2009-10 NHL preview: Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks made a strong late season push to make last year’s playoffs. Once there they quickly dispatched, the President trophy winning San Jose Sharks, and even pushed the Stanley Cup runner ups Detroit Red Wings to seven games. This all served notice that the Ducks were back among the NHL elite. With that being said the 2009-10 version of the Ducks will not be at all like the Ducks of the Brian Burke era.

Since Burke left the team early last season to run the Toronto Blue Jays, new Ducks GM Bob Murray began to add youth and speed. This set up the team for its late season run, and Murray continue those efforts in the off-season. After veteran defenseman Scott Nidermayer informed the team he would be back for another season. Murray went looking for even more youth and speed. In that process he has sacrificed much of the physical presence that has been the Ducks calling card for the past few years, including their 2007 Stanley Cup Championship team.

Murray traded away intimidating defenseman Chris Pronger to the Flyers for Joffrey Lupul and 19 year old defenseman Luca Sbisa. This team also failed to come to terms with top four defenseman Francois Beauchemin, another hard hitter from the Burke era. With rugged forwards Travis Moen, Samuel Pahlsson, and Chris Kunitz also being traded away the Ducks will certainly look a lot different in 2009.

Additions- D Nick Boynton, C Saku Koivu, RW Joffrey Luppul, and D Luca Shisa

Subtractions- D Francois Beauchemin, F Ryan Dingle, and D Chris Pronger