Offseason Breakdown of the Pacific Divisions Anaheim Ducks.

Last season the NHL Western Conference’s Anaheim Ducks struggled to make the playoffs as a team with a near-even goal differential and 91 points, but was still able to upset the San Jose Sharks in the first round.  They then exited the playoffs after an exciting 7 game series versus the Detroit Red Wings.  The Ducks regrouped in the offseason and pulled off a blockbuster deal on draft day that sent defenseman Chris Pronger to the Philadelphia Flyers for Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa and two first-round picks.  Add in the signing of Montreal Canadiens free agent center Saku Koivu and the Ducks now look to overtake San Jose for the Pacific crown, particularly with forward Ryan Getzlaf projecting to be one of the league’s 10 best players in 2009-10.  The 6-foot-4 center was the best player on the Ducks’ roster in 2008-09.  Getzlaf is an elite playmaker with size, toughness and some of the sweetest hands in the game. It’s nitpicking, since he’s coming off a 91-point season, but Getzlaf has the talent to dominate even more than he has over the past couple of seasons.  Corey Perry has improved every year he’s been in the league.  He has soft hands, plays on the edge and goes to the net as well as anyone.  On top of all that, his game complements that of Getzlaf so well.

As if it’s not enough for the Ducks to have two big forwards with outstanding skills, they added Bobby Ryan to the mix last season and Ryan had an exceptional rookie season, scoring highlight-reel goals and looking every bit like a future star. Assuming he can avoid a sophomore slump, Ryan should be more productive as he can handle at least a couple more minutes of ice time per game.  Though 38-year-old Teemu Selanne has lost a step, he’s still a valuable power play performer (scoring 28 of his 54 points with the man advantage) and, with the right linemates, he can help take some pressure off the young guns.  Andrew Ebbett earned his place on the second line.  He’s an undersized perimeter player with strong setup skills who has always managed to put up points.  If Ebbett can build on his rookie season, he would certainly provide good value.

As for the defense, they will be led once again by the return of defenseman Scott Neidermayer.  Neidermayer will anchor the blueline and look for help from Ryan Whitney.  Whitney struggled early in the season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but started to turn his game around after arriving in Anaheim via a trade. Whitney doesn’t use his size as much as he could, but his vision and puck skills make him a valuable contributor.  Adding James Wisniewski at the trade deadline was a stroke of genius, as he brings puckhandling, toughness and the ability to play in any situation.  Tough guy Sheldon Brookbank didn’t play a lot, but he was solid in limited minutes.  He’s inexpensive depth and plays the hard-nosed style that befits the Ducks, look for him to get extensive playing time.

Jonas Hiller emerged as a quality starter in his second NHL season, taking the reins from Jean-Sebastien Giguere down the stretch and into the playoffs where he was even better.  The natural progression would be for the 27-year-old Hiller to assume the starting job next season but despite Hiller’s breakthrough campaign in 2008-09, he hasn’t been handed the starting goaltending job entering this season.  Giguere, the veteran Cup winner from 2007, has been told he’s got an equal shot at it.  It’s a fascinating decision by head coach Randy Carlyle, given Hiller’s stellar play against San Jose and the Red Wings in the playoffs, but I also think it’s the correct one.  Maybe this hasn’t even played into Carlyle’s decision, but I think it’s important for the Ducks to rebuild Giguere’s asset value around the league.  It’s hardly a secret that Ducks GM Bob Murray tried to trade the goalie  in the offseason but found no takers for a player slated to earn $13 million over the final two years of his deal ($6 million this season and $7 million next season).  However, if Giguere recaptures some of his old form, then teams will have to give him a mulligan after he lost his focus following the death of his father last season.  I think a few teams will realize they’re not good enough in goal come December and will try to trade for the veteran.

All in all after last years performance the Ducks showed that they’re really a true contender to win the Stanley Cup.  A few minor tweaks here and there and we will once again be watching this team go deep into the playoffs.