Who the Ducks Should and Shouldn’t Keep: Forwards
By Sean
The potential of a semi-large overhaul is possible for the Anaheim Ducks this offseason. As of right now, the Ducks only have 15 players on the NHL roster that are signed for at least next season. This post will discuss which forwards the Ducks should resign and not resign.
C – Nick Bonino: Restricted Free Agent
I definitely think the Ducks should resign Bonino. I’m not the only one that thought this past season was Bonino’s best. This season included his best game as a professional when he registered three assists in a Ducks win over the rival San Jose Sharks late in the season. During the last few weeks of the season, Bonino really shined on the ice. He may not have tallied major numbers but we saw him all over the ice and he always seemed to be in the middle of the action. He is just one of the young guns still on this team and can be a part of the core bunch of guys that grow up together with this team.
LW – Jason Blake: Unrestricted Free Agent
I don’t know if Blake should be resigned. It’s difficult because I made my point throughout the season how when Blake is in the lineup, the Ducks have a better record than with Blake not in the lineup. He’s coming off a season where he suffered that strange injury to his arm that cost many games. He’s 38 years old and doesn’t have much left in the tank. The Ducks have a lot of veteran leaders already and I always prefer a team with a lower average age than just under 30 years old. I think Blake is replaceable, especially by Kyle Palmieri who has grown significantly over this past season and showed how talented he can be. A small little hint from the Select-A-Seat Q&A, GM Bob Murray said that Blake will most likely not return.
RW – Teemu Selanne: Unrestricted Free Agent
Selanne obviously has the ultimate choice here. If he wants to comeback, the Ducks will sign him. He’s coming off of a 66-point season, not bad for a 40-year-old on a bad team. He also played all 82 games for just the fourth time in his entire career and the first time since the Ducks championship run in 2006-07. He is still one of the best players on this team and there is no doubt that if Teemu wants to keep playing, the Ducks will resign him.
LW – Niklas Hagman: Unrestricted Free Agent
Here’s another older guy that could or could not be replaceable. He came to the Ducks early on in the season through waivers. Not exactly a guy you will see a lot in highlights or scorebooks, but he makes some nice plays that sometimes don’t get noticed. He didn’t play that well for the Ducks, but he didn’t play awful. There are younger players that can make certain impacts just as well Hagman. GM Bob Murray also hinted that Hagman most likely will not be back.
RW – George Parros: Unrestricted Free Agent
Unfortunately, I don’t think the odds of Parros staying in Anaheim are high. He appeared in his least amount of games in a season since his first season with the Ducks back in 2006-07. He is a gentle giant off the ice and has contributed plenty to the community. On the ice, he is one of the few heavyweights left in the league. His breed of hockey player are almost extinct. The game is getting away from the big bruisers that main duty is to fight someone. The Ducks do have a guy who will fight almost anyone in Matt Beleskey besides Parros. So, I’m sorry to say this, but I don’t think the Ducks should resign him and it Murray also said that it is uncertain that the Ducks will resign him. Parros has said that he would like to play every night, but that might not be possible anymore here in Anaheim.
C – Rod Pelley: Unrestricted Free Agent
The Ducks have a few different options at center with the current roster. Ryan Getzlaf and Saku Koivu are obviously the top two centers. Then there’s Bonino, Pelley, Andrew Cogliano, Peter Holland and Kyle Palmieri. I believe I read somewhere that Boudreau would like to put Cogliano on the wing. So that leaves Bonino, Pelley, Holland and Palmieri. However, Palmieri most likely will play on the wing as well. I don’t know if Holland is ready to transfer to the NHL full time right now, so I think Pelley could be the fourth line center and primarily a defensive stopper. So, I would not exactly mind it if Pelley got resigned.
The Ducks also have eight forwards not on the current roster that are either restricted or unrestricted free agents this offseason. They include Rick Schofield, Dale Mitchell, Riley Holzapfel, Luca Caputi, Ryan O’Marra, J.F. Jacques, Mark Bell and Troy Bodie. I’m not going to go into detail about whether or not the Ducks should resign these guys or not. You got to fill up your AHL roster as well too. The only guy here that I don’t exactly like is J.F. Jacques. I just think he’s a poor man’s George Parros. So, I would think that most of these guys would be resigned.
I expect to put up “Who the Ducks Should and Shouldn’t Keep: Defenseman” within the next few days. That will not take up as much time since there are less players that are possible free agents. I may even include the goalies into that post too, but I’m not entirely sure about that right now.
Follow me on twitter @ddb_sean!