Skills or Thrills?

This weekend was fun. It wasn’t fantastic, and I really think the NHL has a long way to go before it’s fantastic…but it was exactly what I expected and I can’t be upset about that.

The Super Skills competition was enjoyable. The always lack luster fastest skater competition offered no real highlight, unless you count the insanely uncomfortable interview with Jay Bouwmeester that followed.

The hardest shot competition was equally quiet, although I’m still so damn impressed by anyone who can fire a puck at over 100 mph.

I think the shootout challenge was actually quite fun. I really wish that all three Ducks looked that good in shootout challenges during the regular season. I thought it was pretty cool that Ryan Getzlaf got to shoot against JS Giguere in one of his rounds. Even better was the physical reaction from Jiggy when Getzlaf got his puck by him, followed by what I'm sure was some interesting banter between the two. I really wish they had more of the guys mic’d up. I think it’s really fun to get to hear what some of them are saying to each other…this is a time where we get to see these guys out there having fun…it would be really cool to hear it too. One thing I didn’t like about who they did mic up was that they weren’t really able to talk during the game. If you recall, last year they had the goalies mic’d up. That was nice because there was always a period of time that they were able to chat when the puck was at the other end of the ice.

The biggest let down for me was the Fan Fav Breakaway Challenge, which probably should have just been called Fan Fav Challenge. I’m not going to say that Getzlaf should have won, but he had some nice moves. It was too bad that he missed that kick behind the goal. Am I correct in thinking that he was the only one who bothered to take the puck behind the net? Anyway, it seemed like everyone who lost, could have and probably should have won over Ovechkin. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the goofiness and fun out there…and I was laughing my butt of when he did what he did…but what was his trick shot? I missed it I think…I have a feeling that a lot of other people did too.

It’s just kind of crazy that the NHL doesn’t come up with more ways to allow these guys to show what they can do with a puck. I’d almost rather see 36 guys participate in a Breakaway Challenge than find out who can skate the fastest. Maybe that’s just me.

The game…well it was what I expected. Jiggy, ironically…or maybe not, had the worst SV%...but unless you look at the actual numbers, did anyone notice…or even care? Probably not. Getzlaf did his usual overabundance of passing instead of taking shots and Scott Niedermayer was Scott Niedermayer. He kinda looked like he was just out there playing with his kids at times. Fun.

Did anyone else hear Bro Hymn after a few goals? How Honda Center of them.

So the biggest bummer…the DVR stopped recording about 30 seconds into the OT. I MISSED THE OT. I missed Ryan Getzlaf draw a hooking penalty (which I think is overall, the most ironic thing about the whole game), I missed the Shootout…I’m bummed. BUMMED!

Anyway, the weekend was enjoyable. Hopefully the NHL will take the next two years to make it even BETTER!

It’s time to move on and get with the program. Hopefully the other guys had a nice relaxing weekend. Hopefully Getzlaf didn’t party too hard. Hopefully Jiggy has had an opportunity to unwind. Hopefully Scotty stays Scotty…maybe with an extra boost.

GO DUCKS!

All Star Me Baby!

I can't lie, I'm very excited about watching this weekends festivities. I know there's been alot of nay-sayers out there who aren't going to watch. Poop on them.

I'm more particularly interested in watching the Super Skills Competitions. I really enjoyed that last year. I love how it's all so casual. Every one is always laughing and having a good time...that's how I enjoy seeing my NHL favorites (yes all 3 of them that are going to be there).

Be sure to head over to the NHL mainpages for all of the All Star updates, photos (including all of the jerseys in blocks of ice...very cool), stories and post game notes.

Also, over at the official Anaheim Ducks page there is are plenty of links to get you connected to the All Star game with pictures of Ryan Getzlaf, Scott Niedermayer and JS Giguere.

It should be a fun weekend for the guys, and fans alike. Don't be a party pooper and just enjoy the festivities for what they're worth...a great opportunity to see some of the NHL's finest having a great time at what they do best.

GO ALL STARS! GO DUCKS!

OH! Just as I was getting ready to place my order for my Ryan Getzlaf All Star t-shirt, I noticed this...take a close look at the COLOR.









The NHL can't even get it right!

Automatic Highlight Reel

Some good news for fans of last years Breakaway challenge...and fans of Ryan Getzlaf. He's going to be competing again in this years challenge facing defending champion Alexander Ovechkin. In addition, Sidney Crosby, Alex Kovalev and Patrick Kane will be taking center ice for the event. Awesome! This was the highlight for me last year, and is probably the one thing I'm really looking forward to this year as well. Here are a bit of details about the challenge.

Check back tomorrow for Wednesday night's predictions as I had too much fun with it on Sunday...and cause I'm not allowed to post an actual game-day blog (whatever).
Anyway, it'll be under this heading from now on..."Ducks in a Row" (inspired by our "group" consisting of myself, Ramon and Mini).

Embrace it people...and get over it

So there has been so much talk about the All Star voting and the starting line up (just take a look around at some Hockey sites...you'll see), that I thought I'd give a few thoughts on it myself.

Here it is:

We're talking about the STARTING LINE UP people...12 guys...that's it. There are going to be about 40 additional players there as well. We all know what's going to happen. 45-50 seconds of play then BAM!...Line change. In the whole scheme of things, it means NOTHING. In terms of team pride...it means alot...to me anyway.

Who starts the game really isn't that important unless they are the guys from your team!! Of course I want to see my guys there...it's why I voted incessantly for them! But as far as the rest of the LINE UP goes...I want to see some quality players as well. You bet I want to see the Jeff Carters and the Alexander Ovechkins play...but I just as badly want to see Ryan Getzlaf, Scott Niedermayer, JS Giguere and Chris Pronger representing the Ducks as well. Just because they were on the ballot doesn't mean they were guaranteed a spot. Getting them into the starting line-up was the only way to ensure that.

The way it goes as of now, fans vote on the Starters...that's it. In terms of the entire game, it means nothing. In terms of bragging rights...it means nothing other than Ducks fans (along with Chicago, Pittsburgh and Montreal) put alot of effort into seeing the guys who represent their team get starting spots. I haven't heard any Ducks fans complaining about it. I'm sure the other three teams would say the same.

Overall, I'm sure the complaints will effect the way voting goes next year. For example, in order to get some team variation in the line-up, I'm sure voting "Ducks" wont be an option. Let's face it, Getzlaf basically only had about a 100,000 vote differential from his teammates. But if you ask me, supplying fans with a "ballot" in the first place really makes it biased to being with. When trying to think of other players outside of the Ducks roster and other than those already on the list, I had a really hard time. Coming up with a "write-in" vote was hard enough. The NHL wants "ALL STARS" right? So let the fans come up with that list on their own. Maybe for a month allow the "ballot" to be "write-in's" only. Then, the following month, provide fans with a narrowed list of those players most voted for.

Look, I'm not complaining...I'm a Ducks fan. I haven't heard any other Ducks fans complaining either.

Are you upset that the guy who you think deserves to be there isn't in the starting line up? Who cares...if he's really an All Star, he'll be there anyway.

The voting means nothing in terms of the entire team, the NHL is going to pick those guys anyway. But am I glad that we have 3 Ducks starters? YOU BET YOUR...!!!!!!

Ouch...it's beyond painful

So I know you have all seen the Voting results as of late.

I'm too tired right now to get into my real thoughts.

If for whatever reason, you haven't seen...


Just compare that to the shot below and you'll get the idea.
(Also, Teemu Selanne's votes were affected by this as well. At some point today, he had over 90,000 and now is only reported to have aproximately 40,000.)

I'll rant on this tomorrow, and maybe a bit on the game from tonight.
Maybe I'll do it now instead, turns out I'm not as tired as I thought.

I'm just kind of torn. Should we as Ducks fans be hurt that we were fooled by the votes? Should we be happy/mad that the NHL took note and corrected it? Should we be upset with the person/persons responsible for inflating the votes? Should we feel bad for needing the votes to be inflated in the first place? Will it be possible to get past this and recover those missing votes and pull our guys into the starting line up? Do fans even care that much?

As for the answers to all of those questions, I don't have many (like I said, I'm torn). For sure, I was VERY excited to see the guys pull away like they did (obviously). I am hurt. I'm hurt that my hopes were up so high only to be torn down this way. I definitely have an overwhelming conscious, and if I had known that the votes had been added the way they were, I would have wanted them removed. Call me naive, I really thought that Ducks fans were showing their support (haha, in fact Adam Brady and I shared an email just this morning about how great it was that the votes were in the Ducks favor...nothing else has been going their way this season...). So now, am I upset at the person/persons responsible? Yea. I think it makes the fans look bad. I know when the Montreal fans did it at the beginning of the voting run I thought it was...pathetic. I hate to think that way about the Ducks' fan base. I'd rather just be disappointed in their lack of turnout in voting in the first place.

What happens next? I really hope that this is a motivator and not a deterrent for Ducks fans. I hope that instead of feeling discouraged, fans feel enraged and feel the motivation to get the guys voted into the line up.

Okay, so they're all probably going to get invited anyway...but I want the NHL to know that Ducks fans are plentiful and passionate about their team and I think they SHOULD be in the starting line-up. Yea, okay, so we can talk numbers and we can talk performance over the course of the season...are there better players in the league right now? Sure. But these are OUR players...these are the guys representing OUR team. We all know that Jiggy is a fantastic goal tender, Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger are easily two of the BEST DEFENSEMEN in the league. Ryan Getzlaf...do we even need to explain the all star that this guy is? He is by and far one of the top 10 forwards in the league...only getting better with time and experience. So is there a reason they shouldn't be in the starting line up? Don't bother asking a true Ducks fan, cause they'll tell you every time what their line-up looks like. I'll tell you what mine looks like...it's got those 4 guys on it...and everyone else is just a filler.

Hey, if this "bad" publicity is the best we can do, so be it...maybe the Ducks will finally stop being referred to as the Mighty Ducks (hell, winning the Stanley Cup couldn't do it).

I'm just so damn bummed right now...but I am also equally PUMPED to get our guys in there! DON'T GIVE UP!

Am I the only one who cares?
I sure hope not.

For some more information, check out Adam Brady's blog over at the Anaheim Ducks official page.

GO DUCKS...GO FANS!!!!! These guys represent YOUR team...and right now, that's what this is all about!

I don't have anything to say about the game for a few reasons. The most important being that I can't remember it. Sad right? It's also because I was slightly distracted by the 5 million Wild Wingers Kids Club gifts that I was wrapping for RAMON's niece's and nephews (okay, it was actually only 10, but it felt like 5 million).

I will say this. I enjoy eating some Brendan Morrison words...good for him and getting two goals tonight. Keep em coming buddy...I'll enjoy every minute that I get to be wrong about you! But I will give some of the credit to Bobby Ryan though. haha!

Vote!

Just wanted to remind everyone that ALL STAR voting begins today!

1/3 all star

Real quick...

Check out the line up for the NHL All Star Ballot.

Yay for Jiggy, Scotty, Pronger and Getz!

So, it turns out that you can be one of the best 3 forwards in the league for the week, but it's still not enough to get your name on the ballot. You can also be a league leader in goals (Selanne currently 9th on the list), points (Perry currently 8th on the list) and assists (Perry currently 2nd on the list) and still not be recognized!!!!!!!

It's a disgrace that NEITHER Perry nor Selanne got a nod.

I think it's about time the NHL figures out a better way to get more names on the ballot, don't ya think?

UGH...POLITICS!