On the Ducks' new checking line.
So long Travis Moen, Sammy Pahlsson and Rob Niedermayer.
Say hello to Mike Brown, Petteri Nokelainen and Troy Bodie.
In their first practice together, at least, those three were wearing the same orange checking-line practice jerseys that Moen, Pahlsson and Niedermayer donned the last two-plus seasons in Anaheim.
Perhaps no player who remained after Wednesday's trade deadline saw his role change as much as Niedermayer, whose line was one of the main reasons the Ducks won the Stanley Cup two years ago. On Thursday, Pahlsson was in Chicago, Moen was in San Jose, while Niedermayer was skating on the Ducks' fourth line with George Parros, Ryan Carter and Todd Marchant.
"This year that line, for whatever reason, didn't find its mark," the coach said. "I can't explain why. We've tried different things. This year, it was difficult. For whatever reason we didn't establish that strength. It so happened that Sammy and Travis Moen wanted to test free agency. You can't expect an organization to let players go and get nothing for them, when you have the opportunity to receive something in return. It's unfortunate. They were a big part of the checking line with Rob Niedermayer. We just haven't been able to establish that strength of three players all year."
"I didn't really know what was going to happen (with Moen and Pahlsson), to be honest," Niedermayer said. "I think anytime you lose some guys that you've been through the battles with - they're good friends as well. It's tough, but it's all part of the business."
Randy Carlyle said that his checking line failed to click all year, despite interchanging different players at all three positions throughout the season.
As for Niedermayer's new role?
"I don't know," he said. "It's just trying to contribute in any way that you can - killing penalties, trying to score goals, provide some energy."
About J.P.
J.P. Hoornstra has been covering the Anaheim Ducks since 2007. Eight months after the University of Wisconsin won its third NCAA hockey championship, he was born in a frigid Madison winter. He betrayed his blue-blooded beginnings by graduating from UCLA in 2003, and welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
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