The Ohio Battery

[johnstone1987]

That Laine trade really got you off to a hot start man keep it going

[kinsmen7]

Quote: Originally Posted by johnstone1987

That Laine trade really got you off to a hot start man keep it going

Yeah, he's been dynamite. Kinda interesting because in my Blue Jackets franchise with the same roster, he was just OK. He's really controlling the play in the o-zone, and is set up like Ovi on my powerplay.

The salary cap jumps like wildfire in this game, but I've really gotta manage it going forward. Hopefully a big year won't have him looking for $10+ mil a year, because the Terry, Zegras and Drysdale extensions will be pretty large after year 2.

[kinsmen7]

Getzlaf surpasses Selanne as Ducks all-time points leader
The Captain scores eventual game winner as Ducks dismantle Vegas

Ryan Getzlaf scored less than two minutes into the 2nd period to become the Anaheim Ducks all-time points leader.

Now sitting number 2 on the list, Hall of Fame member Teemu Selanne was in the stands to share the moment.

Anaheim, now sitting at 8-1-0, played a back and fourth first period, with the game being tied at 2-2.

Getzlaf's goal early in the 2nd proved to be the jump-start the team needed, as they absolutely rolled through the remainder of the game, eventually winning 7-2. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz picked up the win, making 19 saves.

By the Numbers: Getzlaf now sits 11 points back of 1,000 for his career. With 7 points in 9 games so far this season, he seems poised to have a bounce back season, after netting only 17 in 48 games last year.

Other notes: Patrik Laine's hot streak continues, as the winger now has 11 goals and 5 assists through 9 games.

[kinsmen7]

Prospect Profile: Mason McTavish

After spending 17 games putting up over a point per game average in the 2nd tiered Swiss leage in 2021, Mason McTavish saw his draft stock take a huge leap forward. Another dominant performance at the U18 championships for Canada cemented his position as a top 10 prospect going into the 2021 draft.

McTavish, a Swiss born, Canadian citizen, is a skilled center who will play for Peterborough of the OHL this season.

Bob Murray's final 1st round pick as the Ducks GM surprised many, especially with players like Simon Edvinsson, William Eklund, and Brandt Clarke still on the board, but with long time Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf getting closer and closer to the end of his career, McTavish could form a dynamic 1-2 punch at center with 2022 Calder hopeful Trevor Zegras.

Preseason debut: McTavish entered the season as a long-shot to make the young Ducks roster, but impressed many with 2 goals and 1 assists through the 7 preseason games.

Season Outlook: The 3rd overall pick will spend the year playing in the OHL, and is a near-lock to play for the Canadian squad at the World Junior Championships in December. To date, McTavish has 3 points in 6 games for a Peterborough Petes team that is struggling. It would not be a surprise to see him traded before the OHL trade deadline.

Projected timeline: While a 2022-23 promotion for the then 19 year old may be a long shot, GM Kevin Weekes made it clear that he'll be given every opportunity to make next seasons roster. "Mason did everything in his power to earn a spot in our opening night lineup this year, but we really wanted to see him put up big minutes in Peterborough. After playing only 24 games in 2021, we felt it was necessary to let him play a full season in junior, and believe that playing for a talented Canadian squad at the WJC will be extremely beneficial for him."

Quotables: "He makes the right play at the right time and in the right place every single shift. He moves one way, drags the defender that way, makes them turn their feet, and then passes to supporting teammates in the opposite direction. He’s a net-front driven forward with a real knack for pouncing on loose pucks and banging rebounds home. McTavish’s unrelenting work rate makes him a constant threat without the puck, too." -EliteProspects 2021 NHL Draft Guide

[kinsmen7]

Day off ramblings: A way too early 2022-23 lineup prediction

With the Ducks looking to take the next step, their direction looks clearer than ever

Laine-Zegras-Terry
Henrique-Getzlaf-Silfverberg
Comtois-McTavish-Lundestrom
Milano-Groulx-Perreault

Lindholm-Drysdale
Fowler-Open
Larsson-Open

Gibson
Dostal

Ducks UFA Predictions:
-Rickard Rakell has been a rock for the Anaheim Ducks. The beloved winger has been a fixture in the Ducks lineup since his debut in 2013. With the emergence of Perreault and Groulx in San Diego, it seems unlikely that the Ducks will be willing to match a likely extension for him (Predicting 4 years @$5.5 mil). While re-signing Rakell would be relatively affordable from a cap-perspective, Anaheim still has winger Jakub Silfverberg on their roster through the 2023-24 season, and would have to find a taker before they could consider re-signing Rakell.
-In a limited sample size so far this year, Josh Manson is trying to show that poor production during his previous two seasons were more the result of injuries than a decline. He has been solid so far, picking up 2 goals and a +7, but the veteran defender doesn't represent the "long term acquisition" that Weekes has made clear that he values. While a 2 year extension would be out of the question, Manson has reportedly been seeking 4 years @ $4.5 million per year.
Others: Recently acquired defenceman Anton Stralman is 35 years old, and while a 1 year deal to fill a hole might be a reasonable move, the Ducks will likely look in a different direction. Greg Pateryn has been fine for the Ducks so far this year, but would be better served filling a 7th dman role.

Bold predictions:
-Silfverberg is moved for help on the back end. His offensive production leaves a lot to be desired, but his performance on the Ducks shutdown line has been outstanding. While we don't see him bringing back a top-end name, a solid defenceman with a similar contract wouldn't be out of the question.
-After 8 seasons as the Ducks primary shutdown defenceman, Josh Manson hits the market. GM's have proven time and time again that they're willing to overpay for Manson-type players.
-Anthony Stolarz will be an intriguing name on the trade block this summer. The 28 year old goalie has bounced around during his professional career, but offers a cheap, reliable option for a goaltending-starved team. With Lukas Dostal getting closer and closer to NHL-ready, Stolarz could be a prime target for a number of teams that can't afford the top-tiered talent that the UFA market offers. Our prediction? Stolarz ends up in Edmonton to bridge the gap between Mike Smith and Stuart Skinner.

Draft day targets: Coming into the season, the Ducks were projected to pick in the top 5 of the 2022 NHL Draft. That no longer looks like the case.

With a large gap between Jamie Drysdale and the rest of the RHD prospect pool, the Ducks will target someone to fill that hole. Simon Nemec is projected to be a top 5 pick, so he's likely off the table. If Weekes is serious about filling the gap, we could him try to make an agressive move to try to snag the next best guy, David Jiricek.

If Weekes holds steady, and goes for quantity over quality, and the Ducks pick between 20th-32nd overall, expect to hear names like Ty Nelson, Seamus Casey, Ryan Chesley and Tristan Luneau as we near draft day.

What does it all mean? What you're looking at with this years roster will likely be very similar to opening night in 2022. McTavish should nab a spot, and Jacob Perreault could be an opening night guy as well.

In net, there's no question that John Gibson is the starter. Anthony Stolarz has a year remaining on his contract, but Dostal could be given the opportunity to make the jump.

The biggest question is on the back end. At this point, the Manson situation is lose-lose. If they extend him and it's over 2 years, you're looking at a major decline. If he walks, you need to somehow replace him in the top 4. The list of pending UFA RD's also leaves a lot to be desired. While John Klingberg is the headliner, he doesn't fill the need on the defensive side. Kris Letang could also be potentially available, though it seems unlikely that he'll leave Pittsburgh. Even if you get Letang, the 35 year old will command a large AAV, and will likely struggle on the back end of the deal.

[kinsmen7]

Out of the box trade targets:

Looking at scenarios for long-term d-core solutions

Young guns:
Nils Lundkvist, New York Rangers-The Rangers are in contention, but are seemingly set on the right side, with Norris winner Adam Fox and Jacob Trouba signed long term. With a cap connundrum coming soon, Trouba would be the idea candidate to move out. Unfortunately for the Rangers, he has full trade protection for the next few years, and has a wife who is in med school in New York. Recent 1st round pick Braden Schneider could also fill a need for the Ducks, but Lundkvist has a higher ceiling.

Brock Faber, Los Angeles Kings- A 2nd round pick in 2020, Faber is currently at the University of Minnesota. Likely a couple of years away from contributing, he represents a valuable trade chip for the Kings. While the Ducks and LA don't typically make moves, they're set at RD over the long term, with names like Doughty, Clarke, Roy, Durzi, and Spence. At 20 years of age, Spence could also be an option. He's still a couple of years away from being a regular, but he has shown flashes of excellence early this season.

Joey Keane, Carolina Hurricanes- Keane is in his 3rd pro season, starting the year in Charlotte. He may not be as high-profile as Lundkvist or Faber, he does represent a near-NHL ready option.

Veteran Options:
Artem Zub, Ottawa Senators: Zub has been criminally underrated since joining the Sens. He posts strong possession numbers, has a bit of offensive upside, and is extremely affordable. The downside? He'll be a UFA after next season.

Dante Fabbro/Phillipe Myers, Nashville Predators: Early season indications are that the Predators are at a bit of a crossroads. Both Fabbro and Myers would fit the timeline for a quick re-tool in Nashville, but the Predators may flip the script and look for an upgrade on one or the other. While the Ducks can't offer the upgrade, they can help fill another hole for the Preds.

Ethan Bear, Carolina Hurricanes: Acquired this past offseason in a deal that saw Warren Foegele head to Edmonton, Bear was acquired as a safety net in case the Tony Deangelo experiment went wrong. Well, ADA has bounced back under Rod Brindamour, and is now the #1 powerplay quarterback for the Canes. The Canes have an estimated $24 mil in cap space heading into this offseason, but with prominent UFA's like Nino Neiderreiter, Vincent Trocheck, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and ADA hoping for new contracts, Bear might be the odd man out.

[kinsmen7]

Bobby Ryan inks PTO with Ducks

Former #2 overall pick heads to San Diego

Bobby Ryan will always live in the shadow of Sidney Crosby, which isn't fair. Ryan, who has dealt with a number of injuries and personal issues over the past few years, sits 7th in scoring from his draft class, and has put together a solid career.

The four time 30+ goal scorer returns to the organization that drafted him, and if he puts together a successful few weeks, could see himself back in the NHL sooner rather than later.

The 34 year old looked to be part of a big future with the Ducks, joining the team after their Stanley Cup run in '07. After a year in which he split time between AHL and NHL, Ryan joined the Ducks as a 21 year old, scoring 30 or more goals in each of his first 4 seasons.

A cap casualty in 2013, Ryan was moved to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Jakub Silfverberg, the Sens 2014 1st round pick (Nick Ritchie), and Stefan Noesen. He had two years left at an AAV of $5.1 million at the time of the trade.

Ryan could never get back to that 30 goal plateau, only surpassing the 20 goal mark twice during his 7 seasons in a Sens uniform, but still, the Senators inked him to a 7 year, $50.75 mil contract extension after his debut season in Ottawa.

After struggling through much of the contract, the Senators bought him out in July of 2020.

Last year, Ryan played for the Detroit Red Wings, scoring 7 goals and 7 assists through 33 games. He looked like he would be a valuable trade chip leading up to the deadline, but the winger sustained a season ending injury.

The return to Anaheim is a nice story line, especially if he can re-unite with long time captain Ryan Getzlaf, but he will need to show that he can still be effective if he wants to join the Ducks offence.

Update on story: Through 3 games for the Gulls, Bobby Ryan has 1 goal and 2 assists.