A Preview of the 2009-10 Anaheim Ducks

Over the next 30 days, I will be previewing all 30 NHL clubs. I will be looking at their available salary cap room, the additions and deletions from the '08-'09 roster, and where I think they will stack up in their division and conference for the '09-'10 season. Let's get started with the Anaheim Ducks, Pacific Division, Western Conference.

The Anaheim Ducks currently have 18 players signed on one-way contracts: two goalies, five defensemen, and 11 forwards. The salary cap hit for these 18 players is approx. 49.7 million. Add to that the two-way contract hits of Ryan, Ebbett, Miller, Sbisa and Mikkelson. The current salary cap is sitting at 54.3 million, giving the Ducks a little bit of wiggle room entering the '09-'10 season.

Significant Additions:

The Ducks picked up Joffery Lupul via the Pronger Trade. Saku Koivu signed a one-year $3.25 million UFA contract. Nick Boynton signed a one-year $1.5 million UFA contract.

Significant Deletions:

Chris Pronger was traded to Philadelphia. Rob Niedermeyer, Bret Hedican, and Francois Beauchemin all became unrestricted free agents.

Restricted Free Agents still to Sign:

Petri Kontiola and Petteri Wirtanen.

Prospects that Impressed in '08-'09:

Bobby Ryan has finally arrived after being drafted second overall in the 2005 Entry Draft. His 31 goals and being a Calder Trophy finalist have solidified his spot on the roster for '09-'10 season. Other prospects that have earned promotions to the NHL are hard working forward Drew Miller, Andrew Ebbert and Ryan Carter. Carter was rewarded with a new one-way contract in the offseason.

Prospects to watch in '09-'10:

Luca Sbisa: Sbisa was aquired in the Pronger deal. He played 39 games for the Flyers last season before being sent back to his junior team. When you are traded for a former Hart Trophy and Norris Trophy winner, expectations will be high. This defensemen must show what he's got with his new club.

Brendan Mikkelson: With significant injuries to the Ducks Defense last year, Mikkelson played in 34 games last year with the big club. This season, the expectation for Mikkelson is to battle Sheldon Brookbank for a regular spot in the Ducks line-up. 

Jake Gardiner: Gardiner is considered the future of the Ducks defense. He has heard comparisons to Scott Niedermeyer for his smooth skating style. The general feeling around the NHL is that Anaheim will try not to rush their future power play quarterback. It will be is his second season at Wisconsin.

Recap of '08-'09

A slow start to the '08-'09 season resulted in the Ducks having to scratch and claw it's way into the playoff last year. As the eighth seed in the Western Conference, they were rewarded with a first round date with the San Jose Sharks. After defeating the President's Trophy winners, they pushed the Stanley Cup finalists to seven games in the second round of the playoffs.

Outlook for '09-'10:

Strengths: The Ducks may have one of the top first lines in the NHL. Perry, Ryan, and Getzlaf are all young, talented, and proven scorers in the NHL. Two things to watch for with this trio are Getzlafs recovery from a recent sports hernia surgery, and the effects of the "sophomore jinx" on Bobby Ryan.

The second line was bolstered with the addition of Saku Koivu from the Canadiens.  He will join fellow countrymen Teemu Selanne and either Erik Christensen or Andrew Ebbett on a proven second line to help support the top line for the Ducks.

The goal-tending tandem of J.S. Giguere and Jonas Hiller is one of the top duos in the NHL. Giguere is a former Conn Smythe Winner and Stanley Cup champion, but had an off season last year following the death of his father in December. Despite starting the NHL All-Star game for the Western Conference by the time the playoffs rolled around, Jonas Hiller had cemented himself as the No. 1 man in Anaheim. After a run through the '09 playoffs that reminded Ducks fans of Giguere in '03, look for there to be a goal-tending battle in Orange County.

Weaknesses: This isn't the same defensive group that was assembled to win the Stanley Cup in '07. Gone are standouts Chris Pronger and Francois Beauchemin.  After Scott Niedermeyer, Ryan Whitney, and Nick Boynton, the Ducks' defense is young and unproven but have a ton of up-side. The strength of the Ducks' future is their young defensemen, but if something happens to All-Star defensemen Scott Niedermeyer, the Ducks could be in for a long season.

Prediction:  I foresee the Ducks finishing in a close battle for second place in the Pacific Division, with the Dallas Stars and the surprising L.A. Kings. They will make the '10 playoffs, finishing between sixth and eighth.