November 2009 Archives

Erik Christensen, in an interview with the Winnipeg Sun, talks about his conditioning assignment with the AHL's Manitoba Moose, as well as the state of the Ducks.

Christensen went unclaimed after he was placed on waivers Nov. 2, then rode the pine until centers Saku Koivu and Ryan Carter went down with injuries, forcing the Ducks to use Christensen for three games on last week's road trip.

"It's tough, at one point the team is willing to lose you and the next, they need you and they're willing to put you in the lineup," Christensen told the paper. "I thought I played well in the three games I was in (after clearing waivers) but Anaheim is at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Changes are probably inevitable down there."

Head coach Randy Carlyle disagreed specifically with Christensen's self-evaluation after practice Friday, saying "we thought we had Christensen for a couple games to give him an opportunity, but we didn't think that worked very well." Christensen was available to the Ducks in the road finale Monday in Pittsburgh, but Carlyle opted to shuffle the forward lines and play defenseman Sheldon Brookbank on the fourth line instead.

Ducks center MacGregor Sharp, recalled prior to Thursday's game against Tampa Bay, said he was "pretty surprised an obviously really happy" about being shipped straight from Bakersfield of the ECHL to Anaheim.

Here's what else he had to say ...

Center Erik Christensen has been loaned to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League for conditioning purposes. Christensen will remain on the Ducks' NHL roster, but can play in games and practice with Manitoba for a period of up to 14 days.

The 25-year-old had been held without a point in nine games for the Ducks this season, and was a healthy scratch the past two. Christensen was placed on waivers Nov. 2 but went unclaimed; without an AHL affiliate, it took some time for the Ducks to find Christensen a new home.

Center MacGregor Sharp has been recalled from the Bakersfield Condors, the Ducks' ECHL affiliate, while centers Saku Koivu and Ryan Carter have been placed on injured reserve retroactive to their last appearance -- Nov. 11 for Carter and Nov. 7 for Koivu.

The 24-year-old Sharp ranked second on the Condors in points (14) and first in assists (10) through 15 games at the time of his recall. Signed as an undrafted free agent to a two-year entry-level contract on Mar. 31, Sharp finished tied for fourth in the nation last season with 50 points (26 goals) in 43 games with the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Sharp also ranked second in the country in goals.

Koivu has been battling a groin injury, while Carter is recovering from a bruised foot. Both would be eligible to play tomorrow against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The top Russian teens aren't released by their pro clubs for the series. The country's lineup for this leans towards a 'B' roster, although Anaheim Ducks prospect Igor Bobkov, named the top goaltender at this year's world under-18 championship, is on the list.

The Ducks still haven't won on their four-game road trip. And the defending Stanley Cup champions are up next.

Playing their second game in as many nights after losing in a shootout Friday in Columbus, the Ducks' energy lagged early. But they still managed to keep the game close -- 2-1 entering the third period -- on Corey Perry's team-leading 13th goal of the season. Ryan Getzlaf picked up the assist on by corralling a turnover from behind the Detroit net, and the linemates extended their franchise-record points streak to 11 games each. Getzlaf's assist extended his assist streak to 10 straight games, also an Anaheim record.

A frantic third period erased all memories of the game's first 40 minutes, as the suddenly energized opponents traded a total of eight goals.

Bobby Ryan got the equalizer with the Ducks holding a man advantage at 3:47, but Pavel Datsyuk answered with a power-play goal of his own at 5:17. Joffrey Lupul tied the game at 3 at 6:26, but Henrik Zetterberg answered at 9:10. Ryan Getzlaf one-timed a shot past Jimmy Howard with the Ducks skating 5-on-3 at 14:27, but Zetterberg fluttered a puck past Jonas Hiller at 15:29 to give the Red Wings a 5-4 lead.

Darren Helm's breakaway shot was the last to get by Hiller, who finished the game with 30 saves on 36 shots. Zetterberg completed the hat trick by scoring into an empty net with less than a second left on the clock.

The Ducks will travel to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night.

The Ducks have recalled left wing Kyle Calder from Bakersfield of the ECHL.

Calder, 30 scored six points points with a plus-4 rating in five games with the Condors. He was signed by Anaheim to a one-year contract and assigned to their ECHL affilaite on Oct. 28 after attending the Ducks' training camp on a tryout basis in September.

In four preseason games, Calder went scoreless with two penalty minutes. The Manville, Alberta native, who was released from his tryout on Sept. 26, spent the 2008-09 regular season with the Kings, recording eight goals and 27 points with 41 penalty in 74 games.

The Ducks are currently playing in Detroit without injured forwards Ryan Carter and Saku Koivu. Calder gives head coach Randy Carlyle another option to fill out his bottom six; defenseman Sheldon Brookbank had been filling in on the fourth line.

The Detroit Free Press reports that Chris Osgood is ill and the Ducks will face Jimmy Howard in the Red Wings' net tonight; also former Duck Drew Miller will team up with former Duck Brad May on the fourth line. Here are the rest of their lines from this morning's practice:

Jean-Sebastien Giguere got the start, and a well-earned point, but Mathieu Garon stole one too many pucks for the Ducks to steal a victory.

Kristian Huselius and Rick Nash scored on Giguere in the shootout, and the Ducks fell to 0-1-1 on their four-game road trip.

Garon stopped both Ducks shootout attempts, by Getzlaf and Perry. He also denied Getzlaf with a minute remaining in the second period, after Ryan backhanded a no-look pass to Getzlaf, whose point-blank wrister was gloved by Garon at the goal line. Fifty-two seconds later, Fedor Tyutin dove into the passing lane to break up a 2-on-1 pass from Ryan to Getzlaf; a goal on either play would have given the Ducks a 3-2 lead.

Giguere finished with 27 saves in his first game action since Oct. 24. Nash and linemate Antoine Vermette scored goals for the Blue Jackets.

Ryan Getzlaf assisted on goals by Bobby Ryan and Todd Marchant, and he and Corey Perry kept their 10-game scoring streaks alive. Scott Niedermayer reached the 1,200-game plateau, becoming the fifth active defenseman to reach that milestone.

The Ducks play the Detroit Red Wings in Joe Louis Arena on Saturday.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has reinstated Henry Samueli as the Ducks' acting owner. Samueli had been suspended indefinitely from any involvement with the Ducks and the NHL on June 24, 2008.

"I did today decide to reinstate Anaheim Ducks owner Henry Samueli, who was suspended in 2008 as a result of a legal proceeding that I think has been dealt with appropriately," Bettman said on Thursday's broadcast of "NHL Hour with Commissioner Bettman" on Sirius XM. "I believe that the 18 months that he has been suspended was long enough and he and his wife Susan, who actually imposed his suspension upon herself, will be back together as active owners. They have been terrific owners and we're thrilled to have them back."

Susan Samueli also returned to active status as co-owner of the Ducks. In support of her husband, and to avoid any possible improper appearance, she had abided by the terms of Henry Samueli's suspension.

Henry Samueli, the co-founder and former chairman of Broadcom Corp., had pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with illegally backdating employee stock options.

In September, a federal appeals court in Pasadena refused to reinstate a proposed plea bargain that called for Samueli to serve five years of probation, pay a $250,000 fine and pay $12 million to the U.S. Treasury Department. He still awaits sentencing.

During Samueli's absence, Ducks CEO Michael Schulman served as Governor and managed the day-to-day operations of the team.

In a statement released by the team, Samueli said: "Susan and I are very happy to be returning to work with the Ducks. We are thankful to have had great leadership in place that successfully operated the team during this time and look forward to reestablishing contact with the organization. Our goal remains the same -- to be a championship-caliber organization both on and off the ice. We are also pleased to be able to return to a more active role in the many philanthropic efforts that the Ducks have undertaken throughout the Southern California community."

The Devils will honor their 2003 Stanley Cup team that beat the Ducks in seven games -- on the same night New Jersey hosts the Ducks. Coincidental timing?

Only goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere remains on the Ducks' roster from that team. The 2003 Conn Smythe winner told the team's radio analyst, Dan Wood that "it's a long time ago, but it still stinks, it still hurts."

Scott Niedermayer, then a Devil, is now a Duck. Rob Niedermayer, then a Duck, is now a Devil. Martin Brodeur remains the No.1 goalie in New Jersey.

"You know, 2003 was our last Stanley Cup but it was a great season," Brodeur told the team's Web site. "We accomplished a lot of great things, and it was the first Cup for Pat Burns as a coach. He's coached in the biggest markets you can imagine, and he won his first Stanley Cup with us in New Jersey. So, a lot of good things, a lot of good friendships that were made - that's what a winning team is all about. Anaheim could tell you the same when they won (in 2007), how close they were when it happened."

"We have two good goaltenders," he said. "I stated many times during the summer that there would probably be issues with [two No.1 goalies]. I think Giggy is frustrated because of his injury, and he hasn't got to play because of his injury and he wants to get going. I'd be very upset if he wasn't frustrated about being No.1, then I'd be worried."

To date, Murray hasn't had any significant trade discussions involving any of his top players. It's been reported the Ducks are looking for a top-six winger and a top-three defenseman.

As for Giguere and Hiller, a trade could still transpire later in the season if the right offer is tabled.

"We've got two good goalies and we'll see what happens down the road," Murray said.

"I want to be part of this team," Giguere said after the club's morning skate in preparation for tonight's game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center.

"I want to be the No. 1 (goaltender) in Anaheim," Giguere said. "I love playing here. I want to be here."

Following Monday's practice in Anaheim, Giguere had told the Los Angeles Daily News that he would sooner retire than accept being a backup goalie.

"It didn't come out exactly the way I wanted," Giguere said Wednesday. "I just wanted to say that I'm not done. I still want to play. I still want to battle and have fun.

"Let's be clear on one thing. I'm not about to retire. I was being a little sarcastic about that. But I'm not going to just sit on the bench and collect my money. I want to play. Hopefully, I'll figure out a way to make it happen."

1. Newark is buzzing over the return of Scott Niedermayer, an important cog in the Devils' run to the Stanley Cup in 1995, 2000 and 2003. So much so, in fact, that the Newark Star-Ledger ponders whether Niedermayer would become a Devil again before he retires. Asked about the possibility of being reunited with brother Rob, should the Ducks continue to struggle, Niedermayer told the paper "I think it's a possibility," Niedermayer said of being traded by the Ducks at some point this season. "Last year we were kind of a in a situation where we were teetering and there was some talk and rumors. You start to think about it."

Good news for Jean-Sebastien Giguere and bad news for Justin Pogge: Pogge has been reassigned to Bakersfield, clearing the way for Giguere to come off injured reserve when the Ducks begin a four-game road trip Wednesday in New Jersey.

Pogge, 23 (4/22/86), did not make an appearance for Anaheim following his Oct. 26 recall from Bakersfield. He has appeared in four contests with the Condors this season, posting a 2-1-0 record with a 2.10 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.

Teemu Selanne added to his resume, and the Ducks posted their second straight victory at Honda Center, 4-3 over the Phoenix Coyotes.

Selanne scored the 211th power-play goal of his career, four behind Joe Nieuwendyk for 10th in league history, at 2:49 of the first period. Scott Niedermayer -- who collected two assists -- got his first helper by tapping the puck to Selanne, who walked in and wristed the puck past ex-Duck Ilya Bryzgalov.

"We're heading in the right direction right now," Niedermayer said.

Defenseman Mark Mitera, who had appeared in just five games for the AHL's San Antonio Rampage, has been reassigned to the Ducks' ECHL affiliate in Bakersfield.

Just a reminder that the Ducks' incarnation of California Hockey Day -- a free day for local youth to try ice hockey -- will be held tomorrow at Anaheim ICE, 300 W. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. children ages 4 to 9 will have the opportunity to join Ducks personnel on the ice for a free lesson on the basics of hockey.

In addition to the free lesson, each participating child will receive a variety of prizes, including two free tickets to an upcoming Anaheim Ducks game [sign up here].

The Ducks played 60 minutes of hockey against the defending Stanley Cup champions -- and still lost.

The Ducks have placed forward Erik Christensen on waivers. Other teams will have until 9 a.m. tomorrow to claim him. If Christensen goes unclaimed, he returns to the Ducks.

Shuffled among the bottom three lines this season, Christensen has been held scoreless in six games and was a healthy scratch the past two. He joined the Ducks late in training camp after recovering from off-season shoulder surgery.

Christensen scored two goals in 17 regular-season games after coming to the Ducks in a trade from Atlanta last March and had none in last season's playoffs.

Sources say Anaheim GM Bob Murray is itching to make a deal with his team off to a rough start (4-6-1 heading into play last night). Murray would like to add some scoring depth. C Todd Marchant is likely available, but there's not much of a market for role players these days. The guy everybody wants from Anaheim is LW Bobby Ryan and he's not going anywhere.