Anaheim Ducks 2010/2011 Season Preview
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The NHL season starts in roughly a month. That means it’s time to start prepping for the betting season. Let’s look at each team one by one in alphabetical order. First up: the Anaheim Ducks.
ANAHEIM DUCKS
Stanley Cup odds: +3000
As surprise teams like the Phoenix Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche showed us last season, the Western Conference in extremely competitive. New teams emerge every year and having a productive offseason is important. Sharing a division with mighty San Jose and Los Angeles, did the Anaheim Ducks do enough over the summer to get themselves back to the playoffs?
The Ducks are still strong in their top-end star power. Their top three power-forward trio is as good as any in the league. Ryan Getzlaf’s combination of playmaking ability and tremendous size remind me of a less reckless Eric Lindros. Corey Perry has a real mean streak and great vision on the power play. Bobby Ryan’s amazing agility and ability to score highlight reel goals despite his big frame make him remarkably similar to Rick Nash. But Ryan, who still hasn’t signed an extension, could wind up traded.
Even Teemu Selanne, who is expected to return this season at age 40, had 27 goals in 54 games last year. The cagey vet can really still play.
Goaltending looks like a major plus for Anaheim as well. Jonas Hiller, once a backup to J.S. Giguere, played so well last year (especially in the Olympics) that he made Jiggy obsolete. He’ll have the job to himself this year and looks like he’ll be a top-10 goalie in the league.
But defense may be Anaheim’s Achilles’ Heel. That sounds strange to say about a team long known for its stout “D” with Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger around. But now that both those guys are gone – Pronger left for Philly last year and Niedermayer retired this summer – can the Ducks’ other defenders pick up the slack?
Cam Fowler should be a goodie, but he probably won’t contribute this season as an 18-year-old. Lubomir Visnovsky is just a power-play quarterback, albeit a good one. Toni Lydman is a solid stopgap but not a guy who can carry a team.
It’s entirely possible the Ducks will have one of the league’s worst bluelines. Their forwards and goaltending are well above average but their “D” drags them back to bubble status.
Expect a similar result to 2009, when the Ducks missed the playoffs by six points.
They’re strong enough to contend for eighth all year but they simply didn’t do enough to improve this offseason.
Ducks 2010 Preseason Schedule
Date Opponent Venue Time (Pacific)
Tuesday, Sept. 21 Phoenix Honda Center 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 22 San Jose Honda Center 7:05 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 24 San Jose HP Pavilion 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 25 Vancouver GM Place 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 28 Los Angeles Staples Center 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 1 Vancouver Honda Center 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 3 Los Angeles Honda Center 5:05 p.m.
