June 2010 Archives

If Logan MacMillan's future in the Ducks' organization was not doomed by his lack of offensive production, his injury history, or his DUI arrest in January, it was doomed Wednesday when the former first-round draft pick was traded to the Calgary Flames for minor-leaguer Jason Jaffray.

The 19th overall pick in 2007, MacMillan never lived up to his lofty expectations in Anaheim. Some of it was hardly MacMillan's fault.

After the 20-goal 2006-07 campaign for the Halifax Moosheads that got him drafted, MacMillan was beset by injuries and could not improve on his goals or assists totals over his final two seasons in the QMJHL. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract in 2009 but was bothered by back spasms early in the 2009-10 season with ECHL affiliate Bakersfield.

When healthy, MacMillan was a responsible defensive forward and penalty-kill specialist in Bakersfield. But he never displayed the scorer's touch that one would expect from a first-round draft pick. MacMillan scored two goals in 30 games for the Condors before he was sent home following his arrest. He resurfaced late in the season to play seven scoreless games for the AHL's Abbotsford Heat, the Flames' top minor-league affiliate.

MacMillan had two years left on his entry-level contract at just more than $1 million per season.

Jaffray, 29, is a minor-league journeyman. In eight pro seasons, the left wing has played in 36 NHL games, 372 AHL games and 141 ECHL games. He has four goals at the NHL level, the first coming in his debut game as a Vancouver Canuck on Dec. 12, 2007 against the Ducks' Jean-Sebastien Giguere. He will become an unrestricted free agent after the next season.

Either the Ducks or Flames could also receive a conditional seventh-round selection in the 2013 Entry Draft in the trade.

The Ducks have signed goaltender Jean-Phillippe Levasseur to a one-year contract extension.

The 23-year-old was as affected as anyone by the Ducks' lack of an American Hockey League affiliate last season. The 6-foot, 199-pound goalie appeared in 16 games for Laredo of the Central Hockey League (10-3-3, 2.31 GAA, .919 SV%), five for Bakersfield of the ECHL (2-3-0, 3.63, .903) and 25 for Springfield of the AHL (8-16-1, 3.59 GAA, .896).

Levasseur was a seventh-round draft pick by the Ducks in 2005.

The lone Duck placed on waivers Tuesday, defenseman Nathan Oystrick, went unclaimed by the other 29 NHL teams. A team spokesperson relayed today that the Ducks will buy out his contract and are on the hook for approximately $366,000, to be paid out over the next two seasons.

Goaltender Igor Bobkov, a third-round pick by the Ducks at the 2009 Entry Draft, was chosen in the second round of the Canadian Hockey League import draft Tuesday.

Bobkov, 19, was a member of Magnitogorsk Stalnye Lisy in 2009-2010, posting a 2.71 goals-against average and .893 save percentage in 14 games. He was also a member of the Russian under-20 team at the 2010 Junior Hockey Championships. In six games with Team Russia, he posted a 2.45 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage, including a standout performance against the WHL all-star team.

No word yet if this means Bobkov is officially making the jump to North America, but he has a junior team waiting for him if he can. Current Duck Corey Perry is a London Knights alum.

Tuesday was a deadline of sorts for NHL teams to part amicably with players who are under contract beyond Thursday, the beginning of the free-agent period.

Several players were placed on waivers, including the Ducks' Nathan Oystrick. He was joined on the waiver wire by former Ducks forward Petteri Nokelainen (now in Phoenix), former Sharks forward Jonathan Cheechoo (Ottawa), along with D Jim Vandermeer (Phoenix), RW Ales Kotalik (Calgary) and D Ville Koistinen (Florida).

If they go unclaimed, they could be bought out of their contracts and become unrestricted free agents Thursday, when the free-agency period opens at 9 a.m.

Oystrick, acquired at midseason from the Atlanta Thrashers in the Evgeny Artyukhin deal, was the lone Duck placed on waivers. The 27-year-old appeared in three games for the Ducks in April, going scoreless, and 43 with the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves.

Bob Ferguson has been named the assistant general manager of the Syracuse Crunch, the Ducks' new American Hockey League affiliate.

The 55-year-old Ferguson was the assistant GM of the Iowa Chops in 2008-09, before the franchise folded, and spent last season as an amateur and college scout for the Ducks.

Prior to joining the Ducks, Ferguson spent nine years as a head coach in the professional ranks with the Indianapolis Ice of the then-International Hockey League (IHL), as well as the Florida Everblades and Augusta Lynx of the ECHL.

He is a three-time USA Hockey National Champion (Gold Cup), a five-time USHL Coach of the Year, a five-time USHL General Manager of the Year and two-time ECHL Coach of the Year. Before reaching the IHL, Ferguson coached in the United States Hockey League (USHL) for 17 seasons with the Sioux City Musketeers and Des Moines Buccaneers.

Bob Ferguson has been named the assistant general manager of the Syracuse Crunch, the Ducks' new American Hockey League affiliate.

The 55-year-old Ferguson was the assistant GM of the Iowa Chops in 2008-09, before the franchise folded, and spent last season as an amateur and college scout for the Ducks.

Prior to joining the Ducks, Ferguson spent nine years as a head coach in the professional ranks with the Indianapolis Ice of the then-International Hockey League (IHL), as well as the Florida Everblades and Augusta Lynx of the ECHL.

He is a three-time USA Hockey National Champion (Gold Cup), a five-time USHL Coach of the Year, a five-time USHL General Manager of the Year and two-time ECHL Coach of the Year. Before reaching the IHL, Ferguson coached in the United States Hockey League (USHL) for 17 seasons with the Sioux City Musketeers and Des Moines Buccaneers.

When the media met with Cam Fowler in the Staples Center tunnel, we had no idea what he was thinking, what he was saying, or what the look on his face was when he heard 11 names announced before his own. Now we know. Same with Emerson Etem (the next video in line).

Enjoy:

Soon-to-be restricted free agents Bobby Ryan, James Wisniewski and Brendan Mikkelson have received qualifying offers from the Ducks, while minor-league forwards Shawn Weller and Bobby Bolt have not. Neither has goaltender Jean-Phillippe Levasseur, with whom the Ducks are negotiating a long-term contract.

The deadline to for teams to extend qualifying offers is 2 p.m. (Pacific) today.

Ryan is almost certain to command an offer sheet July 1 if he has not already re-signed with the Ducks. General manager Bob Murray has attempted to re-sign Ryan with a five-year contract offer in the $20-25 million range, but the sides have yet to reach an agreement despite the fact that talks began early last season. The 23-year-old forward scored a career-high 35 goals in 2009-10, his second full NHL season.

In a season shortened to 69 games by injuries and suspensions, Wisniewski finished with three goals and 30 points. The hard-hitting defenseman nearly went to arbitration with the Ducks last year before signing a 1-year contract worth $2.75 million.

Mikkelson, who turned 23 last week, has split the last two seasons between the NHL and AHL, collecting four assists in 62 games with the Ducks.

If a qualified player receives an offer sheet from another team, the current team then has the right to match the offer sheet or will receive a combination of draft picks in return (see below, courtesy of TSN):

Below $863,156	No Compensation
$863,156-$1,307,812	Third-round pick
$1,307,812-$2,615,625	Second-round pick
$2,615,625-$3,923,437	First- and third-round picks
$3,923,437-$5,231,249	First-, second and third-round picks
$5,231,249-$6,539,062	Two first-rounders, a second-round pick and a third-round pick.
$6,539,062 or more	Four first-round picks

The Anaheim connection here is flimsy, but bear with me and you'll be rewarded with a photo to share with your friends.

On Saturday, Barry Melrose, the Syracuse Crunch mascot ("Al the Ice Gorilla"), someone dressed like a donut and someone else dressed like a cup of coffee appeared at a grand opening of a Dunkin' Donuts in Lansing, NY. Perhaps the coffee and the donut were actually Cam Fowler and Emerson Etem, I'm not really sure ...

View image

10:16 a.m.: With their second-round pick, the Ducks take right wing Devante Smith-Pelly, a right wing from Mississauga St. Michael's (OHL). He is listed at 5-11, 211 pounds.

Smith-Pelly had 29 goals and 62 points in 60 games last season. He was ranked 67th among North American Skaters by Central Scouting in the midterm rankings, and 76th in the final rankings.

For Smith-Pelly, hearing his name called 42nd overall wasn't necessarily a surprise.

"I wasn't really sure exactly where I was going to go," he said. "I came in not expecting to go anywhere, really, just soaking it all in. Then to hear my name called was exciting."

The 18-year-old compared his game to that of Dustin Brown, the versatile Kings winger who can score, defend and hit with equal ease. Smith-Pelly described himself as "a guy who can excel in a top-6 forward role or a bottom-6 forward role." This in spite of the fact that he came to the OHL from a team - the Junior Canadiens - "where defense was optional."

Don't be surprised if the Ducks ask him to spend some extra time in juniors to hone the defensive side of his game. For as much as Smith-Pelly would like to make the NHL club, the Memorial Cup tournament is coming to Mississauga next year, and his team will have the automatic berth given to the host squad.

12:15 p.m.: The Ducks have acquired the Toronto Maple Leafs' fifth-round pick (122nd overall) for right wing Mike Brown, and used it to select Christopher Wagner, a right wing for the South Shore Kings of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. Wagner had 34 goals and 83 points in 44 games last season for South Shore.

Anaheim then used its own fifth-round pick (132nd overall) to select Tim Heed, a defenseman from Sweden. Heed was the 30th-ranked European skater by Central Scouting. The 19-year-old had eight goals and 37 points in 32 games last year for Sodertalje of the of the Swedish Elite League.

Neither player is here at Staples Center, but I did ask Brian Burke about Brown. Even though he didn't trade for Brown - that was one of Bob Murray's first deals as Ducks GM - he was on the Maple Leafs' radar. "We're very pleased," Burke said.

The 25-year-old Brown set career highs in 2009-10 with 75 games played, six goals, seven points and 106 penalty minutes.

12:45 p.m.: The Ducks have chosen Swedish center Andreas Dahlstrom with the first of their two sixth-round picks, 161st overall. The scouting report, according to Eliteprospects.com

A very shifty player. Dahlström has impressive hands and technical
skills and is very creative. Can do the unexpected with the puck at all
times. Hockey sense is good and passing game is impressive. Skating
could maybe use some improvement as well as his finishing ability.
Injuries have also slowed down his development, but he has the potential
to become a high scoring player.

1:05 p.m.: Kevin Lind (Chicago, USHL) becomes the newest Duck with the 177th pick of the draft. Anaheim has one pick left, a seventh-rounder.

Lind fell from the 32nd to 139th on Central Scouting's list of North American skaters. HockeysFuture.com ranked him as the 10th-best draft prospect in the entire USHL in January. According to the Ducks' director of amateur scouting, Martin Madden, Lind was hurt by playing on a poor team and pushing back his college entry by a year (he'll attend Notre Dame after playing next season in the USHL).


1:18 p.m.: The Ducks used their last pick of the draft (192nd overall) on Brett Perlini, a sophomore fowrard from Michigan State. The 20-year-old had seven goals and 12 points in 20 games last season. His father, Fred Perlini, played eight NHL games as a center for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The two newest Ducks, Cam Fowler and Emerson Etem are two entirely different hockey players who will be linked forever by the historic 2010 Entry Draft. Fowler was Anaheim's 12th pick and Etem went 29th.

A record-tying 10 U.S.-born players were selected in the first round, matching the total of 2006 and 2007. A record two of them were from California, including the Long Beach native Etem.

Considering how much of a steal Fowler was considered for the Ducks at No. 12, it's remarkable to think that Etem might have actually overshadowed him. Some were projecting Fowler as high as third overall, but the Columbus Blue Jackets surprised everyone by selecting Ryan Johansen with the fourth overall pick, setting off a run on forwards. With Fowler still on the board for the Ducks, general manager Bob Murray looked like a kid on Christmas when he announced he was selecting the prized defenseman.

The Ducks were cheered in Staples Center, perhaps for the first time ever, when general manager Bob Murray announced the selection of Long Beach native Emerson Etem.

Here is the NHL.com scouting report:

• In his first Western Hockey League season, Etem led all rookies in goals (37) and finished fourth overall in points (65) in 72 games. He added another seven goals (7-3--10) in 12 playoff games and was named Medicine Hat's Rookie of the Year for 2009-10.

• In 2008-09, he played for the U.S. Under-17 National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan, recording 45 points (23-22--45) in 50 games. That season, his linemates were fellow California-born players Matthew Nieto (Long Beach, CA) and Chase Balisy (Fullerton, CA). Nieto (2011 eligible) and Etem are longtime friends, having met playing roller hockey together at their local YMCA.

• Leaving home at the age of 14, he attended Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, Minnesota -- a school known for producing young NHL stars like Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Zach Parise and Jack Johnson. He decided he wanted to attend Shattuck after his older brother, Mark (five years his senior), competed in the same tournament with Shattuck-St. Mary's during Crosby's tenure.

• He has spent the past three off-seasons taking a train over two hours each way to workout with renowned California-based trainer T.R. Goodman and several NHLers including: Chris Chelios, Mike Comrie and Mike Commodore.

• Athleticism runs in the Etem family, not on frozen water, but instead, in water. His mother, Patricia, rowed at the 1984 Olympics and four World Championships, his father, Rick, rowed for the Naval Academy in college and his older brother, Martin, currently rows for the U.S. Under-23 national team.

• He got his start playing roller hockey at the age of three before switching to ice hockey three years later. In California, he played his minor hockey for the Los Angeles Hockey Club and had a paper route he could rollerblade to earn money for his hockey equipment.

The Ducks have chosen defenseman Cam Fowler with their first pick in the NHL Entry Draft, the 12th overall selection.

Here is the scouting report on the 18-year-old from NHL.com:


• In the 2010 Ontario Hockey League playoffs, Fowler finished sixth in scoring among defensemen with 14 points (3-11--14) in 19 games as Windsor won their second consecutive Robertson Cup as OHL Champions.

• In 55 games this season he tallied 55 points (8-47--55), finishing seventh among OHL defensemen, and his plus-38 rating helped the Spitfires finish first in their conference.

• As a member of Team USA he won a gold medal at the 2010 World Junior Championship and at the 2009 Under-18 World Championship where he was named the tournament's Top Defenseman.

• Fowler played two seasons in Ann Arbor, Michigan with the U.S. National Training Development Program. In 2008-09 he was a member of the Under-18 team recording 30 points (6-24--30) in 38 games.

• He is also a graduate of the Detroit Honeybakked AAA hockey system, playing his last year in minor-midget totaling 28 points (8-20--28) in 52 games. He was also originally recruited to play for the University of Notre Dame before deciding to play for Windsor in the OHL.

• Fowler played Division 1 Baseball in High School for Farmington. As the Cinderella team in the 2007 Michigan State Championships, Fowler took the loss as the relief pitcher in the final game against Lake Orion.

• Born in Windsor, Ontario he holds dual citizenship as his family moved to Michigan when he was two years old.

• His childhood hockey hero was Bobby Orr because his dad would tell him about Orr and he wears number 24 instead of four because fellow 2010 Draft prospect and teammate Taylor Hall already it in Windsor.

Director of NHL Central Scouting's E.J. McGuire:

"He's your prototypical offensive-defenseman. He's your (quarterback) on your (power-play), he's your great skating offensive-defenseman and he controls the puck with his skills. If you're looking for a comparison, think of Kaberle with the Maple Leafs. But in sticking with his country, maybe even a future Leetch or Housley."

Windsor Spitfires head coach Bob Boughner:

"Cam's vision, skating and passing are his greatest assets. He gets himself out of trouble with his feet and his mobility makes it very difficult for opposing players to get by him. Cam has good size and once he fills out, he will anchor an NHL club's back end for many years."

Mike Foligno, a veteran head coach in the Ontario Hockey League, has been named an assistant coach with the Ducks, succeeding Newell Brown. Brown was a Ducks assistant from 1998-2000 and again from 2005 until this week, when his contract was not renewed.

Foligno spent the last seven seasons as head coach and general manager of the Sudbury Wolves, compiling a 189-229-58 record. The Wolves went 26-35-7 last season and made the playoffs for the sixth time in Sudbury's tenure, which included a conference championship in 2006-07.

Foligno has previously served as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs (1995-96) and Colorado Avalanche (1997-98). He served as the head coach of the AHL's Hershey Bears from 1998-2003.

"He wanted to come back to the NHL," Ducks general manager Bob Murray said. "I think this was the right time. He's really passionate. He's got charisma. I think he's going to work very well with our forwards."

In a 15-year NHL playing career (1979-94) with Detroit, Buffalo, Toronto and Florida, Foligno collected 355 goals, 727 points and 2,049 penalty minutes in 1,018 games. A right wing, Foligno's best season came with Buffalo in 1985-86, when he scored 41 goals and 80 points in 79 games.

Brown was responsible for running the Ducks' power play, a role Foligno can possibly expect to assume with fellow assistant coach Dave Farrish already in charge of the penalty kill.

The NHL Awards came to the Palms in Las Vegas for the first time last year, and there were a few kinks to work out. This applied to the press area too, where reporters had to abandon our laptops in the media workroom to do interviews in another room (so spoiled are we collectively that a trip to Vegas is no longer enough...). It was a clunky process that was rectified today.

The downside of having two interview podiums at the front of the media workroom meant that the all the televisions carrying the actual Awards ceremony were muted whenever a player was giving an interview. So we didn't actually hear half the show (though I was told that Jay Mohr did a mean Christopher Walken interview).

Thank God no one was being interviewed when the hands-down, best laugh-out-loud video segment of the show (that I could hear) was on TV:

An emotional Scott Niedermayer has announced his retirement, bringing an end to a historic 18-year career that brought Anaheim its first Stanley Cup.

Niedermayer, who turns 37 in August, nearly retired after leading the Ducks to their first Stanley Cup in 2007. But then-general manager Brian Burke allowed the defenseman to wait until midway through the next season to rejoin the team. With Niedermayer back, Anaheim turned its season around, going 32-12-4 and easily clinching a playoff berth.

He contemplated retirement again after the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons before returning each time. This time, Niedermayer was "100 percent committed to this decision."

A lock to make the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, Niedermayer is the only player in hockey history to have won a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold medal, World
Championship, World Cup, Memorial Cup and World Junior titles. His impact on the Ducks is unmistakable: When Niedermayer signed as a free agent in August 2005, the franchise had just three playoff appearances (and four series victories) to show for its first 11 seasons. In his five seasons in Anaheim, Niedermayer led the Ducks to four playoff appearances, seven series wins, as well as their first Cup.

His 10 goals and 38 assists in 2009-10 were both tops among Ducks defenseman, but represented Niedermayer's lowest goal total in a full season since 1999-2000 and his lowest assists total over a full season since 2002-03.

Niedermayer was named team captain in October 2006, relinquishing the "C" (to Chris Pronger) only during his partial 2007-08 season. The captaincy is likely to fall to one of last season's alternate captains, Ryan Getzlaf or Saku Koivu. Koivu is due to become a free agent July 1, while Getzlaf is under contract through 2013.

Replacing Niedermayer on the ice is not as straightforward a task.

Considered one of the best skaters in NHL history, Niedermayer is in an elite class of defensemen, none of whom can be found on the open market. However, the Ducks would have the salary-cap and payroll space to trade for a top-tier defensemen with Niedermayer's $6.8 million salary off the books.

Lubomir Visnovsky proved a capable power-play quarterback after he was acquired from Edmonton late last season. Otherwise, the team's strongest puck mover last season was James Wisniewski, a restricted free agent. Luca Sbisa is also a strong skater with offensive instincts, but the 20-year-old has yet to play a full NHL season. The Ducks own two picks (12th and 29th) in the first round of the entry draft, which begins Friday.

How the Ducks draft, and who they target in free agency or the trade market, may not be the most significant ramification of Niedermayer's retirement.

Teemu Selanne turns 40 on July 3, two days after he will become an unrestricted free agent, and may now be persuaded to retire as well. Selanne also contemplated retirement in 2007 and 2008, and only returned to the team in 2007 after Niedermayer returned. Selanne is expected to decide this week on whether or not to play an 18th NHL season.

Here it is (all times Pacific):

Oct. 8 at Detroit, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 9 at Nashville, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 11 at St. Louis, 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 13 Vancouver, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 15 Atlanta, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 17 Phoenix, 5:00 p.m.
Oct. 20 at Columbus, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 21 at Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 23 at Detroit, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 26 at Dallas, 8:00 p.m.
Oct. 29 New Jersey, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 30 at San Jose, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 3 Tampa Bay, 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 5 Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 7 Nashville, 5:00 p.m.
Nov. 9 at San Jose, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 10 N.Y. Islanders, 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 12 Dallas, 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 14 at Chicago, 6:00 p.m.
Nov. 16 at Dallas, 8:00 p.m.
Nov. 17 at Minnesota, 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 19 Columbus, 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 21 Edmonton, 5:00 p.m.
Nov. 26 Chicago, 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 27 at Phoenix, 6:00 p.m.
Nov. 29 Los Angeles, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 1 Florida, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 3 Detroit, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 5 Phoenix, 5:00 p.m.
Dec. 7 at Edmonton, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 8 at Vancouver, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 10 Calgary, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 12 Minnesota, 5:00 p.m.
Dec. 15 at Washington, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 16 at N.Y. Islanders, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 18 at Carolina, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 20 at Boston, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 21 at Buffalo, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 26 at Los Angeles, 6:00 p.m.
Dec. 28 at Phoenix, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 31 Philadelphia, 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 2 Chicago, 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 5 Nashville, 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 7 Columbus, 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 9 San Jose, 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 12 St. Louis, 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 15 at Phoenix, 6:00 p.m.
Jan. 16 Edmonton, 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 18 at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 at Toronto, 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 22 at Montreal, 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 25 at Columbus, 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 2 San Jose, 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 5 at Colorado, 1:00 p.m.
Feb. 9 at Vancouver, 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 11 at Calgary, 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 13 at Edmonton, 6:00 p.m.
Feb. 16 Washington, 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 18 at Minnesota, 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 19 at St. Louis, 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 23 Los Angeles, 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 25 Minnesota, 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 27 Colorado, 5:00 p.m.
Mar. 2 Detroit, 7:00 p.m.
Mar. 4 Dallas, 7:00 p.m.
Mar. 6 Vancouver, 5:00 p.m.
Mar. 9 N.Y. Rangers, 7:00 p.m.
Mar. 11 at Colorado, 7:00 p.m.
Mar. 13 Phoenix, 5:00 p.m.
Mar. 16 St. Louis, 7:00 p.m.
Mar. 19 at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m.
Mar. 20 Calgary, 5:00 p.m.
Mar. 23 at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.
Mar. 24 at Nashville, 7:00 p.m.
Mar. 26 at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
Mar. 28 Colorado, 7:00 p.m.
Mar. 30 at Calgary, 7:30 p.m.
Apr. 2 at San Jose, 7:30 p.m.
Apr. 3 Dallas, 5:00 p.m.
Apr. 6 San Jose, 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 8 Los Angeles, 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 9 at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m.

My picks for can't miss games:

Oct. 8 at Detroit: For the third straight season, the Ducks open against a perennial playoff team, but for the first time it isn't the Sharks. Last season, they hosted San Jose (and lost 4-1). The previous year they went to San Jose (and won 4-1). If you believe in omens, you'll remember how each of those seasons ended.

Oct. 21 at Philadelphia: Chris Pronger and Joffrey Lupul - and possibly Luca Sbisa and the 29th overall pick in this year's draft - can trade looks from across the ice. Oh, and the Flyers won the East last year.

Nov. 5 vs. Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz and company invade Honda Center. Ought to be a good atmosphere.

Dec. 15 at Washington: This is the opening game of a season-long, seven-game road trip spanning 13 days. It won't be as bad as it sounds - the Ducks get five days off around Christmas, then visit the Kings on Dec. 26 - but the first five games are on the Eastern seaboard, and the first is against Ovechkin. Yikes.

Dec. 31 vs. Philadelphia, Jan. 2 vs. Chicago: Both Stanley Cup finalists invade Honda Center in the span of three days. The Ducks better take it easy on New Year's.

Jan. 20 at Toronto: The Ducks' first game against Jean-Sebastien Giguere in a Maple Leafs uniform, which is sure to provide a media circus in Toronto. Oh right - it's always a media circus in Toronto. Brian Burke and Francois Beauchemin will absorb some questions too.

Feb. 16 vs. Washington: Ovechkin's lone appearance at Honda Center this season.

• Beginning with an April 2 game in San Jose, the Ducks will play five straight games against Pacific Division opponents to end the season.
• The Ducks play the Kings only twice before Feb. 23 and FOUR times after.
• The longest homestand is a seven-game stretch beginning with the Feb. 23 game against the Kings and ending March 9 against the New York Rangers.

The release of the full NHL schedule is 24 hours away, but the Ducks will host the Vancouver Canucks in their home opener on Wednesday, October 13 at Honda Center at 7 p.m.

The Ducks will open the regular season on the road with back-to-back games Oct. 8 and 9 in Detroit and Nashville, respectively. Tomorrow we will learn whether they have another game between the road game against the Predators and the home game against the Canucks.

3:15 p.m.: The full preseason schedule has been released:

Date                             Opponent                   Venue                  Time (Pacific)

Tuesday, Sept. 21        PHOENIX                    Honda Center      7:05 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 22   SAN JOSE                  Honda Center      7:05 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 24            @ San Jose                HP Pavilion          7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 25       @ Vancouver              GM Place             7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 28        @ Los Angeles           Staples Center     7:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 1                VANCOUVER             Honda Center      7:05 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 3              LOS ANGELES          Honda Center      5:05 p.m.

The Ducks have signed center Kyle Chipchura to a 1-year, $650,000 contract. Chipchura, who was due to become a restricted free agent on July 1, became the everday fourth-line center soon after he was acquired in a midseason trade from Montreal.

The 24-year-old set career highs in 2009-10 for games (55), goals (six) and points (12) after three disappointing seasons with the Canadiens, who made him the 18th overall draft pick in 2004. Chipchura also won 47.9 percent of his faceoffs, the fifth-best percentage on the team.

Along with Todd Marchant and Ryan Carter, Chipchura gives the Ducks three experienced candidates for the third- and fourth-line center positions in 2010-11.

Ducks general manager Bob Murray was in Syracuse, N.Y. on Tuesday to introduce new Crunch head coach Mark Holick and assistant coach Mike Stapleton. Howard Dolgon, the team owner, kicks off the press conference before turning it over to Murray, then Holick:

(Click here if the video doesn't load)

The Ducks are among five teams set to participate in a five-team rookie tournament from Sept. 12-16 in Penticton, British Columbia. The eight-game round-robin tournament will also include the host Vancouver Canucks, San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers. Anaheim prospects will play three games at the South Okanagan Events Centre, including Sept. 12 vs. San Jose (7:30 p.m. PDT), Sept. 13 vs. Calgary (4 p.m. PDT) and Sept. 15 vs. Vancouver (4 p.m. PDT). 

Anaheim's 2010 Rookie Camp roster and schedule will be released at a later date; the 2010-11 season schedule is due to be released next Tuesday. Below is a complete look at the 2010 rookie tournament schedule.

GAME      TEAMS                                 DATE              TIME (PDT)
Game 1      Vancouver vs. Edmonton       Sept. 12           4:00 p.m.
Game 2      San Jose vs. Anaheim            Sept. 12           7:30 p.m.

Game 3      Anaheim vs. Calgary              Sept. 13           4:00 p.m.
Game 4      San Jose vs. Vancouver         Sept. 13           7:30 p.m.
Game 5      Calgary vs. Edmonton            Sept. 14           7:30 p.m.

Game 6      Anaheim vs. Vancouver         Sept. 15           4:00 p.m.
Game 7      Edmonton vs. San Jose          Sept. 15           7:30 p.m.

Game 8      Calgary vs. Vancouver           Sept. 16           12:00 p.m.

From Helsingin Sanomat's International Edition:

The 2007 Stanley Cup winner and the all-time points leader in men's Olympic ice hockey, who has played in the NHL since the 1992-93 season, told the Finnish daily Turun Sanomat that he will quit if the team announces plans to perform a rejuvenation operation and start building a new squad.

Selänne, who turns 40 early next month, said that his continuing with the team is likely "if Anaheim decides that is still wants to win next season and if it wants to keep the team more or less the same."

Selänne believes that the situation is very similar to that of his fellow countryman Saku Koivu, 35, who is still without a contract. The ball - or the puck - is in the team's court so to speak.

"Saku, too, is in a situation where he wants to continue to play in a winning team", Selänne commented about his teammate to the Turku-based newspaper.

This is roughly the same approach Selanne took two seasons ago, when he signed a two-year contract that expires July 1. It would also seem that Selanne is again willing to take a "hometown discount" similar to the $2.6 million he earned last season.

The fourth annual Anaheim Ducks West Coast Prospects Camp is set for this Friday through Sunday at Anaheim ICE.

The invitation-only camp will be attended by more than 120 youth hockey players (ages 13-17), who will showcase their skills before coaches from more than 20 college and major junior programs. Among several Southern Californians ranked in the upcoming 2010 NHL Entry Draft, two attended the 2008 camp: RW Beau Bennett, a native of Gardena and ranked 32nd heading into the 2010 draft, and D Taylor Aronson, a native of Placentia and ranked 88th.

All participants are Southern California natives, stretching as far south as San Diego and as far north as Santa Barbara. Games begin at Anaheim ICE on Friday at 3 p.m. and are free of charge to the general public. A total of 16 games will be played throughout the weekend, concluding on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Thanks to the Globe and Mail for drawing up this handy-dandy chart comparing ESPN.com's average per-game attendance figures from 2008-09 and 2009-10:

Mike Stapleton, a 14-year NHL veteran and an assistant coach in the Ontario Hockey League since 2006, has been named assistant coach of the Syracuse Crunch, the Ducks' AHL affiliate.

Stapleton spent four seasons as an assistant and associate coach in the OHL with Sault Ste. Marie (2008-10) and Erie (2006-08).The 44-year-old began his professional coaching career as an assistant coach for Traverse City of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) in 2005-06.

Stapleton played in 697 regular-season NHL games with the Blackhawks, Penguins, Oilers, Jets/Coyotes, Thrashers, Islanders and Canucks, collecting 71 goals, 182 points and 342 penalty minutes.

Traditionally AHL teams keep only one assistant coach.

The Ducks will wear a third jersey next season, writes Adam Brady on the Ducks' Web site. It sounds as if the jerseys won't resemble the Mighty Ducks jerseys of the 1990s and early 2000s. The team's current color scheme and logo was introduced in 2006.

Ducks VP of Sales and Marketing Bob Wagner said the team waited this long to create a third jersey so as to not dilute the new look that was unveiled four summers ago. "We wanted to establish that new logo and colors first, "Wagner said, "before we started making plans for an alternate jersey." 

No word yet on when we can expect a jersey unveiling.

Defenseman Stefan Warg, a fifth-round draft pick by the Ducks in 2008, has signed with the Örebro Vipers of HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-highest league in Sweden. Warg is a native of Stockholm.

Warg split the 2009-10 season between the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League, scoring 20 points, all assists, in 64 games. The 20-year-old was not tendered an entry-level contract by the Ducks, and only could have returned to the WHL as an overage player.

"We talked to his agent two weeks ago, and he asked us to give our blessing on where we wanted (Warg) to play," Ducks assistant general manager David McNab said. "We thought going back (to Sweden) would be good for him. We know he'll play more. We own his rights until June 1, then we'll make a decision."

First some odds.

Less than 24 hours after the Chicago Blackhawks clinched the Stanley Cup on Wednesday, we received the 2011 Stanley Cup champion odds, courtesy of Bodog.com. Get 'em while they're hot:

Scott Niedermayer, speaking today on "NHL Live!" (a show simulcast on Sirius/XM and on the NHL Network), said he is close to making a decision about his playing future.

"It's got to come pretty soon," the Ducks' captain said. "The draft and July 1 are coming closer and the team needs to move ahead with their plans."

Niedermayer has contemplated retirement before coming back to play each of the last two seasons. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1.

He did not indicate if the recent decision of 40-year-old Nicklas Lidstrom to return to the Detroit Red Wings would influence his own.

"With what I've been through, I think I understand both sides very well," Niedermayer said.

Defenseman Sheldon Brookbank has parlayed a career year into a two-year, $1.5 million contract with the Ducks. The 29-year-old will earn $700,000 in 2010-11 and $800,000 the following season for a $750,000 cap hit.

Brookbank set career highs in 2009-10 in games played (66), assists (9), points (9), plus/minus (plus-10) and penalty minutes (114). His plus/minus rating and penalty minute total were second on the team, and his eight fighting majors tied for third.

Ducks management first approached Brookbank about a possible contract extension during the second half of last season. While he considered the possibility of seeking more money as a free agent, the deciding factor was that "I was comfortable here," he said.

"I didn't want to get too greedy. I wanted to be somewhere I feel like I fit in. I feel like I fit in here and my wife likes it here too."