Expansion draft Duck thoughts

Now that the Anaheim Ducks have been eliminated by the Nashville Predators(sadly, again).  It is time to look to the future and more precisely next season.  With the upcoming Vegas expansion draft I expect the Ducks to protect  7 forwards, 3 defensemen and 1 goaltender(John Gibson).

Lets start with the defense because 5 off them are in play even though its really only two.

First off Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm automaticcally fill 2 of the 3 spots.  They are 1A and 1B two  offensive minded puck moving dman.

Next they have to get  an aging Bieska to waive his no trade clause.  Without it both Josh Manson and Sami Vatanen are left unprotected

Now if that is done I would choose to protect Manson  his physical style is vastly different from the 3 other young dmen.  Besides Vatanen offensive abilities can easily be made up with Shea Theodore or Brandon Montour.

Now would you trade Vatanen for another forward , before the expansion draft,  or let him go to Vegas.  This appears to be catch 22.  It could fill the final forward spot or free up money for free agency,

Right now the forwards protected would include Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Corey Perry, Rickard Rakell, Jakob Silfverberg and Andrew Cogliano.  A 7th right now on the roster would be Antonie Vermette or Nick Ritchie.  Personally I don't know if Ritchie qualifies in order to need to be protected

I expect Vatanen to be gone either way and I hope in free agency they can find a way to keep Patrick Eaves and her doesn't go the way of David Perron and Jamie McGinn.

I expect Rakell and Silfverberg to take over the offensive load from Getzlaf and Perry to become the new core.

Post round 1 draft thoughts - Carolina Panthers

I am very  happy the Carolina Panthers took Christian McCaffrey.  Over  the past weekend I was convinced he was the pick after what I read/seen.  He will take pressure off Cam Newton and Johnathan Stewart.  I figure he will average fifteen rushes and 5 catches per game.  Coach Ron Rivera said he will also return punts I am afraid this will be too much for McCaffrey.  What if he gets hurt?.

I would have been ok with Leonard Fournette or OJ Howard(I hope Howard going to Tampa Bay doesn't burn the Panthers.) as well .  I am also happy they didn't go anywhere on  the DL after whet they did in free agency.

Where do you think the Panthers will go in round 2?  Two names I am focused on are Cam Robinson and Zay Jones.

Bob Murray takes with NHL Player Safety Friday April 7th

General Manager  Bob Murray:  Hello this Bob Murray General Manager of the Anaheim Duncks

NHL Dept of Player Safety:  Hi Bob we need to talk about Nick Ritchie.

GM BM: I know he is very sorry it won't happen again.  By the way what were you guys during Wednesday morning?

NHL (PS) Well we were  dealing with Brad Marchand.

GM BM:  Well you know I lost my best defenseman to a knee  on knee hit Tuesday night.

NHL (PS) Sorry to hear about that.

GM BM: Yeah it was Mark Giordano of the Calgary Flames same team that has Matthew Thachuk.

NHL(PS) oh.

GM BM: Who is this??? YOU WANT TO SUSPEND ONE OF MY PLAYERS FOR A SIMPLE PUNCH TO A DEPTH DMAM.  AFTER WE F***ING HEARD NOTHING FROM YOU ON WEDNESDAY REGARDING THE FOWLER HIT.   CAM IS F***ING LOST FOR THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS ATLEAST IN WHICH WE MIGHT VERY WELL FACE THIS  SAME F***ING  CALGARY TEAM, F***ING GIORDANO CAN DO THIS AGAIN AND I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO F***ING EGELAND FOR JUMPING KESLER.

NHL (PS)  (slience)(whispers heard in background Boy Bob is really Pissed Off)

GM BM Can I speak with  Pronger or Parros?

NHL (PS) They are both busy right now.  Can we fine a solution to this Ritchie problem ..

GM BM, Fine  but first a question Do you want us to play Jared Boll Game 1 ESPECIALLY AGAINST F***ING CALGARY.

NHL (PS) Um 1 game Sunday  regular season finale vs. LA

GM  BM Acceptable (hangs up... grins like Mr. Burns) Execellent!!!

I am beginning to be turned off by the NFL

I originally posted this on one of my Yahoo Fantasy Football message boards but i decided to post it here too.

First off fining a player when he is in concussion protocol is absurd(YOU ALL KNOW WHO I AM TALKING ABOUT). Second the SAME PLAYER he taunted, gave him the concussion so that makes the fine mind boggling. Said defensive player got NO fine.

Add that this guy was hit in the head 4x opening night but did his team benefit from even 1 penalty yard HELL NO. The NFL in its infinite wisdom rather call him for intenional grounding and his all-pro Center for an offensive facemask during said head shots.

Add to that what ever the refs thinking in Cleveland that minus well be the 4th worst thing to happen to that franchise behind the drive, the fumble and the original team moving to Baltimore

The NFL is turning me off like the NBA did when they gift warpped Chris Paul to the Clippers after the Lakers had traded for him. The Panthers have another set of problems(basically the GM doesn't know how to handle CBs) BUT I still rather be a Panther fan than a Charger fan

5/12/20016. Ducks head coaching search thoughts

Ok its been 15 days since the Anaheim Ducks were eliminated in the 4th straight Game 7 lost at home after a 3-2 series lead.  This time against the Nashville Predators, a team with neither the franchise history nor the market size of the previous Game 7 defeats.  The team advanced one round before these playoffs.

Two days later Bruce Boudreau was relived of his head coaching duties .  Right away I thought General Manager Bob Murray could have promoted Paul Maclean and been done with it.  The longer the Ducks go without hiring a head coach the more I think Murray is waiting on news from Staples Center with regards to that.  I still think it will come down between Maclean and Travis Green(who is  must be coming across like the hot, young candidate).  My hope is if Murray hires someone with no NHL coaching experience he finds a way to keep MacLean or Yawney as an assistant coach.  With the latest news of a Luke Richardson interview, Would MaClean be happy with a role reversal from Ottawa?

The Bottom line who will be the next coacch in Anaheim.  WHO KNOWS???

1/3 Bucs at Panthers

The Carolina Paathers have some concerns going into the season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers  My first concern after seeing tweets on the Panthers injuries is how much running Cam Newton wull have to do without Stewart and Whitaker.  Then again they are three deep in the backfield tomorrow with Mike Tolbert, Cameron Artis-Payne, and Brandon Wegher so I guess it will be based on how well the Carolina running game starts.  With no Ted Ginn Jr. that means Corey Brown is the  most likely deep threat so the passing game will be affected..   Bersin might be catching punts (GOD NO!!! DON'T GO TO YOUR KNEES).  I digress  Kurt Coleman on defense so the interception leader is out.  Josh Norman for all his greatness this season has had an INT since week 4 at the Bucs

Besides injuries, swagger is also a concern.  The Tillman penalty early at Atlanta seem to take all the emotion out of the defense  Atlanta converted numerous third and longs causing the defense to  be on the field longer.  The big elephant in the room when it comes to the defense is when are they going to get a sack from a defensive end something they haven't had in a month.  The swagger seem to be gone from the offense as well.due to the Ginn injury.  Olsen seemed to be normal after not converting a 3rd down after the Norman fumble recovery and then one play in the 4th.

I probably give the Panthers a 90 percent chance of winning this game.  However losing at home to rookie QB in Jameis Winston, much less going 14-0 and NOT ending up with home field advantage would not be a good look.

Ducks move on