This season, the Anaheim Ducks should resemble the team that won the Stanley Cup just 15 months ago much more than the team Anaheim iced for the 2007-08 season.
The Ducks had many distractions last season, namely the late arrivals of stars Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne, who both were contemplating retirement after the 2007 Stanley Cup win and left the Ducks hanging out to dry until Christmas.
Niedermayer is back, and will undoubtedly improve on his 25 points in 48 games last season. Selanne is still unsigned, but the Ducks added underrated center Brendan Morrison, a free agent signing from the Vancouver Canucks. The Ducks should regain the form of 2006-07, particularly with the continued progress of rising star centre Ryan Getzlaf.
Getzlaf, 23, is coming off a season in which he averaged over a point per game, and was a plus-32. Getzlaf will once again be teamed with right winger Corey Perry, making two-thirds of one of the best young lines in the NHL.
Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere returned to form last season, and will also benefit from a full season with Niedermayer playing a full season of 30-minute-plus games in front of him. Together with Chris Pronger, the Anaheim defense will once again have the most dangerous defensive duo in the league.
The Ducks are at +1400 odds (14-1) to win the 2008-09 Stanley Cup in NHL future betting at Sportingbet.com. The Ducks are the sixth pick to win the Stanley Cup at Sportingbet.com. The defending champion Detroit Red Wings are the favorite at +450 (4½-1). |
