SIGNING STABILITY
The big news in this segment of Anaheim's season was the break with
President/General Manager Pierre Gauthier's tradition -- short-lived
though it was -- of not negotiating contracts during the season.
Brilliantly, Gauthier inked stopper Guy Hebert after local media ran
stories about his impending free agency for two days in a row. Those
stories followed the signing of Patrick Roy by the Colorado Avalanche
to a three-year megabucks contract.
While Hebert didn't get near the $7 million-plus per season that Roy
commanded, the Ducks did pony up near $4 million per over a three
year extension. And lest you think management was being wholly
selfless in breaking with standing policy by signing the mid-year
deal, think again. In the wake of Roy's signing, Hebert was
repeatedly being referred to as "the best available goalie
remaining" on the post-season free agent market. Just as the
continued talk of his free agency created distraction and
uncertainty among the team and its fans, the prospect of open
bidding for Hebert's services had to be unsettling for Gauthier &
Co. So, wisely, they stepped up to the plate, got the deal done and
killed two birds with one stone.
Now, only one important contract remains to be negotiated: Paul
Kariya's. The Ducks would be wise not to let that issue simmer too
long on the back burner, either.
LATE CHRISTMAS FOR CULLEN
In an attempt to spur scoring from somewhere other than the top
trio, Hartsburg has shifted his line combinations around. So far,
the main beneficiary has been Matt Cullen, who was inserted between
the dynamic duo, and responded with a career-high three-game
goal-scoring streak. The team has prospered as well, winning all
three of those games.
But it's not clear that there's a real causal relationship between
the switch and the streaks. Along with a top-line presence comes
increased ice time, and two of Cullen's goals came on the power
play. Overall, Cullen has had a potful more chances on which he
failed to capitalize -- and that's not a slam on the talented young
player, just a fact. But over the long term, the confidence that
comes from playing with Kariya and Selanne -- and putting up some
numbers of his own -- can only help Cullen in realizing his
potential.
As for sparking the other lines, the real focus of these maneuvers,
not much can be said. Discounting Marty McInnis's empty-netter at
the end of the Chicago game, only two of the team's 12 goals have
come at even strength and at the hands of "others" -- one by
McInnis and one by Jeff Nielsen.
And the winning streak looks better on paper than it did on the ice.
Against the hapless Hawks, the Ducks managed only 23 shots while
surrendering 35 in Hebert's career-high fifth shutout of the season.
Against uber-hapless Tampa Bay -- who had been pummeled 10-1 by
Washington the previous game -- Anaheim jumped in front early, then
laid back, threatening to let the Lightning back in the game over
the final 40 minutes. The next night, an admittedly tough
scheduling quirk, the Ducks failed to open well against struggling
St. Louis, falling behind 2-0 and 3-1. And their stirring
three-goal third period came courtesy of two "own goals" by Chris
Pronger -- one off his stick, the other off his skate.
No matter. You take momentum where you can find it.
HIDDEN BENNIES?
The real benefit of the line shakeup may be two-fold: One, Cullen
may catch the scoring bug and learn how to finish regardless of
with whom he's playing. Two, the team may finally realize that
waiting for "the second line" -- such as it is -- to become truly
productive will be as futile as waiting for Republicans to admit
that this whole impeachment charade wasn't really about "the
Constitution."
In deciding against pursuing big-name free agents this past
off-season, Pierre Gauthier derided the process of paying old
players big money based on what they had done in the past. Fine.
The future of the Ducks, he has said, is in the development of
home-grown young talent. So be it. In fact, it's an excellent,
forward-thinking philosophy.
So why not just let the kids -- all of them -- have a trial by fire?
Count on them now, during the playoff race, instead of repeating last
year's blueprint of letting the kids gain their experience after the
postseason was no longer an option. Why cling to the fantasy that the
veterans will somehow magically recapture their youth and scoring
touch? Let Green and Sandstrom check, and maybe pot an occasional
goal, on the fourth line. Mix Johan Davidsson and Antti Aalto in with
Selanne, Kariya and Rucchin and let them get a taste of the good
life. Bring up Frank Banham and teach him to play the kind of two-way
game he'll need to stay in the NHL.
Gauthier trusted his youngsters in Ottawa and produced positive
results; a team that rounded into shape as the playoffs began. Why
not do the same here?
