Post by eamonn (Ducks GM) on Aug 21, 2011 5:58:14 GMT -5
The previous season for the Anaheim Ducks' fans, staff, and players, was a brutal ride. Big names were dealt left and right and if you were to look at the team a month into the season last year, you wouldn't recognize it at all. Big name players in Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan, and Cam Fowler were all moved in very questionable deals made by rookie GM, Eamonn Farquharson. Brought in by all the fan favourites traded away were the likes of Claude Giroux, Nikolai Kulemin, Mikhail Grabovki, Nazem Kadri, and up and comer Stuart Percy along with several draft picks that were later used to acquire big name player, Zach Parise.
After a horrible second half to the season, the team ended up finishing in 27th overall. Obviously the fans were not happy about this but stayed optimistic about the potential chance of having the first overall pick. Shortly after the Washington Capitals defeated the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup finals, the 2012 NHL Entry Draft Lottery took place. Minnesota were the clear cut favourites to win the lottery with a 51% chance but out of nowhere Anaheim, the 3rd overall pick coming into the lottery, won the draw and were awarded the first overall pick.
Ryan Murray, arguably the best player in the draft was selected first overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks. Eamonn Farquharson, recognized the need for a franchise defencemen and skipped over future Russian superstar Nail Yakupov. Many of the fans were upset by this decision but couldn't be angry at getting a chance to draft a future defensive star for the team. Murray will be spending his first pro campaign in the AHL alongside John De Gray on the Cinncinati Mighty Ducks.
Skip ahead to the start of the 2012 NHL season and the Ducks had an impressive 9-3-1 record. GM Eamonn Farquharson was not content, for an unknown reason, and ended up trading current and future star player Nazem Kadri along with Mikhail Grabovski and an astonishing four first round draft picks for elite left winger Zach Parise. The move was a shock to the fans who had come to enjoy watching the former Toronto Maple Leaf players tear up the league. Nikolai Kulemin was very upset about the move as he and Grabovski had amazing chemistry together and had played on the same line for three seasons.
The next ten or so days were a bit rough for the Ducks. They had seen some big changes happen and it showed in the teams play. They finished the streak with a 2-3 record. Sophomore players Jacob Josefson and Zac Dalpe were a big reason as to why the slumping Ducks were not as Mighty as they had been to start the year. With just eight points combined this season they will need to start producing if the Ducks want to be a serious contender. Meanwhile the line of Parise, Giroux and Kulemin was playing extremely well together, tallying a bunch of goals while still being responsible in their own end.
On the back end the tandem of Toni Lydman and Shane O'Brien has been the key shutdown pairing. Together they have gone a combined +19 which shocked GM Eamonn Farquharson. Stuart Percy hasn't fit in the roster very well, but he has been progressing steadily and is hoping to stick with the team for the foreseeable future. Matt Carle and Jason Demers haven't lived up the hype created by last seasons statistics but some line juggling may have been the problem there.
Down in the AHL, rookie, and future star, Ryan Murray has impressed. He and John De Gray have been a consistent force and has led to the teams success. Noteworthy contributers are Riley Nash, Sami Vatanen, and veteran goaltender Dan Ellis.
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