Pucks of a Feather
Fansided

Anaheim Ducks Finally Go Into Free Agency

By Lawrence Hegner

Mar 20, 2016; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets defenseman Toby Enstrom (39) skates past Anaheim Ducks left wing Jamie McGinn (88) in third period action at MTS Centre. Anaheim wins 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2016; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets defenseman Toby Enstrom (39) skates past Anaheim Ducks left wing Jamie McGinn (88) in third period action at MTS Centre. Anaheim wins 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Ducks tiptoe into free agency with a wimper

July 1st, the first day of free agency and within the first three hours David Perron, Chris Stewart and Jamie McGinn are all signed to multi year contracts. Unfortunately those contracts are in St. Louis, Minnesota, and Arizona respectively.

What did the Ducks do? You might be asking yourself.

The answer is nothing. Bob Murray and company were quiet as church mice. But in the last three days they seem to have started squeaking.  July 3rd Nate Guenin is signed to a one year two way contract to return to Anaheim. On July 5th Anaheim signed Jared Boll, Mason Raymond, and Jeff Schultz. Boll got a two year deal, while Raymond and Schultz got one year two way contracts each. Keep in mind Schultz played in Ontario of the American Hockey League for the majority of last season.

Oct 29, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nate Guenin (5) against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nate Guenin (5) against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

So here’s were we stand Ducks fans; we’ve lost three players that seemed to inject life into the team last season for one could be fourth line D-Man in Guenin, a respectable fourth line winger in Boll, and two forwards just happy enough to have a job this season.

A little perspective; Perron, and McGinn both at one point had time on the top line with Perry and Getzlaf. Stewart, was a solid second line winger and all three ate up penalty kill and power play time. So we lose three potential top line wingers for what amounts to four tomato cans of which three will probably be shuffling back and forth between Anaheim and San Diego.

I’m staring to think Bob Murray has stock In AmTrak.

So I’ve asked before and I’ll ask again… What’s the plan Bob? 

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Don’t get me wrong, I’m not missing the fact that the Ducks are sitting very close to the cap ceiling. Having said that, I’m also not asking for Murray to pursue players the likes of Milan Lucic or Steven Stamkos. Just retain some of the players that were traded for at the deadline maybe, Santorelli and Horcoff or Pirri maybe.

Some player retention would be nice to see. The idea of renting players should stop, you can’t build a team a temporary help.

A question to ask? How much of this is Bob Murray squirreling away in preparation for the Las Vegas expansion?

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