(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
It seems that as we go along, the Season Previews take on a certain level of popularity.
They're so popular in their second year, that there are now at least two other versions of them on Bleacher Report!
Right here however, is the only place you'll find the predictions going in order of my misguided theory as to where the teams will finish. That is, until I forget that I didn't do the Los Angeles Kings and have to preview the Dallas Stars after the Phoenix Coyotes.
Am I kidding? Or was this simply a clever way to include both links in the article so you can go back and check them out?
And before you even ask: No, I'm still not done with the Kings. What? You think I rush these things? Nope. By the time I'm done an entire league's worth, it's taken so long I usually look like this.
Unfortunately no one like this ever appreciates the effort.
2008/09 Record: 42-33-7, 91 points, 8th in West—Lost 4-3 in Conference Semi Finals to the Detroit Red Wings
Additions: Nick Boynton—D (1 year/$1.5mil), Saku Koivu—C (1 year/$3.25mil), Joffrey Lupul—RW (Trade w/Philadelphia), Luca Sbisa—D (Trade w/Philadelphia), Steve McCarthy—D (1 year), Justin Pogge—G (Trade w/Toronto), Evgeny Artyukhin—F (Trade w/Tampa Bay)
Subtractions: Chris Pronger—D (Trade w/Philadelphia), Joe DiPenta—D (F/A-Buffalo), Francois Beauchemin—D (F/A-Toronto), Rob Niedermayer—F (FA), Drew Miller—F (Trade w/Tampa Bay)
The Anaheim Ducks didn’t necessarily shock the world by upending the San Jose Sharks in the first round of last year’s playoffs, but they proved that even an off year can’t keep the Ducks down, taking the Western Conference champs (Detroit) to seven games in the second round.
The season was still a tumultuous one: Jean-Sebastien Giguere was forced to deal with the emotional anchor of his father’s passing, which obviously hindered his play. They were then the fodder of numerous trades involving Chris Pronger, based on the assumption Anaheim wouldn’t make the playoffs.
The Ducks turned the tables on everyone however, picking up some solid pieces for their defense while swapping out some expendable pieces at the trade deadline and holding on to Pronger (for the time being).
With the changes on the Ducks’ defense, they’ve certainly infused some fresh blood into the system.
Gettin’ Jiggy on a Hill-Top?
We talked about the setbacks that Giguere forced himself through in 2008/09, but the biggest reason the Ducks were able to stay successful was the play of Jonas Hiller.
Acting in a long line of convincing Ducks backups, (Remember the Ducks—and the Toronto-bound Francois Allaire—sold teams on the fact that Martin Gerber and Ilya Bryzgalov could start) Hiller posted a sparkling season going 23-15-1 with a 2.39 goals-against and a .919 save percentage.
Going forward these look like more realistic totals for the Swiss-born netminder, rather than the miniscule 2.06 GAA and .927 save percentage in his 23-game stint in 2007/08.
Even so, those 08/09 numbers are still only bettered by six of last year’s goalies.
The 3.10/.900 season of Giguere is one that many didn’t expect, and with a clear mind he can make that a distant memory. However, Giguere will have to prove (as will Hiller) that his success isn’t merely from the works of Allaire, while the Montreal-native is going to have to re-assert himself as the number one man in Anaheim.
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