Takes and trash talk from both ALL sides of the NHL's most obscure PATHETIC* rivalry

* Thanks, Kevin Lowe!

Monday, July 03, 2006

Anaheim changes name to "Norris Ducks"

This is unbelievable. Chris frickin' Pronger? To go along with Scott frickin' Niedermayer? A pairing that is a blueline staple for Team Canada, let alone Team Anaheim.

And to think, all we had to do was wait around while other GMs continued to shoot themselves in the foot?

I'm going to have to post on this for the rest of the summer, but here's some quick takes:

  • I have spoken out against top-heavy salary structures in the past, but I think with these two guys (both clocking in at above $6 M per year), you can make exceptions. For one, they will be throwing in 25+ minutes a night (our most important minutes). Secondly, each of them is capable of 'carrying around' a cheap carry-on partner like Beauchemin ($500k) or Vishnevski (yet unsigned). The salaries look decent if you think about 'blueline pairs' rather than 'blueline individuals'.
  • Losing Lupul hurts us somewhat, but I think having to sign him (RFA status) would hurt somewhat also. I have no idea what he is likely to command (especially given his four-goal playoff game vs. Colorado), but it is likely to be higher than we would have liked to commit to. Lupul does have a lot of upside, but that is true for a lot of our young roster. The difference is, most everyone else we know what we're paying.
  • To think about how in the past, Anaheim had trouble attracting top players, seems so far away now. Our last several offseasons have seen such signings and acquisitions as Petr Sykora, Adam Oates, Sergei Fedorov, Vinny Prospal, Scott Niedermayer, Teemu Selanne, and now Chris Pronger. That is not a shabby list at all.
  • A special thanks goes out to Ruslan Salei, whose encumbering deal with Florida enabled one less potential Pronger bidder. Maybe the most valuable thing Salei has done for us.
  • Was there some sort of discount we got for losing to Edmonton in the conference finals? I guess we certainly didn't owe them any favors.
  • I guess the only thing we have left to do this offseason, then, is to re-attain former Duck Sean Pronger, to give Rob Niedermayer some nepotism company.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's a great day to be a Ducks fan!

Everyone in the Pacific has to be sweating over this.

Anonymous said...

I don't know what to say. "I hate you" hardly seems fair, since you're a cool guy and not prone to gloating (even now). How about, "I hope Pronger suffers a career-ending injury?" Nothing personal, dude, but I just can't stand the thought that my Oilers just handed the Ducks the Stanley Cup -- and perhaps more than one. Oh, and I hate Pronger, now and forever.

In all seriousness, though, congrats, Earl. I have a hard time believing there's a Western Conference team not shitting themselves over this.

Anonymous said...

Congrats Sleek, that's a great acquisition, and to think that a year ago I thought Pronger was done. Burke looks smarter every day.

Anonymous said...

You better hope Lauren is able to handle the smog and Chris can keep his hands off the Baywatch girls.

Chris said...

Pronger is just about due for another of his season ending injuries. Somehow I think massive backspasms would be appropriate in this case as he stabbed the Oil in the back.

On the other hand..oddly enough Anahiem, San Jose and Nashville are now the presumptive favourites in the west? Crazy times.

Ingmar "W" Bergman said...

As a Blues Fan, Lupul, Smid and those draft picks would look great.

We got Brewer, Woywitka and Lynch...

In the end, you made out like bandits!

(That cant be right? What's the saying? Made out like bandits? Help appreciated...)

Anonymous said...

That is precisely the phrase, Bergman. As in, we got away with a robbery.