Post by eamonn (Ducks GM) on Aug 22, 2011 23:11:17 GMT -5
Eamonn here, just going to do a review of all our NHL lines and our top AHL line.
Forward Lines
Zac Dalpe - Claude Giroux - Nikolai Kulemin
On the first forward line we have Zac Dalpe on the left wing, Claude Giroux as the center, and Nikolai Kulemin on the right wing. This line is a fast skating line with a good playmaker between two solid shooting, positional players. Sweet passes by Giroux account for the majority of the goals. Dalpe was recently added to this line in place of super star winger Zach Parise. We made the switch because of Dalpe's lack of chemitry with up and comer Jacob Josefson. We expect Dalpe to contribute a lot more while playing with Giroux and we hope he can get some of last years brilliance back this year.
Zach Parise - Jacob Josefson - David Booth
The second forward line features Zach Parise on the left wing, Jacob Josefson in the middle and David Booth on the right wing. This line boasts some top scorers that are responsible in their own end which makes for a great line. Parise is one of the elite players in this league and Booth is one of the best power forwards in the game. Josefson is new to the league but has been steadily improving every day. This line will provide some great support to our top line and will be/is a big part of our teams success this season.
Matt Moulson - Saku Koivu - Alexander Steen
Our 3rd forward line is a very bizarre looking line. We've got Matt Moulson, a former 30 goal scorer, on the left wing. Saku Koivu, current Anaheim Ducks captain, at the center position. And we have Alexander Steen, a player who spent the majority of last season on our AHL squad, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. They will be expected to be a shutdown defensive unit.
Troy Brouwer - Steven Reinprecht - Chuck Kobasew
Our last forward line features former cup winner Troy Brouwer playing on the left side. Veteran Steven Reinprecht at center, and all around player Chuck Kobasew on the right side. This line will be a big hitting, wear down the opponent type line that can pot some goals once in a while.
Defense Pairings
Matt Carle - Stuart Percy
Our first defensive pairing is quite a weird one. We have offensive defensemen Matt Carle, alongside rookie defender Stuart Percy. Carle has not been performing very well this year and we have tried every pairing other than this one. Percy, although only 19, has played very consistent and hopefully can bring some stability to this pairing.
Shane O'Brien - Toni Lydman
The second pairing is Shane O'Brien playing with Toni Lydman. Going into the season we were shopping these players around but little did we know they would be our star defenders. They are a combined +27 and have racked up most of the points from the back end. Expect this pairing to be a key part of our success this season.
Jason Demers - Keith Ballard
The final pairing is a combo of two-way defender Jason Demers alongside shutdown defender Keith Ballard. They haven't played amazing, but they have played solid and have not been on the ice for many goals against, or goals for.
Goaltending Tandem
Jonas Hiller
Jean-Sébastien Giguère
The tandem of Jonas Hiller and 2004 Conn Smythe winner during Anaheim's Stanley Cup victory, Jean-Sébastien Giguère has proved to be a working combo. Twenty games into the season, the pair has split time between the posts. Giguère has been the guy winning his starts, but Hiller has posted better numbers while losing. Until this pattern breaks I will be giving each tender a fair share of starts.
Top AHL Line
Ryan Carter - Riley Nash - Sami Vatanen
John de Gray - Ryan Murray
Dan Ellis
Our top AHL unit on the Cinncinati Mighty Ducks has been playing great so far. The top forward line boasts an even balance of defensive skills, along with Vatanen's wicked shot. John de Grays defensive prowess combined with Ryan Murray's two-way play has led to a great pairing on the back end. Dan Ellis has been the cherry on top in the net and has led the team to a solid record 20 games into the season.