Strax över 1 månad till NHL börjar och några långtidsspel (chansningar) ligger uppe i sheetet.
Spelen kommer att släppas snabbast på twitter och på min blogg (sker automatiskt till twitter från bloggen) men kommer även att copy-pastea in alla spel här. Just nu ligger det uppe previews på 2 lag (håller på med alla men är inte så snabb) i form av Anaheim Ducks och Arizona Coyotes. Klistrar in dom här också, men dom är skrivna på engelska så det får ni leva med
Anaheim Ducks
Additions:
Carl Hagelin, Anton Khudobin, Kevin Bieksa, Shawn Horcoff, Chris Stewart, Brian McGrattan & Mike Santorelli
Losses:
Emerson Etem, James Wisniewski, Matt Beleskey & Francois Beauchemin
Preview:
Anaheim Ducks, the team that gets themselves far in the playoff but never all the way. This year might be the change in that matter. With some very interesting changes in the roster before this season, I really believe that this might be the Ducks’ year. Carl Hagelin, in from Rangers (17G, 18A, 82GP) to try and fill the empty spot after either Emerson Etem (5G, 5A, 45GP) or more likely Matt Beleskey (22G, 10A, 65GP). This isn’t an easy task for a single player so Ducks will have to hope that players like Silfverberg and Rakell will get even better.
One necessity for the Ducks to have a chance at winning the Stanley Cup this year is that Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf will continue to play around well together and, even more important, stay healthy.
Goalkeeping
Andersen really took a great step from playing a few games two seasons ago to play 54 games last season. His stats might not be the most impressive ones (2.38 GAA, .914 SV%) but he did make those important saves that helped Ducks go all the way to conference final. To this season Anton Khudobin (from Carolina) will join as well, and this might indicate that Gibson will join the AHL at the beginning and if Andersen fails in any way he will have the form necessary to step right up to take the first glove. According to officials in the organization there are no intentions of trading Gibson away which strengthens the possibility of him starting the season in AHL.
Defense
Ducks’ defense has seen a few changes since previous season with the most noteworthy being Francois Beauchemin moving to Colorado. To replace him GM Murray has acquired Kevin Bieksa, but the question is if he can remain the mentor to Hampus Lindholm that Beauchemin was last season (and also, do Lindholm need a mentor?). Francois Beauchemin was also the player on last seasons roster with the most ice time total.
Most important defensemen: Sami Vatanen, Hampus Lindholm and Clayton Stoner with his routine.
Interesting upcoming defensemen: Shea Theodore, drafted 2 years ago and even though the Ducks’ officials has said that they won’t rush him, I think that we will see Theodore in a few games and he seems really interesting.
Offense
As mentioned earlier, Matt Beleskey, Emerson Etem and Kyle Palmieri is out of the team and in comes Carl Hagelin, Shawn Horcoff, Chris Mueller and Chris Stewart. My subjective opinion is that this perhaps isn’t the best trades in the off-season. The Top-6 is almost intact and they’ve kept Cogliano on the left wing, but was it really necessary to get 2 new C’s? Horcoff will probably become a fourth-liner behind Getzlaf, Kessler and Rakell. But where does Chris Mueller fit in?
Summary
I do believe that the Ducks has a chance of winning the Stanley Cup if they can strengthen the defense and if Andersen can keep up the good work from last season. The Pacific is not the easiest of the divisions and Calgary seems like a serious threat this year. I believe that Ducks will take the no. 1 spot but it won’t be easy.