Anaheim Ducks Set To Fly High Come Playoff Time

The NHL's second season is just around the corner, and a certain Pacific Division squad is getting ready to spread its wings.

The Anaheim Ducks are getting prepared to defend the Stanley Cup after winning it for the first time one year ago. The Ducks have managed to keep most of its core from last years victory, and have done a great job filling in the holes that forwards Dustin Penner and Andy McDonald have left.

The Ducks experienced a lot of controversy before the season even began, when then-captain Scott Niedermayer and leading goal-scorer Teemu Selanne were contemplating retirement. General Manager Brian Burke did the smart move of going out and signing free agent Mathieu Schneider to bolster the blueline, also seen as a backup plan if Niedermayer were to retire.

Dustin Penner was nabbed by the Edmonton Oilers after signing an offer-sheet in July. Oilers' GM Kevin Lowe made a move that infuriated Burke, which lead to a public outcry from Burke and GMs around the league who did not want to face the thought of losing star, young players who are restricted free agents.

After starting the season in England, coach Randy Carlyle and his troops experienced some ups and downs in the early goings. Will Niedermayer return? What will management do with Ilya Bryzgalov? Can free-agent signee Todd Bertuzzi return to being an effective power forward?

And then they were answered.

All controversy over captaincy aside, Scott Niedermayer returned to the flock and Chris Pronger's sweater still had the 'C'. Ilya Bryzgalov was put on waivers, and joined the Phoenix Coyotes across the desert. Bertuzzi has become a smart two-way player after spending most of the season on the wing playing with youngters Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.

Anaheim also swung a deal that sent McDonald to the Blues for savvy vet Doug Weight. Weight, nearing the end of his career, has been given a role to be a solid second-line centreman, while helping out the more inexperienced players on the roster. The move has paid dividends, as Weight has been playing exceptional defensive hockey.

Teemu Selanne rejoined the club on Jan. 28th, and from that day on it looks like the piece of the puzzle have fallen back into place. In his first 24 games back, he has registered 20 points, including seven powerplay goals.

A few final deals here and there around trade deadline insured that the Ducks will once again be a physical force to be reckon with once the playoffs role around. Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere has had his time to recover from back spasms, and will not disappoint when he's between the pipes in round one.

Watch for them to beat teams in every aspect of the game, from battles along the wall to races to the puck, and everything between. The Anaheim Ducks main goal will be to out-work every team that comes to the pond, and dominate from one end of the ice to the other.

Note to all Ducks' fans: Tune in—this will be one wild ride.