Jun 4, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Dustin Penner (25) moves the puck down the ice against Chicago in game three of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
The Anaheim Ducks announced the signing of former Duck Dustin Penner a couple of hours ago. Of course, this is not the first time he’s been here. The Ducks signed Penner out of the University of Maine in 2004. He came up into the NHL level along with fellow youngsters Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Those three, together, were a big part of the team winning the Stanley Cup in 2006-2007 when they were known as the “Kid Line.” Of course we all remember how awesome they were to watch back then. Now, Penner won’t be re-joining Getzy and Pears in his second stint with the Ducks. Unlike Getzy and Pears, Penner hasn’t exactly been a star in this league. His inconsistency and questionable effort has plagued him in his time with the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings. The big, power forward has suffered his share of injuries the past few years, including a couple different lower body injuries, back problems and hand injuries. His career high in points was 2009-2010 with the Edmonton Oilers when he scored 32 goals and 31 assists for 63 points. That year proved to be his last full season in Edmonton after signing a 5-year offer sheet, which the Ducks decided not to match, with them in the summer after the Ducks won the Cup. So, after 3 plus seasons in Edmonton, he was traded to the Kings for prospect defenseman Colton Teubert, a 2011 first-round pick (Oscar Klefbom) and conditional 2012 draft pick (Daniil Zharkov). He would, of course, help the Kings win the Cup two years ago. Although he’s struggled at times in his career, Penner has always been a good performer in the playoffs. There were some questions about the second line of the Ducks heading into this next season, especially at the center position. However, I was personally hoping for a tandem of Emerson Etem and Kyle Palmieri on the wings of the second line. I feel like Penner is more fit for the second line than the fourth line. Now, I omit the third line because I figure that’s going to stay the same as it was last season, Andrew Cogliano–Saku Koivu–Daniel Winnik, since they played so well together for much of the season and playoffs. Then again, can you trust Penner on the second line with his effort and injury history? Well, we’ll need to see exactly where the Ducks have Penner in their plans.