Cup Final Game 1 Review - PIT 3, SJ 2

What a way to open up the 2016 Stanley Cup Final. That was an exciting one. Pittsburgh comes out on top and takes game 1 by a score of 3-2. 

First thing I noticed about the game besides the terrible towel-waving Pittsburgh faithful was the choice of intro song the Penguins used. They chose Metallica's "Seek & Destroy", which is the same song the Sharks skate onto the ice to back at SAP Center. A sly jab? Maybe. Meaningless coincidence? Also maybe. Just thought it was interesting.

Onto the game. The first period without a doubt was all black and yellow. From the drop of the puck, Sidney Crosby and rest of the Penguins looked locked in and ready to rumble. San Jose... not so much. The Sharks defense looked completely blown away by the Penguins' speed and attack. Crosby had the Burns-Martin pairing chasing him around his offensive zone the whole opening 20. San Jose looked to be skating in concrete. Flat-footed and off-kilter all around. passes were not connecting and turnovers were aplenty. 

The first goal of this Stanley Cup Final came at 12:46 of the 1st. Pittsburgh forward Bryan Rust picked up the puck in the neutral zone on the left wing and began a rush into the offensive zone, dropped the puck back to defenseman Nick Schultz who then riffled a puck off of the defending Marc-Eduoard Vlasic's arm, and the puck found its way right onto the tape of Bryan Rust at the side of the net. Easy tap in for the Penguins rookie who was the hero in Game 7 of the ECF. 1-0 Pens. 

62 seconds later, Crosby beat out Sharks d-man Justin Braun on a puck going down the left wing into his offensive zone. After faking-out Braun with a nice spin move, Crosby delivered and absolutely filthy backhand dish all the way across the zone to a wide open Conor Sheary, who sniped home the Penguins 2nd tally of the game. 2-0 Pens. The rest of the first period was much of the same. Penguins peppering Jones in front of the net like a swarm of hornets. Pittsburgh finished the period leading Sharks 15-4 in shot totals. 

The 2nd period however was a bit different of a story. Pretty much the opposite of the 1st. The Sharks did the same thing the Penguins did. They attacked Matt Murray, causing mad scrambles in front of the Pittsburgh net. 

At 1:14 of the middle period, the Penguins' Ian Cole took a tripping penalty against Melker Karlsson. On the ensuing powerplay, Tomas Hertl would give San Jose their first goal after jamming home the after receiving it from Joonas Donskoi on the goal line. The first power play marker of the Final. 2-1 Penguins. 

At the opposite end of the period, Brent Burns fired a puck off of Matt Murray's pad, leaving the puck open for Patrick Marleau, who made a nice move to skate behind the net a pot a beautiful backhand wrap around the squeaked passed Murray. 18:12 of the 2nd. Tie game, folks. 2-2. 

The third period was a mix of quality scoring chances coming from both sides. A penalty here, a failed power play opportunity there. It wasn't until late in the period that the scoring would change. With about 2:30 left in the game, Kris Letang and Carl Hagelin were in a battle for the puck with Brent Burns and Tomas Hertl down low behind the goal line. After a whiff on a pass by Hagelin, Letang got ahold of the puck and wheeled it in front of the goal to a a ridiculously wide-open Nick Bonino. The clutch Nick Bonino put the puck over Jones' right shoulder and into the back of the net. Consol Energy Center errupts. 3-2 home town boys with 2:23 left to play. 

The Sharks would get a late powerplay and ended up pulling Jones for the extra attacker, but to no avail. The Penguins held on 3-2 to take game 1 and take a 1-0 lead on the series. 

Sidney Crosby was easily the best player on the ice tonight. He looked to be playing with an extra gear that no other player had and nobody was able to catch up to him. He created countless scoring chances and was smart with the puck. He is my first star of the night.

The Burns-Martin pairing needs to be way better than they were tonight. They were exposed by the Penguins top 2 lines and seemed flat-footed all night. They can't be playing this series the way they played tonight if Crosby is going to be as good as he was tonight. You can't play on your heels against the best player in the world. Thornton and Pavelski both had an average game, nothing really spectacular. Look for the Sharks defense to bounce back in Game 2 and also be on the lookout for the Sharks to put more importance on coming to play right off the bat. They suffered from Anaheim Ducks syndrome: looking compleely lost at the start of the game and being down early because of it. Sharks head coach Peter Deboer needs to emphasize the initial minutes of the game and get his squad to set the tone before the opposition does. 

The Big Dance - Stanley Cup Final Preview

Ahhh... the day is finally here. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Every hockey fan eager and anxious to tune in, but if you're a Blues or Lightning fan, you're probably still a little bitter. Sorry. My team got eliminated in round 1, how do you think I feel? 

Anyways, we are in for one hell of a ride, folks. The San Jose Sharks and the Pittsburgh Penguins are going to put on a show. This series is going to be a thriller. I am very excited that we are getting some fresh teams in the final this year. I was going to throw up if I had to watch Chicago or Los Angeles in the Final yet again. The fresh blood of these two teams is going to bring some new life to the Final, and will make for an extremely hard-fought and well-rounded battle for the glorious silver trophy. 

Lets take a look at what we can expect from both sides. 

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Without a doubt, the Penguins have been the NHL's hottest team in the last few months, and they have proven themselves to not be fluke with their playoff performance. They made quick work of the New York Rangers in round 1, bounced the Presidents Trophy-winning Washington Capitals in round 2, and eliminated the defending Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning in a valiant 7-game series. So now the Penguins enter the Cup Final for the first time since 2009 when they won the cup against the Detroit. Most of the Penguins current core was a part of that '09 team, so the experience of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang will play a big factor in preparing the young guns for the ensuing battle. 

I did not mention Marc-Andre Fluery because he has been overtaken in these playoffs by 22-year-old Matt Murray. Murray stepped in for Fluery towards the end of the season and head coach Mike Sullivan hasn't looked back for the most part. Murray has posted an insane .924 save percentage these playoffs and has a record of 11-4-1. Needless to say, Murray has been nails for the Penguins. Murray will be backstopping the Penguins in Game 1, and Coach Sullivan has all the confidence in the world in his young goalie. 

Sidney Crosby has been there. He's captained the Penguins to a Cup before, which could possibly push him past a player like Joe Pavelski. Pavelski, while an extremely solid player, has never played in a Cup Final. Crosby has 6 goals and 9 assists in 18 playoff games, and while some may might have expected a little more out of him, he can still step up and have a big Final. 

Admit loads of criticism when he was in Toronto, forward Phil Kessel has proven himself to be prime-time performer. He has exploded in these playoffs playing on a line with center Nick Bonino and forward Carl Hagelin, dubbed the "HBK Line." Kessel had always been criticized for his work ethic, but that has shown to be just garbage. 9 goals and 9 assists in these playoffs have made Kessel a candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy if the Penguins are to take home the Cup. 

Evgeni Malkin has faced some scrutiny these playoffs. The elite Russian center has posted only 4 goals and 11 assists these playoffs. People are claiming that he has been invisible at times during the Penguins' first three series. While that may be true, I think Malkin explodes in the Final. He is going to put up an incredible performance and come alive. He is a big body player, and he can utilize his strength against a very strong Sharks defense. the Sharks have not faced a team with a player of Malkin's caliber playing on the second line. Malkin is going to prove why he is a top 5 player in the league and can put himself in his limelight instead of sitting behind Crosby. Watch out for Geno. 

The Penguins defense is not as loaded as they would like it to be. They'll be without highly praised acquisition Trevor Daley on the blueline. The likes of Kris Letang, Olli Maatta and Ben Lovejoy are going to have to continue to be rock solid. They are going to face a very physical and high-powered attack from San Jose, and they will need to be at the top of their game constantly to counter-attack San Jose's efforts. 

SAN JOSE SHARKS

It has taken the Sharks 25 years to reach their first Stanley Cup Final. Ironically, that was the same amount of years it took the Penguins to reach and eventually win their first Stanley Cup in 1991. After years of playoff disappointment and being labeled as "chokers", the Sharks have steam-rolled their way into the Final. They have a really special team this year. They had the best road record in the NHL this season, and with the series beginning in Pittsburgh for games 1 and 2, that could be a plus for the Sharks. The Sharks rolled over the Kings in round 1, dispatched the Predators in round 2, and eliminated the Blues in the Western Conference Final. 

Everything seems to be going the Sharks way. They are a big, powerful and offensively aggressive team that never seems like they aren't peppering the opposing goalie with scoring chances. They've been backed on the blueline this entire season by the absolutely stellar play of Norris trophy-finalist defenseman Brent Burns and the solid play of defensemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Paul Martin. The two-way talent of Burns has been one of the biggest highlights of the Sharks season. He has solidified himself as one of the best d-men in the game. Vlasic is a fantastic penalty killer and Martin provides more veteran leadership to a team that needed veteran's with playoff experience. Burns' offensive output is going to be key to a Sharks cup win. 

On the offensive side, Joe Pavelski has been a Conn Smythe-worthy force. 2nd in playoff points only behind teammate Logan Couture, Pavelski has posted 13 goals and 9 assists in these playoffs. He has stepped up in an absolutely massive way and has shown to be a leader and captain in the true sense of both words. Making Pavelski the captain has shown to be one of GM Doug Wilson's best decisions. It seems to have really lit a fire under the Sharks. Pavelski has shown know signs of slipping out of sight and will continue to be a force in these playoffs and really give the Penguins a lot of trouble. 

The story of Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau is really a great one. The 36-year-old Thornton has been through hell to get here today. From being stripped of the captaincy of the Sharks to dealing with all of their previous playoff heartbreak, he finally is getting his chance. Thornton has 3 goals and 15 assists these playoffs, solidifying his play making ability in typical Joe Thornton fashion: not a lot of goals, but an insane amount of assists. Marleau has been with San Jose forever, and finally getting his first possible chance to lift the cup is something that will drive the fellow 36-year-old will put on the after burners to help push his team to a possible first Stanley Cup championship. 

The Sharks have an incredible amount of depth. Logan Couture leads the NHL in playoff points with 24 (8 G, 16 A) and has shown himself to be one of the best performing centermen in the game. While I wouldn't put Couture in elite category, he is definitely up there in the top 15 NHL centers. The emergence of Finnish rookie Joonas Donskoi has been incredible. He has proven himself to be a legit scoring threat in the league. He had a terrific season, and has put out a solid playoff performance so far. Look for him to be a factor in the Sharks offense against the Penguins. Melker Karlsson has emerged as a very good depth winger playing on the Sharks' 3rd line. The Sharks depth scoring is a huge key factor in their performance. Joel Ward is also a solid playoff performer. He always steps it up in the postseason and I don't see why his performance in the upcoming Final would be any different. Keep your eyes on Ward in key situations. 

In net, Martin Jones brings cup winning experience... but in a little bit of a different way. He was the backup to Jonathan Quick on the Kings Cup winning team in 2014, so he knows what the atmosphere and environment is like. While he didn't get more than 1 hour's playing time in that 2014 cup run, Jones can use what he learned from watching Quick. He has been solid these playoffs, posting a SV% of .919 and record of 12-6-3. It will be a battle of the young goalies, and should be a very fun one to watch. 

FINAL PREDICITON?

San Jose Sharks in 7 games. 

My reasoning? Both teams have equal level top end talent in the forwards category and the goalies cancel each other out in my opinion, but the key factor that will get the Sharks over the hump will be their advantage in depth scoring and defense. The Sharks have a stronger defense and are a bit deeper of a team than the Penguins. The top end forward talent for both sides are going to shine, but the performances that will decide the winner or loser of each game will come from the depth players, and the Sharks are stronger in that category.

Enjoy the finals, everyone. Happy Hockey!

Anaheim Ducks 2016 Offseason - Deja Vu

Well, here we are, back at it again. Deja vu at its finest. The Anaheim Ducks are yet again sitting on the outside looking in at the rest of the playoffs unfolding after facing elimination to an opponent they were able to beat. Yet again, we as fans have the same, empty, pit-in-our-stomach feeling. Wondering what could have been if our players actually showed up to play. It really seems like only one player decided that these playoffs and winning were important to him. Only one player put forth his maximum effort each of those seven games against Nashville. To that, I say thank you, Ryan Kesler. 

What about the other guys? The players who decided it was okay to show up with what seemed like 80% or even 70% effort? Well, GM Bob Murray definitely has his hands full.

The Ducks are currently sitting with a total of 6 unrestricted free agents and 5 restricted free agents. Those unrestricted free agents are LW David Perron, LW Jamie McGinn, C Shawn Horcoff, RW Chris Stewart, C Mike Santorelli and D Korbinian Holzer. The restricted free agents are C Rickard Rakell, D Hampus Lindholm, D Sami Vatanen, G Frederik Andersen and LW Brandon Pirri. Murray has $7,433,523 in cap space before any moves/signings/releases are made. 

So, who do you lock down immediately? The Swedes. Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell are vital pieces to this team's future. With Rakell having a career season in 15-16 and Lindholm on pace to becoming one of the league's best two-way defensemen, these are two players that make Bob Murray into a fool if he does not bring them back.

For the other defenseman, Vatanen is a player that Murray can bring back to keep utilizing his powerplay presence and excellent shot, or he can use Vatanen as a potential key trade piece to acquire a good top 6 left winger. Vatanen is a player that a lot of teams would want. Quick and mobile PMD are highly desirable players in today's NHL and I am 100% certain Murray could finagle himself a nice return for Vatanen. Somebody like Detroit, Tampa Bay or Edmonton could possibly be destinations that could land Vatanen in a deal. 

The goalie situation is where it gets tough. Bob Murray will have to make a decision between Frederik Andersen and John Gibson. Does he sign Andersen and trade Gibson, or does he roll with Gibson and let Andersen walk? These are all tough decisions, but frankly to this writer, I believe Murray should trade Gibson and resign Andersen. Gibson is projected to be an elite goaltender, but has proven to not be as good of a playoff performer as he is a regular season performer. Andersen has proven himself to be more reliable in all situations and he is the goaltender I believe Murray should stick with. The benefits of trading Gibson, resigning Andersen and reaping the results of a Gibson trade are far greater than letting Andersen go for nothing and rolling with Gibson. Andersen could be traded, but the return for Gibson would be far greater. 

When it comes to the UFA's, it would be ideal to keep David Perron and Jamie McGinn over everyone, but it all depends on Bob Murray's moves with the RFA's, because those are the priorities before anything else. Keeping one of Perron or McGinn would be huge, and if somehow Murray can workout a way to keep both that would be even more incredible. Perron and McGinn both added huge sparks to the team, both scoring in their first appearances with the team. Perron's Corey Perry-like antagonization of the opponent and his scoring touch was a jolt that this team needed and it would be fantastic if we could retain him for next season. McGinn is a power-forward who contributed some depth scoring to the team. He was able to play on a couple different lines and seemed productive and useful in all situations former head coach Bruce Boudreau put him in. 

When it comes to exploring the free agent market, it seems like Murray always finds someone he likes and brings them in. I do not have any idea who Bob Murray would have his eyes on, but he always seems to find somewhat helpful fits like Chris Stewart. In my opinion, this summer is going to be more about trades rather than free agents. There are key pieces that Anaheim has that other teams are craving, and we can use the returns from those trades to help build the team. 

Murray has already made one move, and that was the dismissal of head coach Bruce Boudreau. The move came to no surprise, and we will see immediately if whatever coach Murray decides to bring in is fit for the job. Its kind of a crapshoot right now in the coaching market, with the Ducks being one year late for the Mike Babcock sweepstakes, a coach I think the Ducks should've been deep in the running for. The Boudreau firing is a step in the right direction to dig this team out of its game 7 underperforming doldrums. These next couple months will tell how the Ducks next few years will shape out. Whether Murray takes the reigns with full steam and goes all in, slowly builds it up. Whatever it may be, the roster needs a real kick in the pants. The not-showing-up in the postseason and when it matters needs to come to an end. No more excuses, no more BS. 

Julius Nattinen - Prospect Overlook

With the NHL prospect world being dominated by Finns of late, it comes as no surprise that the Anaheim Ducks would draft Finnish two-way forward Julius Nattinen. 

Heading into his 2015 draft year, then 18-year-old Nattinen was ranked as one of Finland's top draft-eligible players and was slotted to go somewhere in the second round, where he was eventually selected 59th overall by Anaheim.

What made Nattinen spark the interest of Anaheim's scouts the most? His two-way ability with high offensive plus. Anaheim is a team who takes pride and much interest in players who can play well on both sides of the puck, so it was no surprise they took a player like Nattinen. Let's dive deeper into what he brings to the table.

At 6'2" 197, Nattinen brings some decent size down the middle. He plays a quiet game and is not the type of guy who will leave opposing defenders bending and breaking all over the ice. What seems to be raved about the most in Nattinen are his passing ability and his creativity in the offensive zone. Watching video of him, you will notice that he reads the plays very well and is quick to adjust on the fly. He is able to thread the needle when he wants, a perfect "heads-up" type of player that suits the style of what Anaheim looks for in its players. While his bigger frame causes him to not be the most explosive skater, Nattinen does posses a very long and smooth stride to his skating and has good top speed. He has a full arsenal of shots and a noticeably strong slap shot that can be extremely deadly if he can get himself into the proper space to use it. 

He takes his defensive responsibility very seriously, and he utilizes his long reach and big frame. He favors his stick in defensive situations, which is where that reach of his comes in. He has the ability to win puck battles along the boards when he wants to use his body. One thing I did notice is that he is excellent at utilizing his long stick to block passing lanes. He shows strength in all three zones and is able to help out his defenders. 

Areas where Nattinen needs to improve are his acceleration and the use of his frame. While the acceleration will come with work, Nattinen needs to utilize his size along the boards and protecting the puck. He is good at protecting it in other ways, but if he wants to be a good player in the NHL he needs to get more comfortable with using his body. He has the size and frame, now he just needs to find his way with it. 

I want to throw in some video clips of Nattinen to highlight his passing ability. These highlights are from his 2015-2016 season with the OHL's Barrie Colts.

You'll notice that Nattinen is able to hold onto the puck and wait that extra second for a passing lane to open up. This is shown really well in the 5th clip of the video where Nattinen receives a pass just above the goal line and waits for a passing lane to his teammate crashing towards the net, before delivering a beautiful pass resulting in a goal. 

In his first season with Barrie, Nattinen finished with an incredible +32, 22 goals and 49 assists (71 pts) in 52 games. Playing for Finland in the last World Junior Championships, he finished the tournament posting 1 goal and 2 assists in 7 games. 

So where do I stand on Nattinen? I think he can be a solid mid-6 player on a team like Anaheim. His ceiling is not elite, but he can be a reliable two-way centerman who could easily switch over to the wing if need-be. He is a two-way center with great vision and playmaking ability while still possessing a good arsenal of shots. Nattinen is going to make a fine NHL player. A player like Nattinen who works hard and has a team-first mentality is going to succeed in today's NHL. He is a guy that will get the job done and do what he needs to do on the ice. Not flashy, won't blow you away, just good and clean hockey play and hockey sense. 

Murray's Magic: Ducks 2016 Deadline Results

Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray has proven himself to be a worthy sage of the trade deadline day. Entering the 2016 NHL trade deadline on Monday, the Ducks had made 30 trade deadline deals since 2006. Even with a dragging start to Monday's deadline, it was inevitable that Murray would eventually execute a flurry of moves... and so he did. 

Murray made four moves in total yesterday, adding depth and creating vital cap space. Let's take a look at Murray's magic.

TRADE #1

To Anaheim: Brandon Pirri
To Florida: 2016 6th-round pick

Murray's first move of the day was acquiring young winger Brandon Pirri from the Florida Panthers in exchange for sixth-round pick. This trade was absolute robbery by Murray. Pirri is a 24-year-old left winger who has appeared in 157 career games, splitting time with Chicago and Florida. This season he sits at 11 goals and 13 points in 52 games with the Panthers, while having 33 goals total in his last two seasons with Florida. In the eyes of this writer, Pirri is worth his original asking price of a package of a 3rd and 4th-round pick. How Murray was able to haggle Panthers GM Dale Tallon into giving him Pirri for just a 6th rounder is incredible and another example of Murray's trading prowess. He just out-hustles the other GM's. 

Pirri, who is currently on injured reserve with an ankle injury, is expected to resume play in about two to three weeks. He is a forward with scoring ability and great puck control. He has a great shot and will most likely start out playing alongside Corey Perry and Rickard Rakell. A Pirri-Rakell-Perry line could generate an incredible amount of scoring chances and all three players are capable of finishing. He is also a solid option in the shootout as he has a record of 5 for 6 in shootouts this season. 

Pirri led the American Hockey League in points in the 2012-13 season, leading the league with 22 goals and 53 assists, a total of 75 points with Chicago's AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. He was drafted 59th overall in the 2009 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. 

TRADE #2

To Anaheim: Jamie McGinn
To Buffalo: conditional third-round pick in 2016

All three of Murray's next moves were announced in the last-minute trade announcements following the end of the deadline. The first of these last-minute moves sent a conditional 2016 third-round selection to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for winger Jamie McGinn. McGinn is an eight-year NHL veteran who will instantaneously add more of the high-paced and gritty play that the Ducks are known for. In 63 games with Buffalo this season, McGinn has scored 14 goals and notched 13 assists. The 6-1, 205 pound winger was also fourth among his team in hits, with 113. 

A player who can score if he has a player that can slot him the puck, McGinn could see time alongside Ryan Getzlaf and David Perron. Getzlaf's passing ability and McGinn's willingness to get to the hard areas and battle for the puck should mesh together well. McGinn could also be used in a checking role if need-be. 

McGinn has spent his eight-year NHL career with the Sharks, Avalanche and Sabres. He was selected 36th overall by San Jose in the 2006 NHL Draft. 

TRADE #3

To Anaheim: Corey Tropp
To Chicago: Tim Jackman, 2016 seventh-round pick

This deal is predominantly one to help out the Ducks AHL, the San Diego Gulls. Tim Jackman had previously been an NHL regular for the Ducks on the fourth line, but this season he has spent the majority of his time in the AHL. Corey Tropp is a physical and aggressive player who plays a grinder's role. Not much to be said about this trade, except that it should help give San Diego some needed physicality to their lineup.

Tropp had appeared 148 NHL games with both Columbus and Buffalo, amassing 27 points and 133 penalty minutes. He has scored 11 goals and 17 assists in the AHL with the Albany Devils this season. Tropp had been on load from to Albany from the Rockford Icehogs, Chicago's AHL affiliate. 

Tropp was selected 89th overall by Buffalo in the 2007 NHL Draft.

Trade #4

To Anaheim: Martin Gernat, 2016 fourth-round pick
To Edmonton: Patrick Maroon (25% salary retained)

Murray's idea with this particular trade is more than likely to free up more salary cap space for him to use in the summer. The Ducks have four players becoming RFA's this summer ( Hampus Lindholm, Rickard Rakell, Sami Vatanen and Frederick Andersen), and Murray will be wanting to resign as much of those four as he can. 

The Ducks will retain 25% of Patrick Maroon's $2 million per. year cap hit, leaving them with $1.5 million more in cap space to use for the remaining two seasons. This is a very smart move and one that I am a big fan of. The Ducks free up cap room for their RFA's, who are much more crucial to this team than Maroon was. A smart money-move executed by Murray. 

Martin Gernat is a defenseman who will report to San Diego and look to help out the Gulls on the back end. The 22-year-old Slovak has earned three assists and an even plus/minus rating in 14 games with the  Bakersfield Condors, Edmonton's AHL affiliate. 

Gernat was selected by Edmonton 122nd overall in the 2011 NHL Draft. 

The outcome:

The Ducks got much deeper with the moves made by Murray. Pirri and McGinn are both players who will provide added offensive support for a team who's offense is on a rampage of late. Salary cap wise, the Ducks are now sitting with $8,609,678 left in cap-space. This money will most likely be used to first sign as many of the upcoming RFA's the Ducks have. With players like Rakell, Lindholm, Vatanen, and Andersen, you are going to need $8 million. From an economical spending outlook and just an overall knowledge of sports management, it is a good bet to say that not all four of those RFA's will be resigned. We are looking at two of those players being resigned, preferably Lindholm and Rakell. 

Bob Murray continuous to put on dazzling displays of trading at every single deadline, and 2016 was no different. The outcome of his handy-work will be interesting to watch. 

Ducks Trade Deadline Options: Wingers

With the NHL's 2016 trade deadline just three days away, the Anaheim Ducks sit in an extremely more comfortable and better spot than they did when they made their first trade of the season back on January 7. The Ducks have gone 20-4-2 since the Christmas break, leading the NHL since then. They've been firing on all cylinders. Whether its the sudden explosion of offense or the shutdown defense being played on the back end, the Ducks are a more confident and competent team that can make another late playoff push.

This sudden turn-around of their season has been partially drawn from the biggest trade made by GM Bob Murray this season. On the morning of January 16 he acquired forward David Perron from Pittsburgh, sending forward Carl Hagelin the other way. Perron, who was struggling to get his goal-scoring ability going, instantly meshed with club and found the spark to get himself going. Since coming over to Anaheim, he has 6 goals and 8 assists, already more than he had scored with Pittsburgh all season. The newfound chemistry between Perron and Ryan Getzlaf has been yielding enough offensive production that everyone has accepted the fact that Getzlaf and longtime line-mate Corey Perry are not consistently playing on a line together anymore. All part of the magic of Bob Murray.

With virtually no holes he necessarily has to fill, the Ducks GM is content with the roster he has compiled. 

Murray commented on the current situation and approaching deadline by saying, "Guys are accepting roles on this team - and that's important. You don't want to fool around with [chemistry] too much. 

Now, that does not mean that Murray has shelved his magical scrolls of trading secrets until summer. Murray seems to be willing to make a deal if he receives a deal for the right player and at a good price. 

In a tweet posted by LA Times columnist, Helene Elliot, Murray said that, "There are a few guys that if the price is reasonable, could help in certain areas."

The most obvious role he is looking for is a solid top 6 winger to either slide in alongside Ryan Kesler and Jakob Silfverberg or with Getzlaf and Perron. Many speculated that power-forward Andrew Ladd would be a hot item on Murray's list, but those hopes of Ladd coming to the Ducks were ruined yesterday when Winnipeg dealt him to Chicago. Many also believed Boston winger and long time Duck-killer Loui Eriksson would be a player that the Ducks had a possibility of acquiring, but with the recent news coming out that Eriksson and the Bruins to signing an extension, those proposals have started to go down the drain as well. 

Now, the Ducks are left with a few options for a winger that they could still go after. 

JAMIE MCGINN

McGinn

According to Elliot Friedman, the Ducks are talking about a rental forward. He believes one of the guys on the list is Buffalo's Jamie McGinn, a hard-nosed and high-pace forward who is willing to drop the gloves. 

The book on McGinn is that if you throw him on a scoring line or a line who cycles other teams to death, you will find success with him and he can score. He is not too good at creating his own space for his shot, but that is where the cycling comes in for that. A fit for a line of Getzlaf. Cycle-heavy, McGinn's specialty. He is average from a defensive standpoint, but he would not be called upon for any penalty killing roles and would not be the main defensive player on whichever line he plays on. 

McGinn sits at 14 goals and 13 assists on the year, a total of 27 points. A player like McGinn could benefit the Ducks scoring already high-powered scoring output while still retaining the high-intensity play and physicality that Ducks forwards are known for having. 

Buffalo is looking for help on the back-end, so with McGinn's probable cost of a roster player and a prospect, one of those two would have to be a defenseman. We could be looking at Brandon Montour going the other way. If Murray is willing to part ways with a defensive prospect like Montour, he should have no problem getting this deal done. 

MIKKEL BOEDKER

Boedker

Mikkel Boedker is a player that has been in trade rumor mills for the last few months and has been linked with Anaheim as a possible landing spot for him. Slumping hard of late and being one of Arizona's most expendable forwards, Boedker is a player that the Ducks could make a play for.

A decent playmaker type, Boedker's biggest asset in his play is his great speed and acceleration he uses to burn defenders and get around them. People have always said they want him to shoot the puck more, because he does have a very good wrist shot and its very affective. 

Boedker plays a pretty defensively responsible game, so he does have some decent two-way ability to go with his speed he can use to catch up to puck-carriers. A perfect fit in the left wing slot on a line with Kesler and Silfverberg. A player with good two-way ability to play with probably the best two-way forwards on the team is a match made in heaven. Dealing with his current hard slump should not be an issue. Anaheim has seemed to be a place where slumping players come to rejuvenate themselves, just ask David Perron. It would be hopeful that Boedker could find some of the same gelling magic that Perron got if he were to become a Duck. 

Cost wise, Boedker would possibly require a roster player, an okay prospect and a mid-draft pick or even one of Anaheim's goalies if more players were to be added and a Boedker trade becomes a trade that is not centered around just him. Not quite sure who it is that Boedker would get back for the Coyotes, but it could be any number of options from Anaheim's end. 

VALERI NICHUSHKIN

Nichushkin

Bill Whitehead (@BillWhiteheadFL) tweeted on the 23rd that Val Nichushkin is reportedly on the trading block. No real surprise there, given the number of high-skilled forwards the Stars possess and their current needs and holes to fill. 

Nichushkin is a big-bodied power-forward with some good upside to him. He had a great rookie year in 2013, missed virtually all of the 14-15 season with a hip injury, and so far this season has been very up and down when it comes to production. The up and down production from him is more so a reason as to why he is one of the Stars forwards being thrown into the trading fire.

Nichushkin stands at an imposing 6'4" and 205 pounds. He utilizes his strong frame to drive through defenders and force his way through defensive blockades. This also makes him a good option for a line with good cycling tendencies, like Ryan Getzlaf's. A natural left-handed RW, Nichushkin could fit alongside Getzlaf and Perron. This would give Getzlaf a sniper in Perron on his left side, and a goal-scoring power-forward on his right side who could handle the cycle game Getzlaf plays with ease. 

With 7 goals and 16 assists on the year, it is easy to say that Nichushkin has the potential to put up higher numbers. With his great shot and big body, he can force his way to the crease and out-body other players. He just needs to be put alongside the right players. Getzlaf can dish it wit the best of them, which is the exact kind of thing Nichushkin needs: a player who can find him and spring him for scoring chances. 

Now, while this is probably the most unlikely deal of the three listed, it would be could investment in the eyes of this writer. A line of Perron-Getzlaf-Nichushkin would provide balance and flexibility in play styles that could form a strong line. 

Nichushkin could be a cheap pickup, costing a roster player and maybe a mid-range prospect or a high draft pick. If Bob Murray wants to invest in a player of this type, Nichushkin is his best bet.

It remains to be seen what will spring out of the marvellous mind of Bob Murray. Whichever way he decides to go with his team, you can best bet that it will be a smart move and good hockey trade. 

1/26: Ducks vs. Bruins - A Briefing

Coming off one of their best all-around team performances Saturday night in Detroit, the Ducks now look ahead to face the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night at the TD Garden. 

DUCKS PERSPECTIVE:

Anaheim comes into this game with a record of 21-18-7. After a dismal first half of the season, the Ducks have improved of late. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and have shown signs of their former dominating selves like last season. Having recently swapped LW Carl Hagelin in exchange for LW David Perron and D Adam Clendening from Pittsburgh, the Ducks have seen a small jolt in their offensive output, scoring 18 goals in the last 6 games. 

Shea Theodore, the rookie defensive call-up from San Diego, has been outstanding in his first 12 NHL games, scoring 1 goal and 3 assists. His defensive presence and high level of poise in the offensive zone has been a stand-out feature for the 20 year-old. Theodore has been anchoring the bottom defensive pairing with a few different partners including Korbinian Holzer, Clayton Stoner, and Josh Manson. Theodore has not looked out of place in any way, shape or form. He has been playing like he already has a few years of NHL experience under his belt, not like he has played only 12 games. With Simon Despres possibly returning to the lineup tomorrow, Bob Murray will be forced to make a tough decision with which player to send back down to San Diego, and head coach Bruce Boudreau will be faced with some very tough lineup decisions. This is all because of the stellar play of the young defenseman from Langley, BC. 

Ever the master tinkerer, Bruce Boudreau has found success in some forward unusual line combinations in the last few games. He has split up Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, putting Getzlaf with Perron and Chris Stewart. Perry has been finding time with Rickard Rakell and Patrick Maroon. It used to be seen as blasphemy to ever split up Getzlaf and Perry, but with the extremely underwhelming play of Getzlaf this season, a major lineup move was bound to happen. Hey, it's been working, so why fix it? 

Anaheim comes into this game still sitting outside of a wild card spot behind Vancouver and Nashville. The West has been a bit of jumbled mess this season, and needless to say, Anaheim needs to continue to play as they have been if they want to be playing late into the spring. They still hold honor of the best Penalty Kill efficiency in the league, boasting an 89.4% PK efficiency. The power play has looked much better, and it could possibly be with the fresh look of the first unit. Shea Theodore has been thrown into the first power play unit and has flourished. Sitting at 13th overall in power play efficiency, Anaheim has slowly been emerging as a better power play team coming from its yet again dismal start at the beginning of this season. 

The Ducks are 3-0-0 in their last 3 meetings with Boston, and against former Duck Matt Beleskey who left via free agency in the summer, it is safe to say that Anaheim will come out with a little fire under them. 

Line-ups to expect (pending alterations):

Maroon - Rakell - Perry
Cogliano - Kesler - Silfverberg
Perron - Getzlaf - Stewart
Garbutt - Santorelli - Thompson

Lindholm - Manson
Bieksa - Despres
Theodore - Vatanen

Andersen

Backup: Gibson 


Scratches: Horcoff, Stoner, Fowler, Clendening

RECENT DEVELOPMENT:

As of this morning, center Shawn Horcoff has been suspended 20 games without pay for violating the NHL/NHLPA performance enhancing substance program. 

Statement from Horcoff on the situation:

"While recovering from an injury I suffered this past fall, I tried a treatment that I believed would help speed up the healing process," Horcoff stated, via NHLPA.

"Although I was unaware that this treatment was not permitted under NHL rules, that is no excuse whatsoever. I should have done my research and I should have checked with the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substance Program's doctors. I accept full responsibility for my actions, and I am sorry. 

"Throughout my entire career, I have felt genuinely blessed and honored to play the great game of hockey, I regret the impact that this may have on my team and our fans.

"I look forward to the day I return to the ice for the playoff push."

Horcoff will forfeit $357,526.88 of his salary for this year as part of the suspension and will be referred to the NHL/NHLPA Program for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health for evaluation and potential treatment. 

Horcoff

Johansen for Jones - Trade breakdown/Who will come out on top?

Yesterday, we were met with the first high-profile trade of this NHL season. The Columbus Blue Jackets parted ways with center Ryan Johansen and sent him to the Nashville Predators in exchange for young defenseman Seth Jones. A straight up two-player swap. A hockey trade. 

Johansen getting traded was inevitable and comes as no real surprise. The playmaking center has had a very sub-par year, being scratched and benched multiple times. Johansen has posted 6 goals and 20 assists this season, a measly start compared to his career-best pace last season where he finished with 26 goals, 45 assists and 71 points. The trade rumors for Johansen started early on in the season, where it became clear that he was not in-shape at all. He was playing lazy and uninterested, and that was quickly acknowledged when new coach John Tortorella came into the picture on Oct. 21. Tortorella immediately singled out Johansen saying that he was not in-shape, and that he would not get any special treatment because of how good of a player he is. Tortorella began benching Johansen late in games for poor or lazy play, and would even make him a healthy scratch when he felt it was needed. A change of scenery was looking to be the ultimate fate for Johansen. It clearly was not clicking in Columbus, and both sides seemed to be looking to part ways. 

So that brings us to the actual trade. Talks and rumors really heated up yesterday morning, and come that afternoon the news was out. Ryan Johansen for Seth Jones. Jones is a defensive prodigy who's two-way game is one of the best among young defenders in the league. Drafted 4th overall in 2013 by Nashville, Jones was acclaimed for his mobility and size. He excelled with the Predators for his first 2 1/2 years in the NHL, and now will take on the role as the number one defenseman on a Columbus team that is weak at the blueline and has struggled mightily this season. Johansen will take on the role of being the Predators number one centerman, as he will be slotted onto the top line for Nashville. 

Now, who wins this trade? The thing is, both teams can ultimately get a lot out of this trade. However, in terms of immediate success related directly to this deal, it is my prediction that Nashville will reap a larger amount of benefits in a much shorter amount of time than Columbus will. For Nashville, this move is a "want to win now" move, while for Columbus it is a move that they will build their defense and team around in the next few years. Nashville is already a good team who currently sits in a playoff spot, but what they have been lacking in these last few years is a real number one center to round out their top 6 group of forwards. With Johansen sliding into the first line center position flanked by James Neal and Colin Wilson, it more than likely means that Mike Ribeiro will move down to the second line with Filip Forsberg and Calle Jarnkrok. Mike Fisher will take over third line center duties. Sometime in the next few years, you look for an ideal top line of Forsberg, Johansen, and young Swiss winger Kevin Fiala. Fiala is developing prospect with great playmaking potential who will eventually make his way to Nashville's top line right wing spot. Nashville's forward troops have scored a total of 71 of the team's 102 goals so far this season while averaging 2.6 goals per-game. With the addition of a true number once center, look for the goal totals and goals per-game stats to start increasing. 

Johansen

Another reason Nashville is in a better place because of this trade is that the forwards are still backed by a solid defensive unit. Shea Weber-Roman Josi remain the number one pairing, and Ryan Ellis-Mattias Ekholm becomes the number two pairing. That is still a solid unit to put out on the ice in a tough division like the Central. 

All in all, Nashville's lineup will now look like:

*according to Predators beat reporter, Adam Vingan via Twitter @AdamVingan

Wilson - Johansen - Neal
Forsberg - Ribeiro - Jarnkrok
Salomaki - Fisher - Smith
Nystrom - Gaustad - Watson

Josi - Weber
Ekholm - Ellis
Jackman - Grandberg

Nashville's offense is boosted with Johansen leading the charge down the middle. Look for Nashville's top 6 production to increase immediately. Johansen will thrive in his new environment, and under coach Peter Laviolette. James Neal (eventually Filip Forsberg) now has a legit centerman that can feed him the puck and make plays. Neal's goal scoring will increase, and so will the production of Nashville's power play units. 

On to the Columbus end. After making the playoffs in 2014 and giving the Penguins a decent push in the first round, Columbus has seemed lost. A poor 14-15 showing, and now sitting dead last in the league in 2016, a shakeup was needed. Building up the Blue Jackets defense was of the most concern of GM Jarmo Kekalainen, and the chance of trading away Johansen provided him the perfect opportunity to acquire that coveted defensive piece to his team's heavily unfinished puzzle. Seth Jones immediately becomes the Blue Jackets number one defenseman, and will be relied on to handle top pairing minutes and to shut down other team's scoring lines while providing some offensive help from the point. 

The reason Columbus will not receive the immediate success from this trade that Nashville will is because even with Jones, they still do not currently have enough fire power up front or have enough defensive assets close to Jones' level. Kekalainen will need to utilize the upcoming trade deadline and this next offseason/draft to build on his new acquisition. They are 19th in goals per-game, and that clearly has not been enough to save their poor defensive play. The Blue Jackets have allowed 236 goals this season. Not a good stat to have 41 games in. Defensive help needed to arrive, and Kekalainen made it happen.

What good comes out of this deal? Jones immediately makes the Columbus defense better, as he is now the best defenseman the team has had in the last few seasons. He is also only 21 years-old. Like stated above, this is a move that a team builds upon. Columbus will strengthen their offense now that they acquired that key defenseman they so desperately needed. They can focus on upgrading their offense, while still looking to slowly build up the D corps whenever the opportunity arises. Jones will man the top pairing alongside 22 year-old Ryan Murray. Jones and Murray patrolling the top unit means that the second pairing consists of Jack Johnson-David Savard, the third will be Fedor Tyutin-Cody Goloubef. 

Jones

Jones will need to adjust to top pairing minutes coming from playing 2nd/3rd pairing minutes, but in my eyes he will no problem with the extra toll. In the future, Columbus defense prospect Zach Werenski to become the partner for Jones. With the two-way ability of both Jones and Werenski, that pairing has the potential to be one of the solid pairings in hockey given a few year's time once Werenski is ready for the NHL level. However, Columbus still needs more help on the backend if they want to succeed soon. Look for Kekalainen to make one or two more defensemen-minded moves before the trade deadline.

Columbus' lineup now shapes out to be:

*according to Daily Faceoff via Twitter, @DailyFaceoff 

Jenner - Dubinsky - Atkinson
Hartnell - Wennberg - Saad
Foligno - Karlsson - Anderson
Bourque - Campbell - Boll

Murray - Jones
Johnson - Savard
Tyutin - Goloubef

This roster, while still retaining some scoring touch and being fairly balanced, is not going to get Columbus by if they want to become playoff contenders. While there may be no saving of this season, the Blue Jackets can build and prepare their club for next season and go from there. Columbus is not focused on the present, they have their eyes locked on the future. It will be entertaining to see what direction Kekalainen takes to rebuild his team and eventually get them back into the playoffs. 

2016 NHL All Star Game - What to Expect

This morning, the full rosters for the 2016 NHL All Star Game in Nashville were announced, giving us a now full view of what the teams should look like. This year's All Star Game format is a little different than years past, so let me brief you on what will be going on.

Instead of having just one game pitted against the Eastern Conference and Western Conference, this years ASG will feature four teams representing each of the league's divisions. The Atlantic Division all-stars will matchup against the Metropolitan Division all-stars, while the Central Division all-stars will face the Pacific Division all stars. The winner these two games will go on to face each other in the All-Star game final. There is another twist: all games will be played under a 3-on-3 format. 3 skaters and 1 goalie to a team. If the games remain tied after 20 minutes of play, it will move on directly to a three-round shootout, with extra rounds if needed. There will be no overtime play this year. 

The voting was a little different this year. Fan voting was changed so that fans only voted for the captain that represents each division. Voting for the roster players for each division was done by National Hockey League staff and associates internally. 

The four captains that were selected were Jaromir Jagr of the Florida Panthers representing the Atlantic Division, Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals representing the Metropolitan Division, Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks representing the Central Division, and infamously, John Scott of the Arizona Coyotes representing the Pacific Division.

Now, Scott being voted as an All-Star captain started out as a joke among fans. He was the top vote getter at first and nobody really thought that it would actually get this far. Scott, a notoriously dirty player who hasn't had a very impressive NHL resume, was voted in it seems purely out of the humor factor it would bring. Scott has handled the situation well and with maturity, saying that he is excited and that it "will give us fourth line players something to be proud of." Amid the people who are up in arms about, it should provide a humorous factor to the game a make it entertaining. 

Left to right: Ovechkin, Jagr, Kane, Scott

On to the full rosters. Here is a list of which players were named All-Stars to represent their respective divisions.

ATLANTIC ALL-STARS

F - Patrice Bergeron (BOS)

F - Jaromir Jagr (FLA)

F - Leo Komarov (TOR)

F - Dylan Larkin (DET)

F - Ryan O'Reilly (BUF)

F - Steven Stamkos (TBL)

D - Aaron Ekblad (FLA)

D - Erik Karlsson (OTT)

D - PK Subban (MTL)

G - Ben Bishop (TBL)

G - Roberto Luongo (FLA)

METROPOLITAN ALL-STARS

F - Niklas Backstrom (WSH)

F - Claude Giroux (PHI)

F - Evgeni Malkin (PIT)

F - Alex Ovechkin (WSH)

F - John Tavares (NYI)

F - Brandon Saad (CBJ)

D - Justin Faulk (CAR)

D - Kris Letang (PIT)

D - Ryan McDonagh (NYR)

G - Braden Holtby (WSH)

G - Cory Schneider (NJD)

CENTRAL ALL-STARS

F - Jamie Benn (DAL)

F - Matt Duchene (COL)

F - Tyler Seguin (DAL)

F - Patrick Kane (CHI)

F - Vladimir Tarasenko (STL)

F - Jonathan Toews (CHI)

D - Dustin Byfuglien (WPG)

D - Roman Josi (NSH)

D - Shea Weber (NSH)

G - Pekka Rinne (NSH)

G - Devan Dubnyk (MIN)

PACIFIC ALL-STARS

F - Johnny Gaudreau (CGY)

F - Taylor Hall (EDM)

F - Joe Pavelski (SJS)

F - Corey Perry (ANA)

F - John Scott (ARI)

F - Daniel Sedin (VAN)

D - Brent Burns (SJS)

D - Drew Doughty (LAK)

D - Mark Giordano (CGY)

G - John Gibson (ANA)

G - Jonathan Quick (LAK)

So those are the teams that you will see competing at this year's All-Star Game festivities in Nashville. The new 3-on-3 format will be exciting and is something I am really looking forward too. It will give the players so much more room on the ice to skate and show off their skills. The back and forth action will be sure to keep the viewer engaged. Look for the agile and fast skaters to really flourish in the 3-on-3 format. Karlsson, Doughty, Duchene, Gaudreau, Malkin, are all players to really keep your eye on during 3-on-3 play. All can absolutely fly down the ice and will put on a great show.

With the roster reveals, the jersey reveals came as well. 

Now, I still do not fully understand why the NHL hasn't used all of the colors of the host team, but at least these incorporate Nashville's gold. I like these jerseys a lot better than last year's neon green disaster. They look a lot cleaner and more professional. I just wish in the next few years we will see jerseys fully based off the host team's colors.