And Then There Were . . . 23

DANIEL:
This is Anaheim Calling to the Hockey World.

The Anaheim Ducks have officially announced the final cuts of the preseason. Logan MacMillan was sent to Bakersfield of the ECHL and Brendan Mikkelson was sent to Toronto of the AHL. Logan MacMillan being sent to Bakersfield probably isn't a huge surprise considering his limited ice time during the preseason, but Carlyle expressed sincere interest in running 11 forwards and 7 defensemen during games, leaving us wondering if he would carry 8 blueliners on the 23 man roster. In the end, he chose to have 14 forwards and 7 defensemen on the full roster. Tell me Arthur, what do you think were the main factors that led to Mikkelson being sent to the AHL rather than Ebbett who is also on a 2-way contract?

ARTHUR:
I think there is some surprise at MacMillan playing in the ECHL. It could be that we're more familiar or comfortable with that organization or that we want to see some toughness out of him, but first rounders rarely end up in the ECHL, even in a complex minor affiliate situation.

On Mikkelson, I have to say that he and Christensen were given a real opportunity on Sunday. They both needed to do well to send Ebbett home. Christensen came through; Mikkelson didn't.

They gave the blueliner time with Eminger, his most successful mate, they put him on the penalty kill and they generally gave him a chance to do the little things right. But, at every turn, he seemed to come up just shy, missing opportunites to clear the puck, sending the puck into open space and just not using the boards effectively. If he can't eat minutes on the blueline, it doesn't matter if he can eat minutes up front.

This may not last very long; most of this corps is still so unpredictable. But I like the message this sends to Mikkelson: this team has no problems relying on free agency if its prospects come up short.

DANIEL:
I know Mikkelson didn't have the best game on Sunday, but I think the real story behind these cuts is Joffrey Lupul's back. The OC Register mentioned that Lupul was kept out of practice on Tuesday due to some recurring back problems. If that's the case, this is probably a move by Carlyle to make sure he has forwards around to take care of the hole that Lupul is about to leave in the Top 6.

Ebbett has shown he can play with Selanne, and while the wing is a new position for him, I think that the desire to have a skater who knows how to create offense is a compelling need if Lupul isn't 100%. Also, Ebbett is a strong positional player, and he'll be a strong back checker when Selanne isn't. I thought Mikkelson played a good game Sunday. It's not so much that he made a lot of mistakes, just that the mistakes he did make came at key times, like on the penalty kill. I'd also like to mention that the Christensen-Marchant-Artyukhin line looked fantastic, and Christensen earned at least a chance to play regular season minutes. Mostly, I just think these cuts reflect a greater concern for Joffrey Lupul's back more than any satisfaction Carlyle has with his situation on defense.

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Now With Cup Holders

ARTHUR:
Anaheim calling to the hockey world...

Ducks fans were treated to a 5-4 win against the Kings at the Ponda Center on Sunday night. But another interesting treat greeted fans taking their seats in the non-300 level: cup holders.

Daniel, are the new cup holders a noteworthy upgrade, or do they simply draw attention to the fact that the Pond has been living in the past since its construction?

DANIEL:
I think I'm a little unimpressed with cup holders. I almost never use one, and the fact that our seats have pretty good leg room makes me feel confident in stashing my beer under the seat. Mostly, I can't believe it took so long to make this happen. It's cup holders for the love of Howe, not a seat warmer. I do wonder what made Ponda Center management suddenly decide that we need cup holders. I appreciate the many things the Ponda center does for me: convenient bathrooms, the brief relationship with Ruby's, not to mention the vast array of beer for the persistent shopper, but I can't wrap my mind around cup holders. Maybe in 1999 it would have been cool, but now every arena has them.

If the Ponda Center really wants to impress me, it needs to sign a food contract that can get me a burger, fries and a soda for less than $10. Or at least get rid of Rubio's. I hate Rubio's, and I miss Ruby's.

ARTHUR:
Once upon a time, if you had a car without a cup holder (and such a thing was possible despite the automobile cup holder's invention in the 1950s), you would just go into a gas station and buy that $1 plastic cup holder that hung from your car windowsill. And you WOULD buy it, because cup holders are logical in any place where consuming a beverage is not your primary concern. It's not luxurious or decadent; it's a cup holder!

I'll admit that I'm to blame for this ridiculous question, but as my elbow sank into the newly designed armrest, I remembered what it was like the first time we sat in the 300s. I actually remarked to you, "Dude! Cup holders!" The Pond had managed to convince me that storing your drink at arm level was a privilege, a status symbol and the dominant factor in the differential in ticket price. And now, they deign to distribute it to the masses.

I'm not saying it's bad; it's certainly good in all the ways that cup holders are good. Notably, you can have a sizable tray of food in your lap and reach for your drink laterally. And I'm not saying that it doesn't take SOME planning to implement. I mean, we saw a guy get his drink kicked onto the steps today. And as far as I'm concerned, the Staples Center cup holders in the upper levels put your drink in your neighbor's lap. But it's hard to call this an 'upgrade' in such a young building. Honestly, I'd grown accustomed to the inconvenience.

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Penalty Shot: And Then There Were . . . Still 26

ARTHUR:
Anaheim calling to the hockey world...

Ryan Donally and Justin Pogge were sent to San Antonio to join Mark Mitera yesterday. Kyle Calder and Jassen Cullimore were released. And The OC Register reports Troy Bodie will be re-assigned today.

That leaves the Ducks with this roster going into tonight's game:

Forwards:
Artyukhin, Bodie (pending reassignment), Brown, Carter, Christensen, Ebbett, Getzlaf, Koivu, Lupul, MacMillan, Marchant, Nokelainen, Parros, Perry, Ryan, Selanne

Defense:
Boynton, Brookbank, Eminger, Mikkelson, Niedermayer, Sbisa, Whitney, Wisniewski

Goaltenders:
Giguere, Hiller

Carlyle has, perhaps, eased the tension in the battle of the blueline by saying it was "imperative to have a defenseman or forward that can interchange positions." The logical choice there is Brookbank (having played right wing for the Devils last season), but the Ducks opted to experiment with Mikkelson's skating ability at wing in Friday's game against the Sharks.

An 11-forward/7-defenseman lineup may also ease the tension in the contract situation. Of the remaining skaters, only Mikkelson, Sbisa, Ebbett and MacMillan are on two-way deals, and cutting Mikkelson/Sbisa would seriously diminish the skating ability of Anaheim's blueline.

For the final cuts, I predict MacMillan will go next, which is a shame since he could really benefit from playing in the Ducks system, but he hasn't dressed much this pre-season. Then I'd wager a farewell to Ebbett, but only because it's probably too soon to waive/trade Christensen.

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Penalty Shot: Ducks/Nucks Pre-season II

ARTHUR:
It sounded like a great game for the Ducks tonight.

Anaheim got on the board with a pass by Brendan Mikkelson into traffic (and Corey Perry's stick) in the slot and a rocket from the point by Ryan Whitney. The Canucks answered with a tough play in front of the net, created by Michael Grabner and cashed in by Matt Pope, and a last minute desperation blast by Shane O'Brien.

In overtime, Selanne took a pass from Koivu and sniped his way past Andrew Raycroft from the shallowest of angles. Ducks win.

Wood and Carroll gushed about Hiller's performance; the netminder seemed to face a train of scoring chances on minimal shots. And the broadcasters were also impressed with the line combinations of Ebbett/Koivu/Selanne and Nokelainen/Marchant/Artyukhin. But the play of Getzlaf and Mikkelson seemed particularly noteworthy throughout the broadcast.

Mikkelson was confident and aggressive before and after he created the first goal of the game, and needed only one serious bailout from Eminger. Getzlaf, in his first action this year, had the top line buzzing and sounded downright chippy between plays.

Dan Wood turned in a couple of great interviews with Hiller and Giguere. The former reported that he's kept his conditioning the same and is experimenting with new carbon fiber masks (meaning we should look forward to more terrific helmet saves this season), and the latter spoke of a sweet home life and a laid back training schedule this offseason.

This was Anaheim calling to the hockey world...

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Addendum to Top 20 Prospects: Preseason 2009

ARTHUR:
A couple more cuts. The Ducks announced that they have waived Steve McCarthy and sent Matt McCue to Manitoba. I had thought McCue was doing well in camp, but a move to the Moose could mean the Front Office was having trouble finding a place for him.

I was recently asked about McCue and how someone who has hung on this long could have missed my prospects list, along with players like Brittain and Macenauer, while a player like Salcido makes the Top 20.

The answers?

• McCue represents the 'size=potential' logjam I see at the bottom of the list, of which Vaive is comically emblematic.
• Brittain misses the list because he hasn't signed and the Ducks seem (inexplicably) enamored with Troy Bodie i.e. Brittain has a similar, more developed player (signed until 2011) standing between him and the Ducks.
• Macenauer is a bit complicated. He came all the way back from injury and signed with the team, but I just didn't see the next level in his play (semi-confirmed when he seemed to injure himself in rookie camp). Ultimately, I can't wait to be wrong about him, and he'll hover around the bottom 5 of my list after a good showing in the Pros.
• Salcido makes the list because the Front Office loved him, mentioning him in the same breath as Fetserling and Mikkelson. Perhaps a PR play to the Orange County audience, perhaps not. I saw enough potential to put him on the list at what was the likely end of of his minor league development process with the Ducks i.e. now or never.
• Oh, and if you're wondering, Bodie doesn't make the list because I see giant holes in skill. The Front Office and coaching staff treat him like he's knocking on the door, but I just don't see it.

Reading through my reasoning in bullet point form, it feels very natural to me, but as my list differs quite a bit from Rob and HF, I thought I should describe my basic rubric. I DON'T rank prospects strictly by projected NHL skill, and I think even professional scouts find that task rather difficult. My list is geared toward the likelihood you'll see the player in a Ducks uniform, excluding players who've played their rookie NHL season (25 games). I use the following three factors to come up with a projection of the player's future in Anaheim:

1. Position in the Development Process:
The world is an unpredictable place, and a kid with a promising career can definitely find himself behind a grinder with a signed contract and a steady development record in the AHL-- at least on my list. Unfortunately, a kid whose maintained a spotless record to get himself drafted is also technically ahead of a player in the AHL who's seen a few setbacks (i.e. potential career AHL player). It's the boom/bust tightrope, and you can fall off at any time, no matter how much rope you've walked.

Will unfairly punish:
Players who experience a bad season in the Juniors or Minors.
Players from the 3rd Round or later (traditionally a longer journey to the NHL) who don't impress.

Will unfairly reward:
Newly drafted players who have yet to experience adversity in the development process.
Players who experience an anomalously good season in the Juniors or Minors.

2. Relationship with the Ducks Organization:
This turns out to be really important on my list. I am forced to show preference to the players that Anaheim calls up because the likelihood of them wearing a Ducks uniform is logically superior to the rest of the pool (and because the organization obviously knows the player much better than I do). A call-up and a modicum of skill will usually force my hand. Ideally, I ask myself, what does management think of the player? What do the coaches think of the player? Is his position/skillset redundant on the current squad and in the current prospect pool? Or is there a void that he will need to fill in the near future?

Will unfairly punish:
Redundant players.
Unsigned players.
Unsigned late Round draftees.
Players left in the minors for contract reasons.

Will unfairly reward:
Players called up for a final cup of coffee.
First and Second Round draftees.
Players signed by the organization.
Players called up for need, not skill.
Players hyped by management.

3. Skill:
Skill and its translation to a higher level of play are nearly impossible to evaluate accurately, even for the professionals. It's certainly above my paygrade as an armchair scout. Generally, I'll be conservative here: evaluate the toolkit and forgive very little in terms of flaws and shortcomings.

Will unfairly punish:
Overseas players I've never seen who aren't covered.
Players from leagues and systems I cannot evaluate effectively.
Players in the NCAA whom I feel comfortable evaluating at length.
Non-skill Major Junior players who performed poorly in the games I've seen.

Will unfairly reward:
Overseas players I've never seen who are overhyped.
Players in the NCAA whom I feel comfortable evaluating at length.
Non-skill Major Junior players who performed well in the games I've seen.


On a final note, I do my best with this list. It's a work in progress. I feel it's held up pretty well through Training Camp. Beleskey took a step backward, certain junior players like Warg took a step forward, but Camp is a short while and these players have until December (when I next update my list) to keep walking the boom/bust tightrope.

This was Anaheim calling to the hockey world...

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Being Bobby Ryan

© Photo courtesy of CK. All rights reserved to CK. No rights reserved to Anaheim Calling or its associates. No unauthorized duplication of any kind.

DANIEL:
Last night the Ducks had their first encounter with the San Jose Sharks since eliminating the Presidents' Trophy winners in the opening round of the playoffs. The game featured Selanne scoring his first preseason goal on a brilliant slap shot, Ryan Carter announcing his candidacy for the Selke with some terrific defensive play and the return of Will Smith's "Gettin Jiggy With It," as Giguere looked more like a $6 million goalie. But the most interesting play of the game happened when Bobby Ryan found himself dropping the gloves with the Sharks' Jamie McGinn.

McGinn levelled Corey Perry, who turned to bring the puck into the neutral zone after receiving a no-look pass from Ryan, who was digging the puck out along the boards. Later, Ryan told the OC Register that, as he put Perry in that position, he had to be the one to defend him.

Arthur, Bobby Ryan is going to be counted on for a lot of offense this year. Is this really a mess he needs to clean up himself, or should he have let a Parros handle it on the next shift?

ARTHUR:
Generally, no, he shouldn't be fighting. HOWEVER, the kid's got character, and he's absolutely right about his responsibilities in this situation. In his first shift last Wednesday, I told you I thought he was having a little too much fun out there. He elbowed a guy in the face and smiled at him. Now, I understand he's excited; this is the first time since he was drafted that he KNOWS he'll make this team. But that excitement has resulted in some showboating in the pre-season, and that showboating created this situation.

It was a cute little no-look pass into open ice, Perry had to follow the puck as it squirted out and he was destroyed in the process. It wouldn't have been enough for Ryan to just pat him on the shoulder on the bench and say, "sorry, man." He had to do something about it. I'd compare it to missing your assignment and watching the guy score on the goaltender. Yeah, you can say, "sorry, Jiggy," but you're likely to hear, "Don't apologize! Go score a goal!" There's really only one response when you make a mistake like this. Ryan knows that, and I give him full marks for following through. And as I said when it happened, I would have lost some respect for him if he didn't.

But I'd also compare this to throwing a high pass across the middle as a quarterback. You can dive head first to pick up the first down on the next play and show your receiver you're willing to sacrifice yourself, but it should end there. As the quarterback, you can't leave yourself open to injury like that. You just learn to be a little more considerate of your receivers, and you can baseball slide into the first down marker for the rest of your career.

And that's how Ryan should view this. He can't expose himself to injury, but if he's a little more considerate of his teammates, he won't have to.

DANIEL:
I have to agree with you, on all counts. But more than just being responsible for his mistake or defending a teammate, I think this fight demonstrates that Bobby realizes how important he is to the team. None of us like to see it, but from time to time star players have to mix it up. Last year Scotty, Getzlaf and Perry were all dropping gloves in the Detroit series, because it was do or die. They were demonstrating their heart and commitment and letting everybody else on the team know that we weren't going to roll over for Detroit. In 2006, Iginla squared off with Beauchemin to stand up for his teammate, and even though it backfired a little when Beauchemin won the fight, I still think it reminded everybody that the Flames were his team.

This fight is a strong message for the Ducks and the rest of the league. Bobby Ryan is not just a young kid who can create offense. He's taking ownership of his game and becoming a more complete hockey player. I never considered Bobby Ryan to be anything more than offense. I knew he was a hard worker and that he'd go to the tough areas to score goals, but I never thought he'd be the type of guy who'd eventually have an "A" on his chest. I don't think he should be doing this every time he makes a mistake, but standing up like this shows he is willing to do whatever it takes to win. I think that should comfort Anaheim fans in the type of effort they'll be seeing from Bobby Ryan this season. I know it comforts me.

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Monday Ducks/Sharks Game Photo Gallery Courtesy of CK

© All photos courtesy of CK. All rights reserved to CK. No rights reserved to Anaheim Calling or its associates. No unauthorized duplication of any kind.

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Thursday Practice Photo Gallery Courtesy of CK

© All photos courtesy of CK. All rights reserved to CK. No rights reserved to Anaheim Calling or its associates. No unauthorized duplication of any kind.

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Penalty Shot: Continued Cuts

ARTHUR:
The Ducks cut seven more from the roster today, sending Brandon McMillan back to Kelowna and shipping Shawn Weller, Brett Festerling, MacGregor Sharp, Maxime Macenauer and J.P. Levasseur to San Antonio.

Interestingly, Brian Salcido was assigned to Manitoba. Randy Carlyle and Bob Murray have a history with the Moose and the Canucks organization generally, and I'd venture a guess that the move is a goodbye to Brian Salcido. It should result in a minor trade, though the OC Register reports he'll have to clear waivers to assume a post in Manitoba. This is at odds with initial reports that Salcido signed a two-way renewal in July. Despite favorable opinions from the front office (which is really the only reason he made my Top Prospects list), Salcido has completed three full seasons in the AHL and was due for a change of scenery if he couldn't crack the Ducks roster this offseason.

Fellow blueliner Brett Festerling, who signed a two-year renewal this summer, is the first defenseman headed to Texas in the Ducks defensemen melodrama. Despite being the first cut from the D-corps, Festerling's 40 NHL games and 1 playoff game last year make him logical trade bait.

This was Anaheim calling to the hockey world. Keep your eyes on the minor trade news tickers.

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Knock on Wood?

ARTHUR:
A wild game last night. The pre-season Ducks squad (outshot 30-2 in the 1st), came back to win in overtime at Jobing.com arena. It was a shame it was radio only.

For Ducks fans that attended the first two pre-season games at Honda Center, this may have been their first occasion to tune into Ducks radio this season, unless they caught the first broadcast while leaving Honda Center Wednesday night. You may have noticed that Steve Carroll is training a new color commentator, the OC Register's Dan Wood.

Daniel, as someone who listened to a lot of Ducks radio last season, what do you think of Dan Wood so far? How does he compare/contrast with former color guy Brent Severyn?

DANIEL:
There are 2 major differences between Wood and Severyn. First, Wood is too uptight right now. The guy doesn't seem to enjoy his job. Being the color guy on hockey games should be fun. As a listener, I appreciate a guy who brings more than just knowledge to my listening experience. Forgive the abhorrent pun, but Wood is so stiff. You could use the guy to build a log cabin. He sounds disinterested in calling the game, and if I was a casual fan listening to him I would probably change the station.

Second, I need more than just game analysis. I don't know if it's because I've spent so many years listening to Vin Scully, but I expect player anecdotes. I want to hear stories about hockey players that don't necessarily have to deal with the game, but might reveal the nuances of a particular player. That's how Vinny does it and that's what I expect. Severyn, always had some story, even if it was just about being in the locker room with other guys, or things that happened with different teams that were comparable to the Ducks current situation. Wood does do a good job of breaking down the game, but I can't listen to the same type of analysis over and over. It gets a little boring. It's good to explain the game, but if that's all you're doing, you're going to make me think there's nothing interesting about the people playing it.

ARTHUR:
First, can I just say that the OC Register keeps the WORST headshot in history on file for Mr. Wood. It looks like it was taken in 1991 at a Bayside High yearbook photo shoot. I understand he works in print (and now radio), but you've got to keep a better picture on file.

I think your first complaint, when we heard him on Wednesday, was that he doesn't seem to have a radio voice. I agree with that. His voice has a glottal quality, kind of Jeff Bridges, somewhere between his role in The Fisher King and The Vanishing. And he doesn't have that radio voice rhythm that you hear in guys like Severyn and more exaggerated in guys like Jim Fox. The rhythm will come in time, of course. The throatiness, we'll probably just get used to, hopefully.

I think the biggest difference is akin to what you were saying about anecdotes. Despite covering the Ducks for the Register, a lot of Wood's comments are stats, little known facts and interview information from the players and coaching staff. That's interesting to a point, but it leads to moments like the end of last night's game, where his departing thoughts were a question on whether or not a team had ever been outshot 30-2 in the 1st and come back to win. It's nice to geek out over stats, but you would think, in all his time on the beat, he could draw a comparison to something he'd seen before. It's his job to lighten the mood, and he's still pushing very dry sports page information. Hopefully, he'll inject some personality into the broadcast in the near future.

Looking at the TV Schedule, I'll be hearing a lot of Dan Wood this season. Good luck, Mr. Wood. I hope you sound better next I check in with you.

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PK: Ducklings Returning To The Nest

DANIEL:
This is Anaheim Calling to the Hockey world...

According to Curtis Zupke of the OC Register, the Ducks have sent 6 prospects back to Juniors. Because I have become enamored with the list format, I will rank these prospects in order of who I think stood out the most in camp, and I'll predict where they are going.

1) Matt Clark, Brampton/OHL- Arthur went on about this kid, and I can do a little more. He's built like a hockey player, and he's only 19. He sees the game perfectly, and he doesn't make bad decisions. A year in Juniors working on getting more mobile and building a hard and accurate shot, and he'll be NHL ready. I expect him to be a permanent member of the Ducks blue line for years to come.

2) Nicolas Deschamps, Chicoutimi QMJHL- This kid has so many offensive tools. He can operate in tight spaces, and he makes some of the most daring passes. Even more surprising is the amount of those passes that get through. He still seems to have a problem with the speed of the NHL game, especially when it comes to transition-- I just don't think he recognizes how quickly the puck ends up going the other way. Also, the kid can't dump the puck. When he hashes out the mundane parts of his game (dumping, chasing, transition defense), I expect him to be back here full time. Probably filling the void left by Selanne.

3) Peter Holland, Guelph OHL- I can see why scouts in the organization were so high on Holland. This guy plays better than his skill set. After finally watching Holland play in a game, I think he has terrific hockey sense. I'm not even sure he knows he has it. A lot of Holland's problems seem to stem from the fact that he doesn't trust how good he is. Once, he realizes that playing to his full potential is a good thing, he will find a home on an NHL roster. I still think he's about two years away.

4) Stefan Warg, Seattle WHL- Carlyle was impressed with Warg's competitiveness and thought he played well during the exhibition. I agree with Carlyle. I didn't see anything very brilliant about Warg, but Sean O'Donnell wasn't brilliant either. I like this guy's game. It's beautiful in all of its normalcy. Look to see him in the NHL in another 2 years.

5) Josh Brittain, Barrie OHL- Josh actually hurt himself during camp. There were times when I thought he didn't know how to play like a big guy, and that's never good. His work along the boards was decent, and I could see him as a solid Bottom 6. There were just times when he didn't look like he knew what he wanted to do.

6) Marco Cousineau, Drummondville QMJHL- I don't know what to say except you're probably the number 5 goalie in the system right now. It was a tough camp for goalies. No one is going to unseat Hiller or Giguere, but Cousineau looked like he had some skill. It was hard to get a good read on him, but nothing about him really impressed me. He might prove to be a valuable back up someday, but he won't pass Pogge or Pielmeier. This guy will get moved. Hope it works out for him.

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'Nucked

ARTHUR:
Vancouver's pre-season squad shut the Ducks out last night 3-0 at Honda Center. As Daniel and I were rather negative about the pre-season opening win, we're going to switch gears and be positive about this pre-season loss.

Daniel, who impressed you most tonight and why?

DANIEL:
Well, obviously Matt Clark, but I'll let you go on about him.

The other player that impressed me was Shawn Weller. He didn't do anything amazing, and that was the amazing thing. He played a very solid game, taking the body, and making sure to pressure on the forecheck. I think he had one scoring chance that he couldn't bury. I simply enjoyed the fact that he played the game he was supposed to play and didn't try to do too much just to make the team. We said last night while we were watching the game, it's more important to make the right decision and show that you can play smart than it is to flash your various skills around the ice. I think Weller did a good job of that last night.

ARTHUR:
The particular thing I emphasized to you last night, which our readers should remember when looking at Matt Clark, is his size and age. This is a 1990 kid who already matches up with pro players. His AHL stint is imminent, and it should be brief. For what he can do now, and how soon he'll be able to try his hand at the pros, Clark was a 2nd Round steal for the Ducks.

So, what can he do? Let's start with vision. His eyes are always moving, and his neck has swivel parts. It's like he has sideview and rearview mirrors out there, and he's the most careful driver on EARTH. Be sure, he knows where you'll be on the ice. And when you get too close, he is surgical with his stick work. He can disrupt you as you enter the zone, along the boards or the very moment you're trying to make a play. I was really surprised to see how well this translated against NHL players at near NHL-speed.

Then, and this just has to be said on principle, how many players can hold their own paired with Scott Niedermayer? More importantly, how many can get back and effectively cover for a Niedermayer mistake? Add Matt Clark to that exclusive company. Covering a 2-on-1 after a Niedermayer misplay, Clark dove-checked the puck off the attacker's stick and brought it with him as he slid toward the half boards. He didn't look out of place playing with a hall-of-famer; you can't say enough about that.

The thing I did NOT expect to see from Clark last night, which he showed me no less than FOUR times was big hits. He hunched two players over their own bench, the price of playing the puck in the neutral zone against him. He then pinned a player horizontally on the wall at the Ducks blueline, separating him from the puck before he could dump it. And last, though he didn't get all of him, he cut across the slot to blindside the puckhandler. He knocked the puck loose, but a slower reaction and he would've knocked the guy out.

You could argue that these were highlight reel hits, and he timed them to build a good film record with the coaches. But I'm going to argue that this kid has more fire in his belly than anyone gives him credit for. Because I know, and I think he knows, that that last hit wouldn't fly in the OHL. I think Matt Clark is going to unleash the physical part of his game when he finally comes to the pros. And I, for one, can't wait to see it.

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Thursday Morning Practice at Anaheim Ice

[Note: We have a photo gallery courtesy of CK available here.]

ARTHUR:
About a dozen onlookers showed up to Anaheim Ice Thursday morning to watch the Ducks' Wednesday night pre-season squad take an open practice with Coaches Brown and Farrish. Your bloggers were there for the short session.

Daniel, what problems from Wednesday's game were you glad to see the coaches addressing Thursday morning?

DANIEL:
That's an easy question to answer. I was most pleased with work on puck possession. I know that our roster has changed, but I think the main components of a puck possession game are still in place. I think a lot of these kids are not used to having to fight for the puck, keep it in the zone and then transform that pressure into offensive chances. I don't think the style of game we play needs to change just because some of the personnel has changed. I think this extra practice with forechecking and maintaining the zone is especially important considering that no matter who we place a particular prospect with, that team will not be exposing him to our system. These kids need to learn this before they get sent down.

ARTHUR:
I was happy to see Coach Farrish working so closely with Artyukhin. With limited hockey sense, it will probably take him a while to feel comfortable in our system, and the coaches seem to recognize that. They paid extra attention to his timing and his positioning on the forecheck, restarting the drill for him on more than one occasion. He can really fly out there, and with some tenacity in the practice rink (and probably some rote memorization), he may know where he's supposed to fly to before the season starts. If he can, he'll vindicate Murray and the pro scouting staff's high hopes.

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Pre-season Opener

ARTHUR:
Anaheim calling to the hockey world...

Daniel and I were at tonight's game against Phoenix at Honda Center. The Ducks squad edged their Coyotes counterparts on a 2 goal effort from Bobby Ryan and shootout goals from Ryan and Lupul. Hiller and Pielmeier both played, with the latter skating into the game with 9:57 remaining in the 2nd.

Before we talk further about tonight's game, let's take a look at the lineup for tomorrow, again, per J.P. Hoornstra:

70-Brittain 11-Koivu 10-Perry
32-Calder 48-Ebbett 8-Selanne
52-Donally 22-Marchant 16-Parros
61-McCue 64-McMillan 47-Weller

27-Niedermayer 73-Clark
43-Mitera 34-Wisniewski
19-Whitney 71-Warg

35-Giguere
31-Pogge

Should be interesting. And Daniel and I will be at that game. We'll also be at tomorrow morning's practice to watch tonight's squad get yelled at something fierce. There were some boneheaded plays (a turnover in front of the crease by Brookbank) and some downright frustrated players (Bodie finally just dropped the gloves), but Daniel, in your opinion, which players took a big step back tonight?

DANIEL:
Well, the first guy who did a lot of damage to his chances was Nicolas Deschamps. His talent did shine through at times, but his overall game just wasn't complete. He still wasn't making good dumps, his defensive game was lacking and he just looked lost on the ice. He's a brilliant offensive guy, and he created a scoring opportunity below the circles out of nothing. But I think he still can't process how fast the game is at this level.

My second choice for a guy who hurt his chances of making the team was Maxime Macenauer. I don't know what to say. He was still good along the boards, but he just didn't produce anything offensively. He was invisible tonight.

Finally, Steve Eminger had a rough game. It's clear he's an Eastern Conference player, because he keeps trying to play defense with just his stick. He wasn't taking the body. He took a bad penalty that led to the first Phoenix goal. It might have just been the fact that he's still unfamiliar with the system, but he couldn't move the puck well at all tonight. In fact, the only guy who had a good night on the blueline was Brookbank, and then he ruined it by creating the most ridiculous turnover that led to the game tying goal. The D race didn't become any clearer tonight.

ARTHUR:
I think I was most disappointed in Troy Bodie and Matt Beleskey. Bodie opened the game with a great hit, separating his guy from the puck. Unfortunately, he hung around too long to admire his work, and the pass from his linemate bounced off the back of his skate. It was pretty much downhill from there. A good dump and a good play here and there, but he ultimately dropped the gloves just to even out the quality of his game film. It was a good scrap; he switched hands on his guy and kept throwing bombs.

Beleskey didn't disappoint me outright; he played a PK without a stick for almost the full 2 minutes in his zone. But he just wasn't throwing his body around enough. Some tenacious play with Nokelainen and Brown tonight really would have impressed the coaching staff.

I'm not really sure how many players were taking tonight's game seriously. Of the regular Ducks, I'd say Nokelainen was the only one treating it like it was a regular season game. And of the rooks and newcomers, only Sexton was really pushing hard all game. I think tomorrow night's game might be closer to NHL speed.

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Lineup for Wednesday

ARTHUR:
Anaheim calling to the hockey world...

Just a couple of quick notes for the pre-season opener:

J.P. Hoornstra at Quackalackin' put up tomorrow night's lineup as posted in the locker room:

Bobby Ryan-Peter Holland-Dan Sexton
Nicolas Deschamps-Maxime Macenauer-Joffrey Lupul
Evgeny Artyukhin-Ryan Carter-Troy Bodie
Matt Beleskey-Petteri Nokelainen-Mike Brown

Luca Sbisa-Sheldon Brookbank
Brian Salcido-Nick Boynton
Brendan Mikkelson-Steve Eminger

Also, Zupke of the OC Register reports that Duck veterans will be working various posts at Ponda on Wednesday and Thursday, including box office, team store and concession. Check the list at Fan Zone across from Section 210 to see who's working where.

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PK: Camp Happens

DANIEL:
I spent my third day in a row at Anaheim Ice. Training camp is turning into a girlfriend I never want to break up with. I know sometimes fans just want to get to the meat of what happened, so today I'm keeping it no nonsense and borrowing from Sleek's bullet point method to give you a list of highlights and thoughts from today's camp.

• Beleskey gets it started on the 2 man break drill. Puts away a decent tip. He's a solid player, but doesn't impress compared to some of the other rookies in camp.
• Deschamps is sticking with the play and putting away the change. Gotta like a kid with skill who will go to the net.
• Artyukhin goes high glove on Hiller. That was a little surprising
• Logan MacMillan slips it 5 hole on Cousineau. I'd be more impressed if Logan could beat a goalie that actually has a shot at being in the NHL this year.
• Dan Sexton just found a way around Hiller. Not even sure how he did it. I'm beginning to understand why Arthur calls him "Big Sexy". I'm convinced that name will stick.
• We've moved on to a drill that focuses on breaking out of the zone, and Beleskey cant make the cross ice outlet pass. That's like going to McDonald's and ordering a whopper, all you're going to get is directions to the door.
• Carlyle has to stop the forechecking drill, because Deschamps cannot dump the puck. It hurts my vision of a Deschamps-Koivu-Selanne line that never back checks but dominates on the power play. Not being able to dump and chase in this system...might as well be a Democrat at an NRA meeting.
• Watching Macenauer chase the puck into the zone has me convinced this kid wants to make the team. He's a little too excited at times, and it affects his decision making, can't accuse him of not putting it all out there though.
• Lupul and Ryan are running the 2-1 together. They have a strange affinity for each other...wonder if that'll work out.
• Big Sexy is still working it. This kid is fearless and he's beating guys to loose pucks, and skating around defenders. He's like a more skilled Mike Brown.
• We've moved on to skating races and who would have thought Festerling was so fast. Sadly it won't keep him around. Artie is beating guys too, don't know how he moves that giant frame so fast.
• Eminger has been struggling through this drill. This guy cannot stay on his skates. When I first saw him, I really liked his game. He doesn't take the body as much as I'd like, but his positioning is awesome. He has a way of giving a forward just enough rope so that the guy can hang himself. But today, Cullimore looks like a better choice.
• Scrimmaging now, and Big Sexy is steaming through open ice. Every shift this kid moves higher up in my esteem. I don't know if there's a line where he can legitimately fit in, but there will be soon.
• Arthur mentioned Matt Clark to me the first day of rookie camp. He's a defensive prospect who probably won't be up this year, but what the kid lacks in skill he more than makes up for in vision. He sees plays so clearly, and he seems to always make the right decision. Can't wait to see what he's like in another year.
• Sbisa's skill set is undeniable, but he reminds me of Ozolinsh. He seems to always be looking for an offensive opportunity. I don't think Carlyle will be fond of that.
• Lupul puts away a rebound. I don't dislike him. I just think 4 million is too much for a guy who really can't create his own shot.
• McCarthy probably doesn't make the team. Homeboy just chased down a guy that Scotty clearly had covered, and almost turned a 2 on 2 into a breakaway.
• Macenauer just worked some magic along the boards. I really can't get enough of him or Sexton. Those kids just play a great game.
• Brittain and Koivu just muscled a puck in. Brittain is one of those guys who could find a home in the bottom 6. He's got size, grit, and skill.
• Just saw Big Sexy in the trenches. I think he sold his soul for a roster spot.
• When Sbisa is pressured coming out of the zone he makes me think of an abacus. He'll probably make the right decision, but it'll take him a while to get there.
• Sharp scores on a lucky bounce. Good things happen when you get the puck to the net. Hope Sharp thanks Hayzie when he makes it to the NHL for a cup of coffee this year.
• Mikkelson has scored on 2 penalty shots, and this defense thing is starting to look like a real mess. I don't know if it's as sexy as the Hiller v Giguere controversy, which Jiggy is clearly not winning right now, but it's definitely going to be a problem trying to figure out what to do with 11 guys who can play in the NHL.
• Big Sexy is at it again, chasing down a puck, working along the boards and sending a great dish that Holland completely botched.

Overall, it was a great day. I think the biggest problem for the coaching staff right now might be that they have too much to work with. The battles are getting interesting, and after these first 4 preseason games there should be a better view on what the coaching staff is thinking.

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Sunday Practice Photo Gallery Courtesy of CK

© All photos courtesy of CK. All rights reserved to CK. No rights reserved to Anaheim Calling or its associates. No unauthorized duplication of any kind.

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PK: Monday Practice at Training Camp

DANIEL:
Well, if you didn't know, this is my first solo post. I spent the morning watching drills and an inter-squad scrimmage. I'm happy to announce that some of the rookies are starting to round into shape and some of the veterans look like they could open the season tomorrow night. Anaheim Ice wasn't as packed as it was Sunday, but there were still a few hundred people in the stands for the scrimmage, and the Ducks didn't disappoint. The players looked excited, and that made me excited. No matter what happens this year, I think Ducks hockey will be some of the most entertaining out there.

Since it's just me, I'm going to do a quick recap of players who made great plays and guys who need to step it up in order to be ready for the season, or even stick around.

Rookies Rising:
This list includes Deschamps, Sharp, Brittain, and Macenauer. Deschamps' passing wasn't as crisp today as it was yesterday, but he's very creative and working hard. I even saw him drive to the net a couple of times like a power forward. Macenauer is still working that shot, but he's also flying at the net and burying feeds from the likes of Getzlaf and Perry-- I'm just saying.

Sharp and Brittain were dominating in the corners. They were playing like big men and Sharp was showing flashes of skill that I think should get him consideration as a Bottom 6 forward coming out of camp. Brittain was skating with Selanne a lot, and the kid may not have the best hands I've seen, but he takes the body and cycles well. He looks a little like a poor man's Dustin Penner right now, but the Ducks need a player like that.

Taking It Back To The Old Skool:
Getzlaf is still avoiding full contact drills, but the members of the RPG line seem to have their game intact, as does the captain. No surprise there. But two proven NHLers who stood out today were Koivu and Wisniewski. Wisniewski was a defensive wall. No one seemed to be able to get anything past him. His stick work was phenomenal, and he was separating guys from the puck all practice.

Koivu looks like a kid on his first pair of new skates. He's putting on stick handling clinics and creating so many scoring chances. Not to mention he's fighting for ice. He was taken down during the scrimmage and was still making plays from his knees. I can't wait to see this guy in midseason form.

Packing Their Bags:
Holland wasn't meant to be an NHL guy this year, but he still disappoints with his inability to play power forward offense. I don't see the grit he'll need to play in the Western Conference.

Things are getting worse for Mitera. Everytime I noticed him today, it seemed to be for something bad. He was still showing that strong skill set, but it was like watching a clock with some missing cogs-- it just wasn't working.

Vacationing Veterans:
Ryan Carter could not get it going today. Every decision on the ice seemed to be wrong. He spent most of his time mishandling the puck in the defensive zone, and there was no offensive upside to his game today.

Jiggy made some really good stops, but the goals he did give up were the kind that go through a goalie. He was mostly solid, but a couple of bad goals today have me worried about whether or not there really will be a goaltending battle in camp, or if we're going to have the most expensive backup in the league.

Overall, great day at camp and I can't wait to go back tomorrow.

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Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

[Note: We have a photo gallery courtesy of CK available here.]

DANIEL:
Ducks training camp held its first open practice Sunday, which meant another weekend at Anaheim Ice for your bloggers. We were treated to a peek at post-op players Getzalf and Christensen (in a blank jersey), our first look at tryouts Calder and Cullimore and, best of all, a full-contact scrimmage. The drive to the upcoming season continues, and with it, the battles for roster spots. Arthur, give me the Top 3 things you noticed today at camp, and tell me how they might shape the team this season.

ARTHUR:
Koivu
They tried Koivu in a few different line combinations on Sunday: Beleskey/Koivu/Selanne, Calder/Koivu/Selanne and Brittain/Koivu/Deschamps. While Saku looked effective in the first two trios, he looked downright youthful when he took the ice with another capable playmaker in Nicolas Deschamps. They were finding the puck in open ice and along the blueline, and Josh Brittain was banging bodies and clearing space. Koivu can still play on a puckhounding speed line, and I think he's going to give us more offensive options than most people think.

Sexton/Holland

"Talent is luck. The important thing in life is courage." - Woody Allen in the film Manhattan.

I was beginning to feel this phrase summed up the dichotomy between Sexton and Holland. The former is constantly pushing himself to skate a little faster and work a little harder in the dirty areas. The latter is looking and waiting for openings and spaces to spread his wings.

Then yesterday, Holland reminded me of my favorite sports axiom: you can't teach size. He was still mostly ineffectual in the power forward drill, but this time, Carlyle gave the forwards the chance to defend the slot. And Holland looked great, really holding his man at an arm's length and shutting him down. He was effective, to the point that you wondered why he has so much trouble on the other side of the puck in that exercise.

Still, Sexton looked hungry, even shrugging off a hard check into the boards. I think his courage may get him a roster spot much sooner than I expected and maybe a long call-up this season. If so, Holland should take note of it.

Smiles
They were having fun out there. In the drills, Koivu tried a couple of dekes that had Wisniewski laughing out loud, and Ryan dove to take the puck from Niedermayer as he was skating playfully off the boards with it. After the trade deadline last season, everyone talked about the infusion of locker room guys and how important it was to have a loose squad. This team seems like it's really starting to gel, well before the first preseason game.

I've got a few other things on yesterday's practice, but I'll save that for another day. Probably after guys start getting cut.

DANIEL:
The three things that stood out the most to me during camp were the play of Eminger, the improved play of Deschamps and Macenauer and the digression of Sbisa.

First, I think Eminger looked great today. During the scrimmage, he was holding the zone, making good outlet passes and he was working the shot. His defensive play in front of the net during drills was very solid. He had good stick work and he was cutting down angles-- all things I want to see in a potential 5-6 D-man. You and I have argued about which is the most exciting battle coming out of camp-- I insist it's Jiggy v. Hiller

ARTHUR:
And I insist that a situation that the Ducks can financially carry into next offseason, one which cannot possibly resolve itself during the preseason or even the first 10 games of the season, can be nowhere near as compelling as the clock running on a rebuilding defense with brand new one-way contracts, a stellar second-year player and affordable in-house options.

DANIEL:
But to the mainstream media and the mainstream hockey fan, a goaltending battle will ALWAYS be the sexier story. It's like a quarterback controversy. Yes, your average hockey fan is interested in how a defense gels and the mistakes of waiving, trading or sending down better defenders, but it's not an above-the-fold storyline.

Still, I'll grant you, the sheer volume of defensemen is making that battle one that needs to be followed. As far as I'm concerned, Eminger is leading the way.

I was equally encouraged by the improved play of Deschamps and Macenauer. Deschamps was working some pretty offense with Koivu and was drilling home some difficult shots. I think this kid has a lot of offensive upside, and if the Ducks start spreading offense over three lines, he could be a viable option. Otherwise, I expect him to be with the team full time next season. Macenauer is still ripping that shot. His skating leaves a bit to be desired, but he goes hard to the net and he isn't shy about pulling the trigger. He doesn't force the shot, he just makes the most of his opportunities.

Finally, I was a little disappointed by the play of Sbisa today. I didn't get to see him in the drills, but during the scrimmage, his puck control and vision were off. He wasn't seeing the ice well, and he wasn't making good decisions on outlet passes. His skill set is phenomenal, but it needs to translate into quality play. If he can only make the right decision when nobody is around, then he will have a very bad time playing in the Western Conference.

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Penalty Shot: Rookies Get The Broom

ARTHUR:
Anaheim calling to the hockey world...

The Sharks rookies finished a sweep of their Ducks counterparts last night at Sharks Ice. The 5-2 victory came on the heels of a 5-0 win in a series that hadn't been close since the shootout that concluded Game 1.

The coaches insist that the junior Ducks looked good in the first and third game, and Dan Sexton attributed the losses to a Sharks group that seemed to gel from the start of the tournament.

Pielmeier performed well in the first game (though he was out-dueled by a Sharks tryout goalie), but the superstar netminder of the series appears to have been Alex Stalock, my preferred goaltender in the Sharks pool who justified my laughing out loud at his Hockey's Future profile. Following up on their performances in rookie practice, Nicolas Deschamps, Dan Sexton and Maxime Macenauer scored for the Ducks with Josh Brittain knotting two assists. Deschamps scored a second goal in Game 2, but the puck deflected off his skate as he opened his body for a one-timer, and the referees promptly waved it off.

Below you'll find links to the scoresheets, as well as a brief list of the scorers and fighters in each contest.

Game 1 Scoresheet
Your Goal Scorers:
Nicolas Deschamps (J. Brittain)

Your Glove Droppers:
Matt McCue
Scott Valentine


Game 2 Scoresheet
Your Goal Scorers:
NONE

Your Glove Droppers:
Matt McCue
Stu Bickel
John de Gray
Matt Clark


Game 3 Scoresheet
Your Goal Scorers:
Dan Sexton (J. Brittain, S. Warg)
Maxime Macenauer (UNASSISTED)

Your Glove Droppers:
Mike Stuart
Matt Clark
Logan MacMillan
Brandon McMillan
Maxime Macenauer
Stu Bickel

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Mailbag: SBN Calling

ARTHUR:
Over Labor Day weekend, Daniel and I received an email from James Mirtle, journalist and hockey blog manager for SportsBlogs Nation. The substance of the email (How would we feel about moving to SBN?) wasn't a surprise. In fact, Daniel and I had discussed the matter shortly after Battle of California posted an informal want-ad for Ducks and Kings bloggers. We decided that we would say 'no' if we were asked.

We were asked. We said 'yes.' And in a couple of weeks, we'll be moving.

A number of things factored into my change of heart and my ensuing attempt to convince Daniel-- I'll get into that shortly. But first, Daniel, what do you really think about moving to SBN? Are we doomed, or was it the right thing to do?

DANIEL:
The potential for doom is somewhat unavoidable. My favorite thing about running a blog has been our complete freedom. We don't have deadlines or quotas, but we've somehow managed to generate decent traffic based solely on our posts. By "our posts," I mean your scouting reports.

I'm not looking forward to the ads and the influx of irrational fans who care more about talking trash than talking about hockey. I am looking forward to learning from all the legit fans that will be seeking us out for knowledge on Ducks hockey. By joining SBN, Anaheim Calling will be able to reach more readers and let them know that west coast hockey, and specifically Ducks hockey, has a strong fan base that takes the game seriously. We've talked a lot about why we got into blogging and came to the same conclusion: we wanted to show the rest of the hockey community that Ducks fans weren't pushovers, that we knew our hockey and that we cared about the sport. SBN goes a long way in helping us accomplish that goal.

I suppose, there will always be doubts, but there's only so much you can do with your own resources. I believe we've been doing good work covering our favorite team, and I see no reason why we shouldn't take the risk and see what we can provide to the hockey community at large.

ARTHUR:
First, I just want to say there ARE deadlines. Your failure to observe them doesn't make them any less real. I foresee you making it to page a lot less when we get to SBN. *stares blankly*

On the move, I think I ultimately weighed what we were losing against what we were gaining. I mean, we always knew we were going to leave Blogger; SBN just called us out of the minors before we knew if we could do it ourselves. At the end of the day, we came up with the name "Anaheim Calling" in, literally, 30 seconds, I built this page from random Blogger tips over a period of hours and the main product (us) is something we can pick up and take anywhere on the web. It just didn't seem that big a sacrifice to try our hand at the big leagues, not after spending a meager 6 months and 82 posts in the minors.

More than anything, I just feel this was the best time to try and get to the forefront of the Ducks blogosphere. Battle of California is already at SBN, Girl With a Puck has closed her doors and a lot of other Ducks blogs are still trying to find their footing, if they haven't settled into supporting roles already. The timing, while it feels too early, is probably just right.

To all our readers, we'll be here a little longer, covering training camp and the preseason. We hope you'll come and join us at SBN and adjust your feed-reader and subscription accordingly.

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Young Guns

ARTHUR:
Anaheim calling to the hockey world...

Ducks Rookie Camp opened Saturday with practice at Anaheim Ice. The session produced one shoving match (Sbisa took exception to a slash by Sharp, who took exception to a pancake check by Sbisa), one potential injury (Macenauer stepped gingerly for the second half of the day) and a cameo by a convalescing Ryan Getzlaf-- the Sasquatchewan looked strong out there.

There were a handful of tryouts: Dustin Sylvester (Kootenay Ice), Guillaume Goulet (Baie-Comeau), Mike Stuart (Brown University) and Matthew Konan (Medicine Hat). And there were a handful of standouts, namely Luca Sbisa, who flew head and shoulders above most of the rookie squad. But there were more than a handful of disappointments.

Daniel, which player (excluding Sbisa) has the best chance of making the Ducks roster, which player surprised you the most, which player disappointed you the most and what were your general impressions yesterday?

DANIEL:
Of all the players we saw yesterday, Deschamps impressed me the most, but I think Bickel has the best shot of making the team. I mean, Deschamps showed some great playmaking ability, buried some good shots, was solid along the boards and he looked like he'd be comfortable setting up Lupul, spreading our scoring around three lines, instead of a ridiculously deadly two. But I think Bickel has the best shot to make the team, simply because he was the best blueliner there not named Sbisa. Signing Eminger, to me, means that our 3 pairings are practically sewn up and that Murray wants to retool the blue line completely. Bickel didn't impress with his skating, but his shot was getting through and he only got turned around once or twice. Mitera, on the other hand, was a mess. So, if something happens,and the Ducks need to plug a blue line hole, then look to Bickel to make his way to the NHL.

The player that surprised me the most was Maxime Macenauer. That kid was picking corners with his shot, even after getting hurt. His skating might not be the strongest, and he made some bad passes, but he can shoot. It was an unexpected joy, and I hope he develops into a strong player for us.

Finally, my biggest disappointment was Peter Holland. He didn't look like a power forward. Sbisa handled him in front of the net, and he was constantly looking for space, rather than fighting his way to the net. He buried a couple of shots, but he missed a lot more. Holland didn't show me anything to make me think he should have been our First Round pick this year.

Overall, I was impressed with our stock of prospects. I was worried that our general lack of an amazing prospect would be a reflection of our entire system. However, having seen the likes of Sexton, Deschamps, Sharp, Bickel, Sbisa and others, I believe Anaheim will have the tools to fill the inevitable gaps next offseason.

ARTHUR:
I have to agree on Holland. He was having a bad day, and it showed, as he kept coming back to the boards shaking his head. But his performance in the drills had me shaking MY head, particularly when the forwards had to bring the puck out of the corner against a defenseman. Holland came off the boards and couldn't get one stride closer to the goalmouth. In fact, he tried to find space by skating directly away from the net, which Sbisa was perfectly happy to let him do. It was as though Holland didn't understand the exercise. And when the coaches gave him a second chance, he was forced to ignore the puck and just push his body into the slot to prove he wasn't afraid to mix it up. I've accused him of being a perimeter player before, but this was ridiculous. Sylvester and Sexton (both around six inches shorter) outperformed him on that drill.

I was most surprised by Bickel. I had thought Mitera and Clark would force him into the background, but (other than falling down inexplicably in the opening seconds) he looked solid out there. In the skating drills, he still had his nimble choppy steps. On the rush drills, he moved the puck and managed the forwards well. He even threw his body around during the low-contact portion of practice. He just looked comfortable out there.

As far as who I think could make the team, I have to say that MacGregor Sharp will make a bid for the Bottom Six. He was moving to the net effectively, sniffing out the puck and even passing well. I see him leaping over Beleskey for consideration this year, but I'm not sure if either of them will crack the lineup.

Generally, these players stood out to me:

Positive
Nicolas Deschamps - He saucered a couple of passes that looked like they were traveling by pneumatic tube.

Matt Clark - He is ALWAYS reading the play. He was even watching puckhandlers while waiting in line for a drill.

Dan Sexton - He moves to the rough areas quickly and had the best breakaway goal of the day, splitting the defenders in the slot before converting a backhand.

Maxime Macenauer - He put a great shot on display, but he was wincing halfway through, shut down before he could really get going.

Negative
Mark Mitera - He looked rusty, and he got burned pretty bad after giving Deschamps the boards.

Timo Pielmeier - He couldn't seem to close the hole between his arm and body.

Logan MacMillan - He really seemed to be struggling with his shot and his passing.

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A Peck of Power Players

ARTHUR:
Anaheim calling to the hockey world...

Daniel and I will be at Rookie Camp on Saturday, and we promise to have something valuable and hockey relevant posted this weekend. But here's something whimsical:

Last week, the OC Register announced Anaheim's official Power Players squad for the 2009-10 season. The organization selected this year's class from an auditioning group of 95, and six veterans return to the 14 member team.

Daniel, using the meager information available to us and whatever methods you want, who is the best Power Player and why?

DANIEL:
I find this to be a difficult question, mainly because I have no criteria with which to evaluate the Power Players. Let me say that I think Katie is the most attractive, Alexandria has the most interesting career aspirations (museum curator), and Megan went to my alma mater Cal State Long Beach, which in my opinion is major points. Although, I think my final criteria is which girl I think a dude could approach in a bar and not feel overly intimidated.

With that in mind, I choose Christine, number 4 on the Orange County Register's slide show. I like Christine because her photo in the Register is entirely awkward, but she's mysteriously attractive in the photo on the team website. This leads me to believe that she doesn't have the type of looks that'll freeze you in your tracks, but the ones that a man can appreciate for their own unique qualities, like a favorite painting in a museum. Not only that, she's 21 with a degree in humanities, plans for an MBA (although I kind of detest business majors), and she digs community outreach. I like her ambition, and she seems to have a sensible way about her. I don't know; my whole vibe about this girl is that she's down to earth and I appreciate that.

On the realest level, Christine is the one who stood out the most when I looked at the photo from the team website. It was only through a process of elimination that I was able to match that photo with her photo in the Register. So I guess I picked her because, of all the girls I saw, she just appealed to me the most.

ARTHUR:
First, I just want to ask, what's with the creepy pinhole pictures on the Register? I was drinking an iced tea when I read the story, and I had to put it down for fear that Chris Hansen was going to walk into my kitchen.

I guess I see what you're saying about Christine; she's not actually smiling in either picture, which gives you a Mona Lisa mysterious feeling? I don't know. I prefer to leave that mystery unsolved.

To me, Katie did appear to be the most attractive. She struck a solid pose in profile, even though she was being photographed by a pinhole camera in what looks like a wood-paneled bungalow where they probably asked her to put the lotion in the basket on her way out. Now, that's focus. From the team pic (center, back row, pink blouse), you can tell she believes her left is her best side, as she parts her hair over her right eye. So it looks like she consciously strikes that profile pose when possible. Of course, at 19, this could all be evidence of a girl uncomfortably close to her high school cheerleading career, though I definitely gave her points for her hockey story: she went to a Ducks game and started taking skating lessons after school.

But while Katie struck me as the most natural cheerleader type, photogenic on command (even for a pinhole camera in the Ducks' dimly lit version of Uncle Touchy's Naked Puzzle Basement) I'm going with Liszt, as an attractive non-cheerleader type.

First, you have to give her points on the name. To counter your museum painting, you can't even say this girl's name without thinking of Liebesträume. Second, in her picture in the Register, she tilts her head down and throws a smoky glance upward, looking you dead in the eye. It's almost as if she knew it was a creepy pinhole shot and adapted to the mood of the lens accordingly. Third, she's 21, packing a bachelor's degree from UCI, which gives you favorable odds of having an adult conversation with her. And fourth, her sister used to play hockey, so she's watched her share of games and maybe even picked up a thing or two.

I realize this job is a lot of posing, jumping around and dancing (if you can't skate), but I'm going to go with Liszt as immediately appealing in still photography.

This was Anaheim calling to the hockey world. Enjoy your Rookie Camp, boys and girls.

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