Pucks of a Feather
Fansided

Anaheim Ducks: The Controversy Surrounding Veteran Players

By Ciara Durant

ANAHEIM, CA - FEBRUARY 22: Corey Perry #10, Ryan Kesler #17 and Ryan Getzlaf #15, and Ryan Kesler #17 of the Anaheim Ducks look for the puck as Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins tends goal during the first period of a game at Honda Center on February 22, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - FEBRUARY 22: Corey Perry #10, Ryan Kesler #17 and Ryan Getzlaf #15, and Ryan Kesler #17 of the Anaheim Ducks look for the puck as Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins tends goal during the first period of a game at Honda Center on February 22, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CA – MARCH 06: Kevin Bieksa #3 of the Anaheim Ducks checks Brett Connolly #10. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Out With the Old?

There are many issues that can be contributed to the entire team as a whole. However, there are also issues that can be contributed to playing some of our veterans. I have tremendous respect for players like Kevin Bieksa, Francois Beauchemin, Jason Chimera, and Chris Kelly, but it is unarguable that these are players who were way past their prime last season. They tended to cause more issues than solve them.

Ducks Nation was a little relieved when Bob Murray made several statements regarding the future of the team at the beginning of the off-season. It seemed as though maybe GMBM had a revelation:

"“We have to play faster, and that’s a team thing,” he said. “Some teams have started to play faster, and they look faster. We have a couple guys that, let’s face it, were never great skaters. How do we improve that? We have to watch how some of these other teams play. New Jersey did a great job of it. We’re well aware of that. We know we have to make some changes.” Bob Murray to NHL.com"

When he jumped on the “speed is key” bandwaggon, we were hopeful that he would take the opportunity to bring in a new wave of youth. However, he did the exact opposite, and it has ruffled some tail feathers. Murray has sent mixed messages to his fan base concerning his off-season acquisitions. This has led many of us to ask the question, “Where did the real Bob Murray go?”

Although a few of Bob Murray’s decisions have been questionable, he has been in this business much longer than most of us have been hockey fans. GMBM has this job because he knows what he is doing. With every sport, there are risks have to be taken. Sometimes they work out in your favor. Other times, they come back to bite you in the behind.

Don’t let the defeat of last season leave a bad taste in your mouth. Murray has had a plenty of success bringing in veteran players throughout the years and sticking with other Ducks veterans. That should keep Ducks Nation hopeful that the team could have some success with the newest veterans added to the roster this summer.

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