Ducks Youth and 2 Milestones:My Thoughs

Few weeks ago Ducks played their 2000th game and 1000th Home game 2 Milestones in November lead  me to reflect how far our team has come and games we have experience be it Live at Ponda or watching it on TV or Listening on Internet Radio via AM830....I can't help but look back. We have witness and see Wins and Loss,Highs and Lows...Good,Bad and Ugly. We have seen it all with the Ducks over the 2000 games and 1000 games at Ponda. So many memories so many games and players we have seen grow to make their mark. We celebrate each,Criticize each loss and yet all of us are still with Ducks.

I ponder what lay ahead for Ducks as we enter Month of December. Looking at the Roster I am hopeful and Optimistic as always but cautions...Amount of Youth within Ducks Rank-and-File has me eager to see this team be restored to Greatness through Rebuilding and Rejuvenation. I can help but smile seeing the ages of Ducks on the Roster..Troy Terry,Sam Steel,Max Jones,Jacob Larsson and others. Most where not even born when Ducks were Founded.

Many Ducks Fans I know be it Ducks Message Board,Facebook,Twitter and elsewhere have patience tested often it hits it limits. I will not get into details but all have Expectations that are real,High and often negative....This is what i call expressing hope. See we are all Ducks Fans and accusing each other of not being a "Ducks Fan" is absurd. You see Rebuilding which Ducks are in should not be look it with Fear,Dread or misery.....This sort of thing is a Process all NHL,MLB,NBA,NFL and sports teams worldwide face.

Even though they are not where they are in Pacific Division does not mean they are a Joke or Worst team. Keep in mind in Ducks History and previous season they are a strong 2nd half team and with 3 months to go in 19-20 season I am interested to see where Ducks will Finish...Team is Good BUT they are not worst.....They 26th edition of the Ducks have a Potential to be GREAT!.

DuckPride 4ever
MooseDuck

Anaheim Ducks 2019-2020 season: Rejuvenation,Reinvigorate and Restoration

So it Begins....Roster is now finalized,Gathering of the Ducks aka Training Camp is done. Tomorrow begins our Ducks 26th NHL season. As Ducks turn the page and look forward to the future we must expect to see some turbulence and some roadblocks once Puck Drops on Thursday. Ducks we know are going through Rejuvenation,Reinvigorate and Restoration...Put it bluntly they are rebuilding. Ducks and Ducks fans are mere Hours away from Ducks to be launched and Hit the ground running. No Surprise looking at the Roster 6 of Ducks Youth have earn their spot on Opening Night. Max Comtois,Sam Steel,Max Jones,Troy Terry,Isac Lunderstrom and Jacob Larsson will be given a chance to prove themselves for this season.

26th Edition of Ducks In my Personal Opinion is good....BUT they have potential...Opportunity and choice to be GREAT. We are not surprise by Returnees they like all of us hope for redemption in 19-20 season. Much can be said about 25th Anniversary in my eyes and Soul Previous season was Tough reminder to the Ducks and all Ducks Fans that NOTHING is easy when it comes to Quest for the Stanley Cup.

I can tell you this I believe and I firmly Believe this team has element of surprise on their side...Hockey Pundits and magazines have predicted we will miss the Playoffs. Well I call BS on it....For Ducks History shows our team each season defies the odds...sometimes they succeed other times they fall short.  Nothing will bring great joy in Ducks Win and Bigger joy and happiness in Ducks winning it all. This season will be quest for the Stanley Cup but it will come with alot adversity considering many in Ducks Fandom believe we will fall short...Which is understandable. I have to say this Let us wait and see....Who knows Ducks will surprise even us and be the team we know can comeback and Lay a BEATDOWN on our Rivals and Enemies.

Let us countdown each hour and know Ducks path is clear and they are by 3R's: Rejuvenation,Reinvigorate and Restoration.

DuckPride 4ever
MooseDuck

Ducks Training Camp:Reason for Optimism

15 Days from now and one week to go, counting down to Ducks 26th NHL Season. I am hopeful once the Puck Drop on Oct3rd we see New Edition of the Ducks be active,Consistent and full of Energy....Last night Ducks come from behind Win after being down by 2 Goals... Yet we must not get overexcited or stress out on these preseason games...They are imho Phase 2 of Ducks Training Camp aka Gathering of the Ducks...I call it Test and Trials for Ducks Coaching Staff cause if you ask me Preseason is meaningless and part of Training Camp. Players I see from Returning Vets to New Players signed via Free Agency right down to Ducks Youth ready to earn their keep.

 What I expect and I know most of you do is Ducks Prospects especially the Young Guns to earn their spot in Ducks Roster....Coming days will show us who will make it and who will be sent to San Diego...It's safe to say we will see Comotis,Jones,Steel,Sherwood,Terry and Larsson will appear on Opening Night...To me we are seeing injection of New Blood and infusion of Youth that can awaken Fighting spirit in the team. Path forward is unknown and we should not FEAR it or assume the worst....Previous years and Season our Ducks and Ducks fans alike including myself face the Unknown....we read the statements of some of the Ducks including Jakob Silfverberg "I really think we can surprise alot of People". It says to me and all Ducks Fans that 30 NHL Teams may underestimate us....IF so it could be our advantage once Puck Drops.

I believe in my Heart that our team...Our Ducks can once again surprise and defie the Odds as they did many times before...They can and will Do it again!.

DuckPride 4ever
MooseDuck

T-minus 41 Days Season Opener:Redemption,Restoration and Rebuild

There is no Doubt going forward for all Ducks Fans our team is going with Full youth movement. No Surprise should be given on Ducks Free agent signings are merely to strengthen the depth from Forwards and Defence to Goaltending. Clearly as each day pass by Ducks are slowly getting ready for upcoming 19-20 season. This season will be one of 3 Rs....Redemption,Restoration and Rebuild. Need is injection of Youth will give our Ducks a Boost and sense of Purpose. Gone Are the days of doubt and now we look forward to what Ducks Youth should bring to our team. Putting aside frustration,debates and concerns we have Ducks have from the looks of it Team mixed with 3 ingredients...Youth,Experience and Speed. With Ducks Coach Dallas Eakins at the helm it's obvious to understand why he would like to have his own players from San Diego suit up for the Ducks once the "Gathering of the Ducks" aka Ducks Training Camp begins Next Move.

Look at Players we see and talk about that may earn a spot on Ducks Roster...Comotis,Steel,Jones,Mahura,Sherwood and Larrsson to Lundestrom and Terry. some of them will be part of the Ducks Restoration as we look to regain our honor and Honor of this team. What I expect and Hope is Players we see will earn not only Spot but make their mark on Ducks. Turning the Page with Perry departing to Dallas will be Tough......Looking at the Roster I feel this team will be fine. 

I do not feel this team is worst our Ducks had in 25th Anniversary season...To me Injuries,Stubborn Coach and growing disconnect lead to the team falling Short. 41 Days is long wait but worth it Having the Youth in Ducks Rank-a-File can rejuvenate the team and Light the Spark that can lead our team to be Consistent.Ruthless Aggression is needed due in part of it's lacking last year...I wonder IF Bob Murray is going to try for another trade or signing....pursuing Shatterkirk was fail but at least he tried. Who knows perhaps Bob will surprise but as we countdown Ducks Roster seem abit off....IF this is the Roster Bob wants HE should be held accountable. For now We wait.

DuckPride 4ever

MooseDuck

Anaheim Ducks Youth Movement 19-20:Risky or Worth it?

Recent signings over the past few weeks since July 1st is no surprise. What I am seeing and others within Ducks Fanbase is ensuring not only Ducks Youth movement,when Puck Drop on Oct3rd will be revealed once Ducks 26th edition is assembled and ready. We know this team is trying not to repeat the mistakes that doomed and weaken us in previous season. Hiring Dallas Eakins was a Plus as was getting Kevin Dineen named Head Coach of San Diego was vital move. Signings we see in Chris Wideman,Andreas Martinsen,Jani Hakanpaa,Andrew Poturalski,Blake Pietila and Trade of Nicolas Deslauriers and Return of Mike Del Zotto has lead me to understand clearly...Ducks are intent to go Full Youth Movement...Necessary but a gamble in Ducks strategy of Revitalize,Revival and Rebuild. Many speculate on how this roster will look like and what Ducks can do from here on end till the Gathering of Ducks(Training Camp) in Sept.

One thing is certain expect many of the Young Guns from Maxime Comtios,Max Jones,Sam Steel,Josh Mahura,Troy Terry and few others compete and maybe earn their spot in Ducks Lineup. What Matters is simple Ducks Cause must be rejuvenated in New Blood being able to hone their skills and knowing well some of them have played for Dallas when he was Coache in San Diego makes me wonder we may see Ducks Team coming out not only with energy but Aggression of Speed,Offense and hopefully Relentless Hunger to set things right. One thing I wonder as we count down those days and weeks till Puck Drop.

Will it be Risky or Worth it?.....We will know for sure when Ducks are assemble come Oct.

DuckPride 4ever
MooseDuck

Our Anaheim Ducks:Moving Forward in Draft and Free Agency

Past few Days we see changes.....Changes our Ducks have made in order for our team to Bounce back. After a disappointing and at times dismal season that was 25th Anniversary season. Ducks knew especially those in management knew full too well something like this must Never EVER happen again. First priority was to find 9th...I mean 10th Ducks Head Coach in Team History. Ducks hired Dallas Eakins from San Diego Gulls to be 10th Head Coach...Unofficial Dallas would be the 9th due in part previous Ducks Head Coach Randy Carlyle serve 2 Tenures with the team. It was expected to see Ducks hire within Jun 17th 2019 Ducks made it Official after a long and "Interesting" Interviews they started with. Marking 2nd time our team has look within Farm team to promote someone who has groom and developed next generation of Ducks and future of the team. 1st was in 2002 when then-Mighty Ducks took a chance on Mike Babcock coaching Cincinnati Mighty Ducks who was a Farm team back in "Mighty Ducks" Era. To me hiring Eakins was symbolic gesture in our Ducks will continue not only "Develop within" but look towards Next Generation in guiding the Ducks towards Regaining the Stanley Cup. This implies Ducks will be leaning on their youth like Comotis,Steel,Jones and few others to lead the way.

2nd Priority Ducks made was Buying out Corey Perry. Perry a Long time Duck along with Getzlaf known fondly as the Twins. Both drafted by Mighty Ducks/Anaheim Ducks spent 14 seasons with the team had difficult time contributing to the team due in part in injuries and decline in Stats in past few years. I along with many was hoping Perry would be given a chance to prove himself once again when Puck Drop on Oct3rd...Ducks allow Selanne to Prove himself after a injury, yet it's clear Both our Ducks and Perry decided to Part ways and move on. Once news broke out on TSN,OCregister and in social media there was mix of Sadness,Disappointment and understanding. The Ducks know for this team to move forward tough decisions had to be made and  Buying out Perry was one. Even though I would prefer Ducks trading him to get some important Assets be it Picks/Prospect and players in return.

Once both Priorties were done we had glimpse of the Ducks drafting good players in restocking the positions in need. This year's Ducks Draft Class saw the team select 3 Forwards 4 Defencemen.....total of 7 players. Out of the 7 Trevor Zegras and Henry Thrun play on USA NTDP a team that has seen a large number of it's players drafted. It tells me very well we see Revitalization of youth in selecting those 2 along with 5 other players who are maybe play a part in Ducks Future.

I firmly believe drafting a Center was due in part status of Ryan Kesler who will be on LTIR and replenishing the Ducks Defence Corps was to ensure Blue line does not become weaken.

Finally It comes not surprise Ducks patience was apparent when July 1st came around. Signing only Depth players be it Center Andrew Poturalski and Left Wing Blake Pietlia....or Trade for 4th Liner in Nick Deslauiers.

All in all Ducks moving forward and moves they make are justified...yet we should not panic...Ducks History has shown everytime our team falls short they bounce back and again show us that with each day pass this team we see will be assembled once the Gathering of the Ducks aka Training Camp begins.....Far as I a Diehard Ducks Fan concern....I am FIRED UP for what Ducks Future Holds.

DuckPride 4ever
MooseDuck

June 6th 2007:12 years Later...Look Back

Every Day,Year,Month and Week goes by....I think back to that moment. Jun 6th 2007 we all remember that day all of us Ducks Fans from Orange County California to Nova Scotia,East Coast USA ,Sweden,Russia, Japan and Finland world wide. We Remember the Elation,Joy,Happiness and Perseverance....After all those years I remember as all Ducks Fans do. Struggles,Name calling,Jokes and trolling of other Hockey fans. 14 years of overcoming the odds and believing in this team came to this day.....THIS Special Day as I call it "Day of Great Victory". Every Ducks Fan who attended it live at the Ponda...Watch on TV,Radio,Internet Radio or watch it Live stream knows where they were when the final Buzzer sound and it was over and Official 2007 Stanley Cup Anaheim Ducks was music my ears that night.

Looking back soaking it all in and knowing this was really happening. I know,Ducks Fans know things will change...we will change,our Ducks will change. Everything changed that day. No Longer Ducks will be the butt of jokes,Insults and ridicule. No Longer Ducks Fans will be laughed,insulted and talked down to. Ducks and Ducks Fans have come of age that day and seeing Then-Ducks Captain Scott Niedermayer raised it in Air was something....Emotional for me a Guy from far flung East Province where city I am from has some Ducks Connection to Halifax Mooseheads(Giguere,Dipenta,Chouinard).

Seeing Ducks Legend Teemu Selanne hoist the Stanley Cup to roar of approval of Ducks Ponda Faithful brought a tear to my eye...each one from Chris Pronger,Parros,Marchant,AndyMac,Bryzgalov,Jackman,Pahlsson,Moen,Penner,Getzlaf,Perry,Joe Dipenta,Drew Miller,Ryan Carter,Ryan Shannon and few others most important moment was Scott handing the Stanley Cup to his brother and Giguere raising the Stanley Cup not to mention holding his Son in picture that will live on in memory and all time. Seeing Giguere come from along way from Mooseheads Goalie to Stanley Cup Champion with the Ducks  made me smile. This team and way they dominated and smash through 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs becoming first California team to win it all was something that smiled from Ear to Ear.

 Ducks winning the Stanley Cup in their 14 year in NHL was result of Youth,Aggression and experience that allow them to Pulverize,Smash and withstood any opposition that tried to stand in their way of Destiny and showing no mercy to their enemies was highlight in those days from late April,month of May and early June. Truly it was gratifying and was worth cheering,Supporting and believing that YES they can win the Stanley Cup. I was skeptical of The Hockey News "Prediction" I never like Predictions always felt that it was killjoy.......But all came down to that moment.

As we remember the Players and moment Ducks winning Stanley Cup. Let's not assume and be in despair our team may not win another Stanley Cup...12 years ago they prove they can win it all and with right Coach,Trades and FA Signings I believe they can do it again. It's Not matter of how "Long" its a Matter of "When". Also What made it special to me I was able to get all Autographs of Ducks Players few months prior.....that Day and the year I will never forget it will be Highlight of my life....Memory,Legacy of that moment...our Ducks Moment will be with us forever.

DuckPride 4ever
MooseDuck