I'm just curious..

Alright, I'm just curious to find out some of your guys' thoughts and opinions. Do you like having Sergei Fedorov on the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim? Yes, he didn't have that good of a year like he has in the past, but I believe that towards the end of the season, Fedorov stepped up his game a little more. Still though, Babcock was pretty disappointed in Fedorov's performance overall.

Fedorov's first season as a Mighty Duck:

Games played: 80
Goals: 31
Assists: 34
Points: 65
Plus/Minus: -5

That isn't like Fedorov we're used to seeing, but that was his first year with a new organization. I think come next season, he will have finally made the right "adjustments" and turn his game back up and play like he was playing a couple years back. He had totally different line-mates and whatnot. So I think after a year of playing with a lot of those players, I think he'll turn it back up. If I'm not mistaking however, I believe Sergei went to Anaheim to be a "leader" there and unfortunatly couldn't get the job done.

Another thing is that the Ducks also got Vaclav Prospal, which before he went to Anaheim, he was awesome, but when he joined Anaheim, his game went down a lot. I don't know what happend to him, but perhaps he can turn it around. A lot of Ducks fans seemed pretty disappointed in both of these two because they are outstanding players, but haven't played up to full potential yet. Maybe these two can both turn it around and have a spectacular year next season, but I would expect more out of Fedorov than Prospal. Just my opinion, though.

This doesn't really go along with the thread, but you can also make a response to this part of it if you want: Though Anaheim didn't make the playoffs this year, I think they will make it next year. Giguere has something to prove -- show a lot of hockey fans that he's not a one-hit-wonder because it seems like a lot of hockey fans are thinking JS Giguere is one of those. At the beginning of this season it seemed like there was somewhat a lot of pressure on "Jiggy" after the spectacular playoff run he had and winning the Conn Smythe Ice Trophy the year before that. Unfortunatly, Giguere didn't get off to such a great start this season, along with the rest of the Ducks' roster. Next year they are going to play some great hockey and make it to the playoffs again, I think.

I don't think you can put all the blame on Giguere for not making the playoffs this year - it was more like the entire team. Hell, they also made some adjustments; Kariya wasn't on there, Oates left, they gave up Thomas, etc. The Ducks also had a few injury problems throughout the year which I think hurt them. They're going to bounce back next year and not have to play with Kariya and whatnot. Fedorov, Prospal, Rucchin, Ozolinsh, Sykora, etc will have some great years and Giguere will have an outstanding season as well. There might be I think maybe one or two changes during thus off-season, but nothing too major. The Ducks I think can make way without Paul Kariya. And the Ducks definitely do not need Teemu Selanne back on their team to have success. With the roster they have right now and a couple adjustments, they will be back in the playoffs, I think.

What are your thoughts on Fedorov/Prospal/Giguere? Is Giguere really a one-hit-wonder? Also who do you think is to "blame" for the disappointing season next year? Etc, etc.

Thoughts/Opinions?

Oh yeah and one thing: This isn't meant to bash the Ducks in any way, shape, or form. Just some of my thoughts and curious to hear some of yours. Thank-you and good luck next season. (I know, whenever that might be)

I like Fedorov, and i think his production slowed like you said for the reason is him being in a new organization and learning how the other play.. also he had to learn babcocks style of play.
i feel that he will have a better year next season. it also didn't help him when bas kept on switching the lines.. one night he will play with sykora, another lupul, then prospal... finally towards the end it looked like niedermeyer was good with him, but then it changed once again..
i for one if you have seen the kariya/selanne post would love to see kariya play with fedorov.. that would make a fast line with 1 good offensive/defensive player in fedorov.
Giguere just had a rough season.. he did get marrie dya know.. ;)
the ducks were plagued with injuries this year with Ozo and Leclerc the most noteable, but they have to play through those injuries like how the Kings did..

I like Fedorov, and i think his production slowed like you said for the reason is him being in a new organization and learning how the other play.. also he had to learn babcocks style of play.
i feel that he will have a better year next season. it also didn't help him when bas kept on switching the lines.. one night he will play with sykora, another lupul, then prospal... finally towards the end it looked like niedermeyer was good with him, but then it changed once again..
i for one if you have seen the kariya/selanne post would love to see kariya play with fedorov.. that would make a fast line with 1 good offensive/defensive player in fedorov.
Giguere just had a rough season.. he did get marrie dya know.. ;)
the ducks were plagued with injuries this year with Ozo and Leclerc the most noteable, but they have to play through those injuries like how the Kings did..
Good takes. Yes, with Fedorov going to Anaheim and it was his first year, it would be a little difficult to automatically adjust to the coach's style of play. Then to make matters worse, like you said, Babcock switched Fedorov on different lines with different linemates - which could mess him up and make his production even slower. Next year I think he will finally know their system and the way Babcock runs things so he will get his game back up to high-speed.

As for Giguere, he will have an outstanding season next year. I was disappointed to see Giguere do so bad at the beginning of the season, but you couldn't put all the blame on him, could you? No. Giguere knows he has something to prove and that's to show he is no one-hit-wonder.

Then one last thing: Now I know that every team has injuries throughout the season and especially this season that has just passed; '03-'04 (Ask Kings' fans if you want to talk injuries), but some teams have them worse than others. I believe that some teams are more affected by them and they start losing more games because they don't have as much depth in their roster and all of their big name players are out or whatever. With Ozolinsh out and Leclaric(sp?) out too, those were pretty big losses for the Ducks. I just don't see the Ducks missing the playoffs next season. They might not go as far as they did in '02-'03, but they will make it to the playoffs. And hell, maybe they could prove me wrong and make it to the Stanley Cup finals again - who knows.. ;)

Once again, good luck next year!

On the list of disappointing Ducks, Feds wasn't anywhere near the top ... maybe halfway down.

Fedorov's first year sort of went on as planned. Many didn't expect him to reach 60 points, but he did, and scored 30 goals as well. He was the most dangerous Duck, and he's shown that he was indeed a good investment. Next year, he should really dominate, as he's used to Babs, used to his linemates, and used to being a Duck.

but some teams have them worse than others. I believe that some teams are more affected by them and they start losing more games because they don't have as much depth in their roster and all of their big name players are out or whatever. With Ozolinsh out and Leclaric(sp?) out too, those were pretty big losses for the Ducks.

Yeah, same with Carney at the beginning of the season, and Neidermayer in mid-season. These are depth players. I think the injury to Carney and LeClerc cause the team to lose 4-straight at the beginning of the season simply because the defense was kinda shattered without Carney. They also missed the physical presence of Leclerc(I think he's, practically, given up on the team) so the Ducks missed some size. I think the Ozolinsh injury was more for good than for bad because that's what got Havelid's game together. Havelid had to step up and play the point on the PP when Ozo got hurt. Neidermayer was a big blow because they missed his skating ability and physical precense.

Fedorov was one of the highest scoring players in the 2nd half of the season, I think you'll see him up in the 70-80 point range, but lets be realistic here, if JS Giguere plays like he did last season again we are destined for more mediocrity. Nobody performed up to or exceeded expectations for me except for Vitaly Vishnevski,Rob Niedermayer,Martin Gerber,Samuel Pahlsson and to a lesser extent Vinny Prospal.

Production wise everyone else underachieved.