2010 Anaheim Ducks Predictions
Written by Anthony Moretti - Google +
Since winning the Stanley Cup in the 2006-07 season, the Ducks of Anaheim have settled into a downward spiral that mimics a veteran player holding on to a playing career when they should have hung up the skates years ago. Unfortunately for the Ducks, retirement is not an option. This is a team that followed up a 110-point season and a Stanley Cup performance four years ago by posting 102 points in 2007-08 and 91 points in 2008-09. Last season they could only manage 89 points and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
In that time span Anaheim has seen many changes in player personnel and the only names to be present at training camp for the 2010-11 season that were part of their glorious run are Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Teemu Selanne and George Parros. One of the reasons for their strong showing back then was their goalie combo consisting of Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Ilya Bryzgalov, both whom have moved on to somewhat greener pastures.
The team recently signed Selanne to a one-year deal in what appears to be his final season and was reportedly trying to lure free-agent Paul Kariya back to his former team. But with Kariya announcing that he will sit out the 2010-11 season and the retirement of captain Scott Niedermayer it looks like another long season at the pond. One of the big obstacles that the Ducks have experienced lately and we can expect once again is their slow start out of the gate. In their Stanley Cup season they bolted to a 9-3 record to start the season off and the confidence was sky high. Since then though they have averaged only 4.7 wins over their first 12 games and have played catch-up each of their last three seasons.
Anaheim allowed a dismal 33.4 shots per game last season and ranked next to the bottom in that category. Jonas Hiller is their go-to guy between the pipes and despite having a 2.73 GAA in the 2009-10 season, he did finish the season with a .918 save percentage over 59 games.
The Ducks NHL odds are sitting at 40/1 to win the 2011 Stanley Cup but realistically a successful season in 2010-11 would see them on the ice come the start of the playoffs April 13th, 2011 and not once again continuing their downward slide.
Got something to say?
