which direction to go in

What I'm saying is... The team will try a new identidy and we will have to accept that. Teams have been sucessfull without size. Even without Pronger and Moen, this team is still tougher than Detroit and possibly Pittsburgh.

I wouldn't call this a rebuild, then we wouldn't have signed Scotty. The Ducks will try to be competitive team for next season, but at the same time get in some young guys (Brown, Christensen, Wisniewski, Lupul, Sbisa and Whitney) to build around Getzlaf, Ryan and Perry after Selanne and Scotty retires.

The Ducks are still among the toughest teams in the league if we sign Wisniewski. I'd be all for trading Miller though (who tries to be physical, but is too small to be an effective checker) and replace him with some one like Matt Pettinger on the 3rd line.

parrosfan16

07-01-2009, 04:33 PM

Elvstrand

07-01-2009, 04:41 PM

This is North America, where hockey is supposed to be physical. The ducks toughness is one of the main things that drew to be a hockey fan. Call me whatever you want, but if the Ducks start playing boring euro hockey, I will be come a fan of another team. That being said, the Ducks toughness is what got them into the playoffs. Did you notice the last 10 or so games of the regual season, that they started finishing checks, laying good solid hits on people. For most of the season, they tried to play euro hockey, and it didn't work out. We need to stay tough, and play hard hitting in your face hockey.

How is a team with Brown, Parros, Brookbank and Wisniewski not physical? Those are though guys... Add to that Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan who are all big and strong along the boards. How is this boring euro hockey? The Ducks are still a though team, but we are removing some of it to make us more of a scoring threat. These guys makes the Ducks still a top10 team in toughness. If you are gonna change favorite team, then lol, I'm just saying: good luck finding a team that is as tough as the Ducks have been. Yes we made the playoffs when players start working harder... But that's simply because we had a team that had to work for their goals more than a guy like Lupul will... If toughness is the only thing that makes you a hockey fan, are you saying guys like Kariya, McDonald, Selanne and S. Niedermayer are boring players to watch?

parrosfan16

07-01-2009, 04:51 PM

How is a team with Brown, Parros, Brookbank and Wisniewski not physical? Those are though guys... Add to that Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan who are all big and strong along the boards. How is this boring euro hockey? The Ducks are still a though team, but we are removing some of it to make us more of a scoring threat. These guys makes the Ducks still a top10 team in toughness. If you are gonna change favorite team, then lol, I'm just saying: good luck finding a team that is as tough as the Ducks have been. Yes we made the playoffs when players start working harder... But that's simply because we had a team that had to work for their goals more than a guy like Lupul will... If toughness is the only thing that makes you a hockey fan, are you saying guys like Kariya, McDonald, Selanne and S. Niedermayer are boring players to watch?

So why not just add second line scoring, and keep a tought checking 3rd line? Turning our third line into a bunch of small fast skaters is a big mistake in my opinon. And if the ducks turn to euro hockey, yes I will find a new team. Euro hockey is boring.

Dirk316

07-01-2009, 04:57 PM

So why not just add second line scoring, and keep a tought checking 3rd line? Turning our third line into a bunch of small fast skaters is a big mistake in my opinon. And if the ducks turn to euro hockey, yes I will find a new team. Euro hockey is boring.

Miller/Marchant/Neids is about as week and soft a checking line as you can get and got exploited every time by any line with size and that was the difference and if they add Koivu to the 2nd line i hope this is the next thing to get addressed. Well also Defense :shakehead way too many holes right now.
Moen/Carter/Bodie wouldnt be a bad 3rd line though

Elvstrand

07-01-2009, 05:01 PM

So why not just add second line scoring, and keep a tought checking 3rd line? Turning our third line into a bunch of small fast skaters is a big mistake in my opinon. And if the ducks turn to euro hockey, yes I will find a new team. Euro hockey is boring.

Building a sucessfull 3rd line is quite difficult. The 3rd line we had when we won, the 3rd line also scored goals in the playoffs. Building a shutdown line that can be clutch in the playoffs is very very hard, the Ducks were lucky that Pahlsson, Rob and Moen could be so productive in the 07 playoffs.

And like I said earlier, it looks like Murray is trying to build a core around Getzlaf, Perry and Ryan beyond this season. I guess he hopes Christensen or Ebbett can be a top 6 player when Selanne is gone. In 05/06, the Ducks had 3 scoring lines in the playoffs...

Kunitz - McDonald - Selanne
Penner - Marchant - Lupul
Fedoruk - Getzlaf - Perry

that's not that much tougher than the Ducks top9 is likely to be next season. McDonald and Selanne were not physical, Penner and Lupul were lazy, Marchant was small, and Getzlaf and Perry still had not developed their cycling style of play to the level it is on today. Still, that team made it to the WC-finals.

190Octane

07-01-2009, 05:02 PM

Building a sucessfull 3rd line is quite difficult. The 3rd line we had when we won, the 3rd line also scored goals in the playoffs. Building a shutdown line that can be clutch in the playoffs is very very hard, the Ducks were lucky that Pahlsson, Rob and Moen could be so productive in the 07 playoffs.

And like I said earlier, it looks like Murray is trying to build a core around Getzlaf, Perry and Ryan beyond this season. I guess he hopes Christensen or Ebbett can be a top 6 player when Selanne is gone. In 05/06, the Ducks had 3 scoring lines in the playoffs...

Kunitz - McDonald - Selanne
Penner - Marchant - Lupul
Fedoruk - Getzlaf - Perry

that's not that much tougher than the Ducks top9 is likely to be next season. McDonald and Selanne were not physical, Penner and Lupul were lazy, Marchant was small, and Getzlaf and Perry still had not developed their cycling style of play to the level it is on today.

You had size throughout the lineup though.

Talentless Practise

07-01-2009, 05:04 PM

Elvstrand

07-01-2009, 05:08 PM

Moen-Sami-Robbie was the 3rd line, Fedoruk-Getz-Perry the 4th. And that was at that time by far our most physical line. They had the speed to get a forecheck going and the size and willingness to play hard and physical.

True... I was just posting our 3 scoring lines... I'm just saying, just because we are not toughest anymore, this team is still tough, although mixed with some skilled but not physical players. I'm just saying, other teams fans wouldn't say the Ducks are a soft team...

Pakeha

07-01-2009, 10:39 PM

S.S. Giggy

07-05-2009, 02:32 AM

Getting back on topic here, I think Murph is definitely giving EC a chance to prove himself considering that he only played about 1/3 of a season last year not including the playoffs. Still, I think it's a fail-safe contract in that if things don't work out well. I still personally think EC is a waste of a roster spot but who knows.

Finnpin

07-05-2009, 08:21 AM

Spankatola Jamnuts

07-05-2009, 02:14 PM

The injury he has. He won't be ready to start the season. Waste of cap space.

Pakeha

07-06-2009, 01:30 AM

The injury he has. He won't be ready to start the season. Waste of cap space.
Have the terms of deal actually been stated - didnt think so. He got a 1 year contract but it may be tied to the number of games he plays. If cap space is needed he can be traded as part of a package. I think it was the right thing for Murray to do - letting him go for nothing does not make sense.