The Mighty Ducks start the 1998-99 campaign with one big problem
solved and another still lingering.
Solved is the issue of executive leadership, with Pierre Gauthier
returning from Ottawa to assume the mantle of president and general
manager. Gauthier, through savvy decision-making both on and off the
ice, was instrumental in turning the Senators from a floundering
franchise into a team on the rise. The Ducks hope he can bring that
ol' black magic south of the border, too, and reverse Anaheim's
fast-fading fortunes of '97-98.
Rather than be "aggressive" in the free agent market, as former GM
Jack Ferreira pledged he would, Gauthier seems unapologetically
intent on letting his home-grown youngsters carry a bigger load
this year, as evidenced by the presence of Antti Aalto, Matt
Cullen, Johan Davidsson, Mike Leclerc, Josef Marha and Jeff Nielsen
on the opening-day roster. Gauthier's only significant off-season
moves were picking up Kevin Haller and Stu "Hands Off Paul" Grimson
from Carolina (in exchange for David Karpa) and the re-acquisition
of defenseman Fredrik Olausson, who is expected to lead the power
play.
NOW THE BAD NEWS
Lingering is a defense that, while boasting some youthful promise,
can't yet be legitimately considered competitive with the top half
of the league.
With another season like his last, Jason Marshall could emerge as a
real defensive leader, and Olausson (if he stays healthy) could
steady a high-power power play. But relying on Kevin Haller to play
half the game, as the Ducks must, is indicative of Anaheim's need
to bolster the blue line. Picking up Pascal Trepanier for nothing
won't hurt, but the team will have to rely on overall team defense
if it is going to post solid goals-against numbers -- not to
mention a decent record -- this year.
As to the team D, in progress is the team's Craig Hartsburg
makeover. You remember Hartsburg, don't you? He was the former
Chicago coach last heard calling Paul Kariya a big, whining crybaby
who was exaggerating his head injury, delivered courtesy of
Hartsburg hit-man Gary Suter. But if Kariya and the Ducks are
willing to let bygones be bygones, then I guess we are, too. As to
whether the Hartsburg hire will prove as provident as Gauthier
tabbing Jacques Martin in Ottawa, well, we're pessimistic.
A COOL START
The opener was a face wash courtesy of former Ducks coach Ron
Wilson, who raised the Eastern Conference banner in the MCI Center
before lowering the boom on the Anaheim, 1-0. Dominic Roussel,
picked up when it became clear that Patrick Lalime is not NHL
material after all, got the start in lieu of Guy Hebert, whose
surgically-repaired right shoulder was tweaked in a preseason
collision with Haller. The only thing that could have made it
sweeter for Wilson, who didn't hide his glee at the
schedule-maker's ironic delivery of these sitting Ducks on flag
day, would have been the presence of former Anaheim president Tony
Tavares, who banished him from SoCal for, um, speaking.
If the Ducks were heartened by a game effort against the Caps --
which they got -- they crashed back to earth against Philadelphia.
The Flyers dominated Anaheim in rolling to a 4-1 win. Defensive
lapses? Natch. But it was more than that: It was David going in
unarmed against Goliath.
The Ducks, rearmed with their dynamic duo of Kariya and Teemu
Selanne, have a long way to go before they stack up favorably with
the upper echelon in the NHL.
OPENING LINES
The top line remains unchanged from last year, with Steve Rucchin
centering Kariya and Selanne. The rest of the opening night combos
were (l-c-r) as follows:
Johan Davidsson-Matt Cullen-Tomas Sandstrom
Mike Leclerc-Travis Green-Antti Aalto
Stu Grimson-Josef Marha-Jeff Nielsen
Marha turned his ankle late in the opener and sat out the tilt
against Philly.
On defense, the top pairing, as expected, was Haller and Marshall.
Olausson played with Pavel Trnka, and Jamie Pushor paired up with
Pascal Trepanier. Trepanier will likely be the odd man out (and may
see some action as a forward, a la Brent Severyn last year) when
Ruslan Salei returns from his five-game suspension for pitchforking
diminutive Phoenix rookie Daniel Briere into the exhibition-season
ice, rendering him briefly unconscious.
THE OUTLOOK
Bleak, but not as bad as an Ottawa winter. With Gauthier at the
helm, the overall defense will tighten up...or else. And with a
crop of gifted youngsters (Aalto, Cullen, Davidsson, Marha) given
the chance to wet their feet now, the future looks bright up front.
For entertainment value, of course, there's always Paul and Teemu.
And fight fans get a double bill of Grimson and McKenzie.
But Disneyland tourists want entertainment. Hockey fans want
wins.
