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.

Netminder Manny Fernandez is rumored to be signing a two-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens.  Fernandez had contemplated retirement because of back injury that has plagued him the last two seasons but it seems like he’s ready to go.  That rumor has fueled another, which has backup goalie Jaroslav Halak on his way out of Montreal.  Another rumor had it that Francis Bouillon signing with the New York Rangers was imminent but that’s definitely not the case.  The Rangers are eying the 5-foot-8, 200 lb, defenseman to add some depth to their blue line, but nothing is set in stone yet.

Theo Fleury might end up playing in the AHL, ECHL, Europe or even Asia.  But he might be stuck there — and out of the NHL.  Fleury, the 41-year-old who is eying a comeback is willing to play anywhere.  Fleury’s comeback is being compared to Claude Lemieux’s.  Lemieux came back last season at the age of 44, playing in China, the AHL and, finally, the Sharks.  But the difference is Fleury may be stuck outside the NHL.   He hasn’t completed a drug rehab program that the NHL required him to take after being suspended in 2003 for violating the substance abuse policy.  So he might meet red tape when he tried to make his NHL jump.  The sad part about this comeback attempt is that he’s really only doing it because he needs the money.  Fluery is broke and his NHL pension doesn’t kick in until he turns 50 years old.  Nine years is a long time.

The Anaheim Ducks traded for former wunderkind goaltender Justin Pogge, but that doesn’t meant Jean-Sebastien Giguere will be moved.  Giguere lost his starting job to Jonas Hiller last season after Hiller took the Ducks deep into the playoffs losing to Detroit in 7 games in the conference semi-final.  The team needs three goalies.  Although goalie prospects are available in the organization, none are ready to step into the third-goalie role.  I believe that having these three goalies gives the Ducks one of the strongest netminding threesomes in the league.

NEWS and NOTES

So it looks as if Jerry Reinsdorf owner of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and MLB’s Chicago White Sox is making another bid to buy the Phoenix Coyotes. He has taken a significant step in his bid to buy the bankrupt Coyotes, reaching an agreement in principal with the franchise’s largest secured creditor.

Jason Spezza will get a shot at the 2010 Olympics after all.  After being passed over when the 46 invites were sent out in July, the Ottawa Senators sniper was added to Team Canada’s orientation camp roster Tuesday.  Two spots at this month’s camp opened up when Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf needed extra time to recover from off-season surgery and Joe Sakic declined to attend after retiring from the NHL.  That left Spezza at the top of executive director Steve Yzerman’s list. Yzerman called the Toronto native Monday to extend the invitation to the Aug. 24-27 camp in Calgary and he quickly accepted.

The Leafs are pursing swedish goalie Jonas Gustavsson, the 24 year old who has NHL scout’s and GM’s drooling.  His stats from Sweden, if we follow the trend of previous goaltenders who have made the jump, point to him as an above-average NHL netminder.  As a rookie, he’ll be eligible for only an entry-level salary, so he won’t break the bank.  That’s also what makes him so attractive.  If they fail to land Gustavsson a longshot possibility is Jean-Sebastien Giguere, with whom Leafs GM Brian Burke has a prior relationship from their time together in Anaheim.  Giguere would come with a $6 million contract and that would make it almost impossible to fit him in under the salary cap.

The Leafs drafted a gifted center in Nazim Kadri.  Toronto is counting  on Kadri to make an impact in his rookie season.  Kadri outplayed his teammate and number one overall pick John Tavares in several of the London Knights’ playoff games.  Kadri has a great stick and great vision.  He’s big, lanky and skilled.  He uses his size to accentuate his puck skills.  Size, reach, stick handling ability, Kadri has the kinds of stick movements that hockey legend Mario Lemieux used to make famous.  Kadri had bad patches last season, but some of it can be ascribed to a broken jaw and weight loss in early winter.

Toronto has some snipers that they can count on like Mikhail Grabovski, Jason Blake and Alexei Ponikarovsky, but  the Leafs desperately need a top notch scorer to solidify a young offensive unit.  I know no one wants to hear it but Ottawa Senators disgruntled forward Dany Heatley could be exactly what GM Brian Burke is looking for.  If Toronto gets some decent goaltending they’ll make the playoffs.  If they get the scorer they desire they could make a run in the playoffs.