Young Ducks showing their stuff and latest CBA Thoughs!

If there is one thing that everyone knows it's tough to defend a championship title. Be it Stanley Cup,Calder Cup or World Hockey Championship....one has to look at the past to know this trend. But seeing the Ducks Farm team in Norfolk shows the Admirals maybe bucking that trend....Influx of Ducks Prospects and youth within the system has galvanize and gives them that drive to prove something. Of course this Admirals Team flys under the Ducks Banner they are different then the ones who won it all last season. Being 5-1 and at the top of one of the divisions in AHL brings alot of competition and maybe intense battles in months ahead. Good and disappointing with this team well...let me say this I am pleased with some prospects who have done well, while others I am not pleased. First off the Good it makes me happy that one of the Ducks Top young D-men within the roster is doing well. 6 games in Sami Vatenen has prove he can adjust to the North American style of Hockey...2Goals 5 Assists 7pts what can you say bout him but be pleased by his stats. Holland,Palmerei,DSP and Maroon has shown they are honing their skills maybe Maroon will get a look IF the season beings or not. Bobkov being 3-0 and Anderson shows he can hang in North American game....proves to us Ducks made the right choice in selecting him. Disappointment I have is Emerson Etem. I have hopes he would hit the ground running yet I think either adjusting abit and coaching decisions really has kept him off the score sheet over past 6 games. Another is Brandon McMillan was hoping he can kick it up a notch but it seems he like Etem will take time to hit the ground running. IF this NHL Lockout did not happen rest assure we will see several of the admirals aka Baby Ducks striving to succeed in advancing the Ducks Cause. Optimistic I still am But know this I feel both sides are playing office politics that has bad consequences for the sport in Canada and USA not to mention other nations as a whole. I think with all that happen we need to understand that lack of leadership is giving the players and some owners a bad name...However I am hopeful that when season begins Ducks are ready to dish out RUTHLESS PUNISHMENT!. DuckPride 4ever MooseDuck

Ducks on the Block:4-0 in Norfolk

If we know our Future is bright then we as Ducks Fans in Orange County and else well know it that in Norfolk we are getting a glimpse of the Ducks New Blood honing their skills and talents in AHL. NHL Still in Lockout crisis several players have caught my eye during the first four games. Vatenen,Elkins and Palmieri have impress me with their stats let alone effort in giving our Ducks Farm team a good start. Others like Bodie 2g 2a 4pts,Maroon 3Goals 3pts. It gives me hope that we may see these Ducks wearing the Ducks D hopefully this season or next we see them ready to advance the cause of our team. Positive is Vatanen 1g 5a 6pts,Elkins 3goals 1a 4pts along with Palmieri being the leading scoring things seem to be on the right track....For now. Negatives is having Etem who I believe is NHL Ready being scoreless while playing four games, disappointing as it was I am hopeful he will pick things up as season progress. One can say looking at the roster our Farm team is stacked with talent be it Ducks Prospects,Free agents and other players in our system. Influx of these players provides alot in injecting some spark in the Ducks offense which was needed last season. Thing bout this is for our Prospects having a good start gives motivation,determination and desire to succeed. Most I believe are NHL Ready and others are proving they want to be with the Ducks. Whether we have a Full or shorten season we must hope our Ducks Youth will be able to get season of NHL under the belt. Goal has and always been for any NHL Player be it American,Canadian,Finn or Swede along with a few others to succeed. What I really do feel it's important to note is how successful Admirals are in a state like California that is a non-traditional market as our Ducks are in NHL. For 11 years they have shown like our Ducks they too can thrive with 3 basic points that any Hockey team can do. 1.Sign good players 2.spread the word of the team and 3.Win games. How they go about remains to be soon but I am sure we will see some of our Baby Ducks soon enough. It's only a matter of time. DuckPride 4ever MooseDuck

NHL's Latest Offer:50/50 Revenue sharing:Common Sense

My Thoughts on this is simple and direct. This is a Common Sense Deal worthy and equal for both sides to agree on. Good start Hell it is since 50/50 is a sticking point for both sides and hopefully put an end to this Crisis. But one thing is made clear and should be noted.......Decision rests with the NHLPA since imho it will tell us Ducks Fans and those in the NHL What their "True Intentions" are. For weeks I firmly suspect and knew that this delay is nothing more then office politics in nature....Why you ask? I personally believe that the PA wants to force the Owners to get rid of Betteman. God Forbid if the PA decides to reject it since it will be a Boneheaded foolish move by them on their part. Yet I hope and Believe common Sense will prevail If not it seems their intentions are clear in forcing Betteman out and holding the NHL and the season hostage. Whatever happens I am ready and fully prepare for the Ducks to UNLEASH HELL and see the Future restore Honor,Greatness and Sheer Determination back to the Ducks Cause. Furthermore It would be better for both sides IF a deal is done to give the off ice workers from Cashiers,Retail Clerks,Concession stand workers and ice crews a raise. Two lockouts is a stinger and insulting to those who Gave their time to make the NHL Experience Special. Cutting tickets to 10 no wait 15 percent would be suffice in getting NHL Fans back. Finally and I do finally I think it would be better decisons at end of a season IF CBA is settle then Ducks Future is Truly NOW....IF not I am not going to think of it. We should wait and see what the PA does...IF they accept then our Ducks will begin their quest. IF not then NHLPA has lost all credibility in my eyes. DuckPride 4ever MooseDuck

Ducks Future and Past:Passion Connected

Looking at the roster of the admirals most of them Ducks Prospects and Players who will wear the Ducks D in the future. I cannot reflect on the past while awaiting the future. Oct 8th 19 years ago our Ducks played their first ever NHL Game....doing battle with their future Enemy Detroit Red Wings. Hebert was in Net and Sean Hill scored the first goal in Ducks History. It seem like yesterday that with a New Team they had a Logo and Unis that were unique and different it drew some Hockey fans to them. Those days were of struggle and a of defiance against a hockey establishment who saw our Ducks as a Joke. Remebering past Ducks like Troy Loney,Sean Hill,Ron Tugnutt,Antoli Semenov,Alexi Kastonov,Terry Yake and Bobby Dollas not to mention Joe Sacco...These were the predecessors who shaped the Ducks and began the path towards greatness. Sometimes in the past like the present Ducks fought to the end be it Winning or Losing. However like all players that either were traded or signed elsewhere another takes it's Place. As the years go by and seasons past on into NHL Record books and etched in Hockey History. We see New generation of Ducks arriving shorty IF the Lockout is fixed. Guys like Etem,DSP,Lasach,Brandon MacMillan,Dan Sexton,John Gibson and many others honing the skills in Norfolk and beyond. One has to believe that sooner or later these Young Guns will assume the mantle of the Ducks Cause as did Getzlaf,Perry,Ryan,Hiller,Fowler and Sbisa not long ago. Let's take into a account that Five years ago our Ducks won the Stanley Cup with names like Giguere,Niedermayer,Pronger,Marchant,Andy Mac and Samuel Pahlsson remember for their effort in advancing our team to Greatness and Hockey immortality. 4 years prior it was Steve Thomas,Adam Oates,late Ruslan Salei,Jason Krog,Vitaly Vishneski and of course Paul Kariya who left a mark in Ducks History. These names we remember cause they left a memory etch in our Souls and minds. There can be no doubt that new Crop of Ducks and Next Generation will get that chance....Hopefully soon. I believe that with Youth there is Passion, sometimes it must be tempered like a sword to withstand onslaught of doubt,haters and Trolls from other fans who look down our team. Whether or not the Lockout ends I hope it will....for Hope is a belief sometimes amidst the disappointment of truth. However with though that tommorow was suppose to be the Ducks Home Opener let us not give in to disapear and hope the future that is on the east coast can live up to the potentials and IF the Lockout ends expect some of them to be hungry to prove themselves in O.C as we know a team like the Ducks reminds us Life itself has difficulties that task our resolve.......GO DUCKS! DuckPride 4ever MooseDuck

My Rant of today...

Not a day goes by when I wonder and think when this Lockout will end. Nothing makes me annoyed let alone angry that when a game is cancelled it's a insult to those who watch the game and those who make the NHL Experience complete. I think of those who work with the Ducks, Power players,Street Team,Front Office,Marketing and ticket departments not to mention the social media who are affected by this. I am sadden by what I hear of fans saying they will "Never watch a NHL Game" Again....Keep in mind boycotting the game will hurt the ones at the team stores and other departments of any NHL Team including our Ducks as well. I cannot fathom nor wonder when will this end.....yet I know it could have been avoided IF both sides put aside their petty politics for the sake of the game. Betteman imho has lost all moral authority and honor to call himself Commisher. He is nothing more then a polorazing figure on both sides of the 49th parallel. We can give up as we wish...Or we go on this non-stop rant with "Anti-American" or "Contraction" Themes saying this city and that does not deserve a NHL Team. It irks me abit when I hear this BS Crap going in my hometown and country.....No matter how you look at it HOCKEY belongs to everyone. Simple as that and no matter where you go Hockey like Judo was destine to be spread everywhere. Sometimes I wonder when will this Lockout end even though I am positive and optimistic It will affect whether I not I go to see the Ducks next year. Hopefully it will be soon till then we must wait. DuckPride 4ever MooseDuck

Our Ducks:Influx of Youth with some experince

Not a day or night goes by wondering what Do I talk bout with this Lockout hanging over our heads. Cancelling of first week of Pre-season,let alone it would have been first few games we talk and ask ourselves who makes it and who does not is something that we miss let alone feel out of place right now. Training Camp or "Gathering of the Ducks" should have started yet the Team like many others cannot control their fate at this moment as talks still go on amidst pessimism and uncertainty....News of Sbisa going over to play in Europe did not surprise me then again. We should not be talking bout the "CBA" or who is to blame. Discussion should have been on the Ducks Youth and the influx of them gathering at Training Camp. We Ducks Fans now have to settle with how well they do in Norfolk....sometimes when something happens in Hockey a team or league gains from a work stoppage. Example is Team Canada Junior team at 2005 WHJC. a Team loaded with young Talent we see many have establish their careers including two of our Ducks becoming regulars and Leaders for the Ducks Cause. Right now It appears history maybe repeating itself with the WHJC months away and Admirals ready to drop the puck in 15 days from now. Roster listed at the Ducks Farm team in Norfolk shows the Future and experience in some like Lasch,Hendry,Smaby,Cousineau,Maroon and few others. Plus put in Etem,DSP,Clark,MacMillan and we see a good combination that we may see few seasons and years down the road. As I say We should not take this crop and New Blood that is Ducks Future for granted. They like the ones before and previous seasons prior wear the Ducks D and before that Ducks Duck Mask with Honour and represent our Unique team in general.....a Lineage stretch back to the Expansion team. What see on the roster in Norfolk is glimpse of our Future and the Ducks Rising again once more. Call me a Fool But i am optimist and a passionate Zealot at heart. To me this team has what it can to Rise once more and reclaim the Stanley Cup. Whether or not the Season begins I feel our Ducks will have a edge in the group of youngsters eager to prove themselves to the Ducks Front Office and Ducks Nation as a whole....Who knows We may see them pulling a upset or two IF the NHL Lockout mess is sorted out. DuckPride 4ever MooseDuck

NHL Lockout 2012: Unnecessary Crisis

You Can blame the Players,the Owners or the situation we are in. One has to see throughout the summer and the days leading to the expiring of the CBA.Failure of leadership has created this new found mess.....I would never imagine nor though we see a 3rd Lockout in past 20 years. It's a Shame let alone a Tragedy that it has began amidst negotiations that were lacking any sort of progress or active leadership by both parties. Politics of pettiness in playing a big part in this crisis.....It seems likely and to no surprise many players feel embitter by the Salary Cap place on them. Which is why I am not impress. The Narrative we always hear is it "Hurts the Fans"...yet we forget it hurts those who make the NHL Game experience special let alone positive. Who I am talking about that is affected? It's the Ice Crews,Team Store Clerks,Cashiers at concession stands and Zamboni Drivers. It's these people along with NHL Fans are hurting by this lockout most recently Florida and Ottawa has issue layoffs to their workforce which sickens me. It's a stark reminder to all This lockout should have been avoided. Yet we see rhetoric that will add fuel to already starting fire. Each day pass by and each night it seems so surreal let alone something that was.....how would I put it should have been dealt with a long time ago. I can understand what all are going through right now. Frustration,anger and the Why?. Sometimes we try to explain how this all happen. But we know that with each cancellation is a shame not on the players we see but those who at the end of the Lockout be it the Ducks New Blood and those of 29 NHL Teams be stain with the mark of "Greedy" label. What we can do is more then just "Not watching the NHL" any more. We must voice our concerns stand with the teams beyond the Players like Ice Crews,Team Store Clerks and others....they are the life blood of the team as a whole. Express disappointment at the players via twitter and through facebook. Sure we can cling to the facts and express rage as some fans do. But they are entitle to it as many like myself are entitle to express our passion for the team we love. For as far as I am concern Gary Betteman as much as he has done things in the past 20 years in growing the sport imho is NO longer worthy of the title "Commissioner". DuckPride 4ever MooseDuck