Rotisserie Wings

by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Oct 15, 2009 9:57 AM PDT Comment 19 comments

More photos » Francis Specker - AP

Anaheim, Calif. on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)

DANIEL:

The Ducks generated an encouraging quantity of scoring chances up and down the four lines in last night's win against Minnesota. The line combinations were as follows:

Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry

Christensen-Koivu-Selanne

Artyukhin-Marchant-Lupul

Brown-Carter-Parros

The big sell on the Ducks this year is that they have the scoring depth to overcome new holes on defense, holes made bigger by the latest injury to Wisniewski. Arthur, the finishing wasn't quite there tonight, but do you think Carlyle has finally found his lines, or is there juggling still to be done?

ARTHUR:

Carlyle recently said that the juggling is a misconception. He intends to keep Getzlaf and Perry together, keep Selanne and Koivu together and maybe keep Marchant and Artyukhin together. Beyond those pairs, moving one guy from line to line doesn't constitute juggling in his mind, and he plans to rotate wingers for the rest of the year.

And I really don't see desperation in Carlyle's juggling until those key pairs are broken up. The genius of his system is that wingers are fighting to earn their place. Lupul and Christensen are capable of Top 6 play, but they have to forecheck and play well defensively on the third line to earn time on Koivu or Getzlaf's line. And the increased flexibility doesn't exactly hurt the other wingers. Bobby Ryan plays well with Selanne and Koivu. And Artyukhin adds a completely different wrinkle to the first line. At the end of the day, it's all about production.

With this lineup, Carlyle can rotate the hot hand in and out of his Top 6, while still keeping the central chemistry of each line intact. But I think he'll still use the healthy scratch as a coaching tool, and we may yet see his seven defensemen lineup. But for now, he has a pair of players inked in for the top three lines; everyone else is written in pencil.

DANIEL:

I can see how the core pairs are sticking together, but I still have a main concern over the player shifting that is taking place. Primarily that it doesn't allow a line to permanently gel. Last year, Perry-Getzlaf-Kunitz was a good line, but the top line didn't become dominant until the salary cap issues were worked out and Ryan became a fixture on that wing. Sometimes, it's the third piece that completes the puzzle, and if that piece is constantly moving, the ability to predict your linemates moves might never develop.

This also puts Lupul in a very awkward situation. Lupul has improved his defensive game so much that you'd think someone lied to him and told him he could win a Selke. But last night he continued to make smart outlets with the puck and generate offense on the PK, in addition to a solid night with the rest of his linemates. But his cap hit is over $4 million, and while the pressure that Marchant and Artyukhin produce on the D can generate scoring opportunities, it probably won't be enough to produce the 30 goals needed to justify his salary. Granted, it's early and the power play woes tonight had more to do with Backstrom's outstanding saves than any deficiency in finishing, but I don't think Lupul will get enough power play time to make up for the shortage in ice time that comes with being on a third line. As it stands, Lupul is the most expensive PK specialist/energy player in the league.

Furthermore, I agree Christensen can play with the Top 6,. He was flying tonight. Selanne and Koivu seemed to have a great sense of where he was on the ice, and he launched a couple of dangerous shots towards Backstrom. It's just that none of them found the back of the net. Still, he showed an ability to be in the right place at the right time, as well as smart defensive play. Maybe playing with Selanne and Koivu will bring back the spirit of the 18-goal scorer who played in Pittsburgh a couple years ago.

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Let’s get a post about how awesome Mikkelson played last night.
Possibly a petition to keep him on the big squad and once The Wiz gets back send Brookbank packing!

I deliver high-quality H2O

by The Waterboy on Oct 15, 2009 12:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Fanpost!

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Oct 15, 2009 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know

I agree with Earl that petitions should be fanposts, but also . . .

Brookbank is dirt cheap (even though he’s on a one-way) and sending his nastiness off the blueline means we’ll be relying on Wisniewski to stay healthy (I’d sooner put my money on the Raiders winning the Super Bowl). And Mikkelson has had bad games and good games, though the new found confidence is intriguing. If everyone keeps playing well, it’s just another excuse for Carlyle to try a seven defensemen lineup on the road (probably scratching Parros). In that situation, both MIkk and Brookbank can play forward on the fourth line while still eating minutes on the blueline.

Anaheim Calling

by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Oct 15, 2009 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m on board with allowing Mikkelson to eat up some of those minutes in either situation. I’m not against Brookbank doing the job either, just as long as someone is doing it well.

Did anyone notice that Scotty racked up over 29 minutes of ice time last night? It explains why it seemed he was always out there…and I’m all for having THAT guy out there, but we need someone to give him a break.

GO DUCKS!!!
DUCKSandPUCKS.com
SKeleven on Twitter

by SK eleven on Oct 15, 2009 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that’s what makes Wisniewski’s recent injury so frustrating. He has the skill to anchor a second defensive pairing, and he was eating a solid 23-25 minutes a night. I’m guessing he wants a 3+ year contract at around $3.5-4 million, but he keeps getting hurt. We have to find a solution to this problem if we’re going to have Cup hopes this year. You’re 100% right, Scotty can’t keep playing those kinds of minutes, and as it stands there’s no one in the system who can replace Wisniewski if he gets legitimately hurt. Let’s hope the Hawks decide to part with Duncan Keith at the trade deadline so they can save Toews and Kane.

by Daniel AC on Oct 15, 2009 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Definitely frustrating.

Unfortunately, even with Wiz in the lineup, Scotty is still playing an insane amount of time. In 3 of the first 4 games he averaged 28 minutes (the OT game against Philly over 30 minutes of course – but the other two were in the upwards of 27 minutes). Only in the Boston game was he limited to 21 minutes. I know that he’s going to be soaking up time…but we still have a long way to go. We need more than just some Wiz here.

GO DUCKS!!!
DUCKSandPUCKS.com
SKeleven on Twitter

by SK eleven on Oct 15, 2009 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously, though. Fanpost if you want to talk about anything. I don’t just say that because our right side looks barren.

Anaheim Calling

by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Oct 15, 2009 2:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I was skeptical at first, but man I was impressed by Christensen’s performance on the second line. It looks like Ebbett is going to have to step up his game if he wants a regular spot in the lineup.

by yankeeken on Oct 15, 2009 4:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I was impressed by Christensen’s performance on the second line

That’s been my reaction to his game last night too. By far his best game in a Ducks jersey.

GO DUCKS!!!
DUCKSandPUCKS.com
SKeleven on Twitter

by SK eleven on Oct 15, 2009 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is a shame he seemed to be just as snake-bitten as he was last year. Hopefully he pots one real soon to get the ball rolling.

by MikeStewie on Oct 15, 2009 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he stays with Selanne and Koivu, I think the goals are a certainty. I think the best part is that he looked so responsible along the boards and on the back check. Christensen brings defensive responsibility to that line, and a little more toughness along the boards, more than even the defensively improved Lupul.

by Daniel AC on Oct 16, 2009 12:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it’s also interesting which games Carlyle gives Christensen the nod and which games he gives to Nokelainen. He doesn’t mind playing either player on the 2nd and 3rd line, but he clearly sees a situational advantage with one over the other.

Anaheim Calling

by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Oct 16, 2009 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the best part is that he looked so responsible along the boards and on the back check.

By virtue of adopting Sammy Pahlsson’s #26, without even thinking I naturally associate any Christensen play in the defensive end as “responsible”. Glad to know there’s some actual truth to it.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Oct 16, 2009 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Talking about Tapatio at BoC and about wings here… damn I’m hungry.

Put the Prozac away, what you need is Rat Poison.

by brokenyard on Oct 15, 2009 4:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sorry I'm a little behind,

what happened to Wisniewski?

since 1961

by Chompo on Oct 15, 2009 8:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

sprained his shoulder against Philadelphia, with any luck he’ll be back in next week

by ASale on Oct 15, 2009 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cheers.

Thanks.

since 1961

by Chompo on Oct 16, 2009 8:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the holes on Defense aren’t physical. They just need to get used to each other. Like waiting to the cheese to melt in a good omelette.

Also, there are a lot of fundamental mistakes being made here and there by Sbisa and Boynton/Eminger (not sure who). Those will hopefully be cleared up soon.

I like our defense this season. It looks more solid than last season’s for sure.

The Big Red Machine V.2 is coming this Fall 2009. Go Halos!

by Slyintine on Oct 15, 2009 10:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well we are missing that big, mean defenseman. Whitney’s kind of a teddy bear and they’ve got him working on his shot. I think the hole was evident when Warg played with the team in the preseason.

But there’s nothing wrong with an all-puck-movers blueline + Boynton. That’s what we’ve got now, and if they just have to get better at what they do.

Anaheim Calling

by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Oct 16, 2009 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs