Anaheim Ducks: Are They "The Team" This Year?

The 2007 Anaheim Ducks, the Stanley Cup Champions, were a relentless bunch that played physical game-in and game-out throughout the entire season.  They began this campaign with a lackluster start 0-5 only to bounce back into a groove of 8-0-1 to finish 8-2-1 in the last 10 games.

The difference?  They were hungry for the Cup.

Although the roster may not be identical to the former champions, the determination is still vaguely present. 

With franchise players Teemu Selanne and captain Scott Niedermayer back again for a full season, there are high expectations for this California team.  There is grit coming from all different sources, least expected is offensive power Ryan Getzlaf who actually leads the team in PIM throughout the first 10 games.

The Ducks are turning the corner, though, with some momentum behind them. 

Even with back-to-back losses they are in a comfort zone, sailing on the spiritual winds of their key players. Their top defensemen carry the team with average ice times of nearly half a game each; an equation that led to their successful Stanley Cup run in 2007.  Teemu Selanne has found his knack for scoring once again and the dynamic duo of Perry and Getzlaf is starting to rekindle. 

Where the Ducks struggle now is offensive depth.  Two of the top five scorers on the team are defensemen and Kunitz has yet to open his account this season. 

With injuries to May and Parros, the Ducks aren't able to grind down the power lines of their opponents as they are normally accustomed.

The checking line of Pahlsson, Rob Niedermayer, and Marchant aren't producing enough points to threaten the opposition, a key factor of the 2007 playoffs. 

These Anaheim Ducks are not the same team as a few terms ago.  They don't have a  team able to score from the first to last line.

With unsteady goal-tending and inefficient shoot-out performances, the Ducks will continue to struggle and fight for wins. 

The season ahead may be shaky, but expect this team to climb the ladder slowly and steadily.