[Ed. Note: Throughout the All-Star Break, the Anaheim Calling team will be giving their mid-season reports. Batting cleanup, the one person that can put it off to the last moment, me!]

First Half Most Valuable Player: Jason Blake Saku Koivu

Shocker, I know. I do not hide my all out adoration of the feisty Finn. Saku is the steady force that the Ducks need. He doesn't have the same calming effect as a Scott Neidermayer, but he does have the flexibility of a Todd Marchant. Well, a Todd Marchant that can score more than once a vernal equinox. Koivu has shown that he can any line combination work. Think about his left wing. He's had Jason Blake, Bobby Ryan, Niklas Hagman, and Andrew Cogliano on there at one time and he and Teemu have made it work - even when the team was at its absolute worst. Bruce Boudreau has realized that Ryan Getzlaf is not the top face-off guy on the Ducks, and hesitates to put him out on the ice - especially in the offensive zone - to take an important draw. Instead Boudreau has put out Getzlaf as a backup to Saku, who will usually come off the ice right after the win. He's far more important than most might realize.

(And I crossed out Jason Blake because if one guy can miss that much time and have a team fall apart until he comes back, he must be good or something...I'm going with "or something".)

Least Valuable Player: The Anaheim Ducks

Ah yes, the team that is constantly it's own worst enemy. I am still mystified by the fact that the Ducks sucked soooo bad during the first half (save the first five games and the last nine). They were soooo bad that they had to fire their coach and put pretty much everyone on the trading block. Their first half is almost the perfect example of an "epic fail" but they were saved by the point streak before the ASG. Seriously, for a while, I was borderline embarrassed to be such a big fan of the team. The Ducks have put themselves in the worst possible position for the post season and/or the 2012 draft. Which leads me to my bold prediction...

Bold Prediction

The Ducks put together a second half that is only seen in movies, but fall one point short of making the playoffs. Hey, it's been that kind of season.

[Ed. Note: Throughout the All-Star Break, the Anaheim Calling team will be giving their mid-season reports. Next up, Robby Bobby Ryan.]

I really wanted to come up with a different pairing than anyone else. That said, I still feel like you can make a credible case for each of these guys. Both of my picks deal more with their play in an organizational context and how it will help or hurt the franchise moving forward.

MVP - First Half

Jonas Hiller. I know some of you may have just done a spit-take, but this team would be even worse off right now if it wasn't for Hiller. While he had a propensity to be leaky at times during the early part of the season, he also was repeatedly hung out to dry by his team, probably more so than just about any other goalie in the league. I can't remember how many times guys walked right in while our defensemen just kind of stood there.

As of the All-Star break, Jonas has faced more shots than only six other goalies in the league and he plays on a team that ranks 22^nd in the league in PK time. In short, Hiller faces an inordinate number of shots and has to deal with more opposing PPs than most goalies in the league.

Without a doubt, Jonas has not had his best season of his career so far this year. But he's really turned it on since the calendar changed, going 7-2-1 with a 1.7 GAA and .942 save percentage. And as good as though stats have been, what truly earns Jonas the MVP in my eyes is that the doubts are now gone. His health and capability were huge question marks coming into this season. The peace of mind in seeing Jonas healthy and effective will bring some much needed stability to this team and its off-season plans for a few years.

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[Ed. Note: Throughout the All-Star Break, the Anaheim Calling team will be giving their mid-season reports. Next up, Ms. SK and a possible chick fight.]

First of all - I just want to state if there was ever to be a serious disturbance to the magumbo around here, you can blame Jen for this one. She's making us pick these players and make these predictions which only means that things are going to get all whacky and crazy out there on the ice for a while. You know, like the first half of the season. Come to think of it, she made us make predictions then too!!! *shakes fist* damn you, Jen! [Ed. Note: MUAH! My plan is coming together beautifully...]

MVP - first half of season

Teemu Selanne. What, you thought I was going to pick Jonas Hiller? Please. I think we'd all be hard pressed to come up with someone other than Teemu Selanne. He's the only player so far this season that has been somewhat consistent. He's leading the team in points (45), assists (30) and is the only player to put together a legitimate scoring streak. He's 41 playing like he's 14, and through it all he's never given up or given in. I never thought that amongst the players on this team he'd be the guy I'd point to as an early MVP, but so be it.

Runner-Up. I'll skip my obvious Corey Perry (Christ) selection here and go with Francois Beauchemin. He's been a silent runner this season and a much improved defenseman under new coach Bruce Boudreau. There were times when it felt as if he was the Ducks best defensemen, and that really mattered when Lubomir Visnovksy was out of the line up. It seems that even with the recent turn of events, Beauchemin has stepped up and become better and more valuable. He plays in all and every situation on the ice because he's been smart and reliable. He's a hard worker and clearly ready to step in front of a bullet to protect his teammates...or the scoreboard. They should give him a contract extension. Oh wait...

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[Ed. Note: Throughout the All-Star Break, the Anaheim Calling team will be giving their mid-season reports. Next up is the rookie and format-defying rebel without a cause, Chris.]

I had a hard time picking my Most Valuable and Least Valuable Players for the Ducks through this point in the season. This is mostly due to the fact that there are not enough options for the former and far too many for the latter.

My first instinct for MVP was Teemu Selanne. The greatest player in the history of the franchise, still leading the team in scoring in what is likely his victory lap season is a fine answer. However, I still believe that Teemu's place atop the Ducks scoreboard is more a reflection of how dismal the season has been for his teammates rather than a testament to his dominance. It's been great watching him continue to be the Finnish Flash until the bitter end with ageless speed and skill, but it hasn't manifested itself in the standings.

I wanted really badly to name Niklas Hagaman my first half MVP because his tenacity on the puck since joining the flock has been one of the few bright spots in this bleak, bleak season. Then again, by the same logic that I didn't give it to Teemu, I would have to award Jason Blake the distinction. After all, the presence of his Hagman-esque work ethic has corresponded with a 10-3-1 record. As I said in the open thread for Sunday's game versus Colorado, I refuse to believe that Blake is that important to this team, so I couldn't in good conscience give it to either of them.

That led me to my conclusion: Ryan Getzlaf is simultaneously the team's Most Valuable and Least Valuable Player over the first 48 games of the 2011-‘12 season. This is based almost entirely on intangibles. Sure, Getzy has nine points in his last ten games, the team has won eight of those contests and he only tallied two points in his previous nine games, only one of which was a win. More importantly though is how the team has looked through those stretches and how that has mirrored the play of their captain.

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[Ed. Note: Throughout the All-Star Break, the Anaheim Calling team will be giving their mid-season reports. First up was our intrepid Crunch reporter Alex and her analysis of our Ducklings. Next, the man I'm pretty sure was sober when he wrote this - Daniel.]

I like introductions, probably because I teach public speaking, so you'll have to forgive me for not beginning in earnest, as they say. The All Star Break is a good time for quiet reflection on everything that has happened, and for me to write things that will make people wonder if the world will really end in 2012.

First Half Most Valuable Player: Bob Murray, General Manager.

I don't know who's jaw just dropped, but I heard it and it made me laugh.

Ok, so Murray technically isn't a player. However, There are really only two choices for MVP anyway: Teemu Selanne and Corey Perry. Selanne because you know, he's Selanne, and Perry is the only one of the Big 3 who has managed to turn in consistent efforts. Therefore, I felt I had to think outside the box. Let me clear something up, this doesn't mean I don't think Murray should keep his job. He should definitely be fired. I've said for a long time that if Murray didn't want to get Carlyle the players Carlyle wanted/needed, then he needed to get rid of Carlyle. Well, things got bad...really bad, and he finally got rid of Carlyle. Hiring Boudreau gave the fanbase something to care about again, and that's pretty invaluable.

Speculation was rampant. People wanted to know how the team would change, if Bobby Ryab would improve, if there would be personnel changes to fit Boudreau's need. It gave the fans a reason to talk about their Ducks moving forward rather than how badly they wanted the season to end. I still don't have a lot of confidence in the man as a GM. But, if we are talking about the person who made the largest impact on the team in the first half, it was Murray.

First Half Least Valuable Player: Jason Blake, Left Wing

Apparently, the Ducks want to convince the fan base that Jason Blake is actually a leprechaun. Ducks lose him after starting the season 4-1, and forgot how to play hockey. Blake comes back and the Ducks rattle off wins like an auctioneer calling bids. I'm not a subscriber to the theory that we are a better team with Blake in the lineup. Personally, I can't wait to see Devante Smth-Pelly in his spot on the third line after we trade him. However, it's hard to have less of an impact than not playing. If the Ducks were seriously affected by him not being in the lineup, then clearly he was the least valuable player as he was no help at all. Moreover, everyone not named Perry, Selanne or Francois Beauchemin can probably fit into this category, so I don't really see the point in going after them. Blake didn't play so he was the least valuable. It's nothing personal.

Bold Prediction for the Second Half:

I have two because I am a dirty, dirty cheater. First, Corey Perry is going to put the fear of god into goalies everywhere and join Pavel Bure and Alex Ovechkin as the only back-to-back winners of the Richard Trophy. Second, I twisted Alex's words in her post, and believed that she was predicting a trade of Kyle Palmieri. The more I think about it, the more I like it. Palmieri is the type of asset that should be sold high, IF he is going to be sold. Maybe, he can be packaged in a deal for that top defenseman we covet. It's not as crazy as it sounds, which is saying something because it sounds pretty crazy. Still, I can't shake the feeling that Murray will finally make a trade that will surprise everyone, because I'm beginning to think he secretly reads the blog and fancies my opinion. Palmieri is the type of player who gets moved in those situations.

[Ed. Note: Throughout the All-Star Break, the Anaheim Calling team will be giving their mid-season reports. First up is our intrepid Crunch reporter Alex and her analysis of our Ducklings.]

First Half Most Valuable Player: Iiro Tarkki, goaltender

I picked Tarkki because he seems to be the player we can't win without. Guys like Kyle Palmieri and Patrick Maroon have certainly been instrumental in the Crunch's success, but we've had wins without them on the team. Tarkki, however, is the one player I'd choose every time to go into battle with. Tarkki has a 9-12 record, with 2 shootout losses. His wins are the most on the team. Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers has 6 wins and Marco Cousineau (who has not been here as long, obviously) has 3.

First Half Least Valuable Player: Bryan Rodney

In the interest of disclosure, I will admit up front that I have issues with offensive defensemen. Most of them drive me insane. I realize their potential for making a team great. I realize their selection for quarterbacking a power play. In theory, I can see why it's wonderful to have one on your team.

Bryan Rodney is not wonderful. He's killing his own team.

Just in the last game, I can give three examples of what I'm saying: Rodney was on the ice for the two shorthanded goals scored against the Crunch, and was also on the ice for an even-strength goal. He was on his knees an hour behind the play for one of the goals, was out of position for another, and was right in front of Tarkki for the final goal. When Rodney's out there, he exhibits all the qualities of a bad offensive defenseman: the chances he takes very rarely result in goals - in 34 games, he's scored 4 goals - while the mistakes he makes almost always results in the other team scoring. Watching him play is one of the most frustrating experiences I've ever had.

Bold prediction for the second half: Due to a trade to get a needed player for the Ducks, Kyle Palmieri will end up for the rest of the year with Anaheim, leaving breakout player Peter Holland to take over in points and scoring for the Crunch. Fairly invisible action-wise for the first half of the year, Holland has been quietly building up his totals. He's currently third on the team in points (31), behind only Palmieri (33) and Maroon (45). He has improved every month spent with the team, totaling 5 points in October, 7 in November, and 13 in December. He's currently at 6 for January, with two games left to play. I predict he'll go hog wild in the second half of the year, eclipsing both Maroon and the called up Palmieri!

[Ed. Note: This is a working blog as the AC staff gathers themselves and reacts. Don't forget! After the Ducks 11:00am practice, Bruce Boudreau will officially be introduced as the new coach. The team *might* be broadcasting it live on the website]

ROBBY:
As the newest Ducks fan among the bunch here at AC, I don't have quite the same attachment to Randy Carlyle. When I became a fan near the end of the 2008-2009 season, Carlyle was the bench boss that guided the team to a frantic drive through the last two months of the season that earned them the 8th seed in the Western Conference. By a year later, I felt that I'd seen enough games to identify a few important characteristics of a Carlyle-coached squad:

• The team, while achieving success on the ice, never seemed overly gregarious or happy. Even after a win, the focus was always on what could be done better. I legitimately cannot think of many instances where Carlyle was unequivocally positive about something.
• Leads were often more dangerous than being tied or trailing. I cannot tell you how many times the season ticket holders around me groaned as the Ducks elected to dump and change once they had a lead, instead of carrying the puck in and establishing offensive shifts.
• When things weren't working, the bottom lines disappeared and players started shuffling around the lineup. This almost never worked.

I appreciate what Carlyle did for the franchise from a historical perspective, but in the 3+ years I've followed the Ducks, here's how they've fared:

• 2008-2009: Probably the most exciting season still as a fan. I came aboard as the Ducks started their stretch run to the playoffs.
• 2009-2010: Probably the most deflating season as a fan (yes, even more than the current one). We sent more players to the Olympics than any other team, but we could never find that consistency ourselves.
• 2010-2011: After getting off to a very slow start, the team once again needed a spectacular run to get into the playoffs.
• 2011-2012: We don't really need to say too much about this that we haven't already.

When you consider my experience, you might understand why I've been ready for a coaching change for some time now. I might not be in the majority here, but I've always believed that we had a core of quality players that failed to consistently deliver as well as I expected. I appreciate what Carlyle was able to accomplish in Anaheim, but I'm beyond thrilled that someone with Boudreau's track record will now be leading the team. His ability to develop young players will be key as the Ducks matriculate their prospects over the next few years. Boudreau is also known as a players-coach, which will be a stark departure from the stoic, business-only attitude of Carlyle.

I cannot wait to see how Luca Sbisa and Cam Fowler react to Boudreau's new system and I'm also excited to see what Bruce does with the top-line. Will he keep them together or will he give Bobby his own line to spread his wings? If he doesn't keep them together, will be split up Carlyle's sacred duos? After years of Getz-Perry and Selanne-Koivu, I'm actually extremely curious to see what could happen if they were separated.

In closing, I love this move for two key reasons. The first of which being that the team needs its mojo back. During the press conference today, Murray said that the team appeared to have lost all confidence, and a players-only coach like Boudreau should help them recapture their pride and play with some swagger. As for the second reason, it's obvious isn't it? Jen's shirt campaign appears to have paid off. My Bobby is safe.

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KRISTEN:

"Corey Perry believes the Anaheim Ducks have the flock for another Stanley Cup run"

So reads the headline of an NHL.com story published on Saturday. If you read the article, you eventually discovered that this is an overstatement. Perry wants another Cup, but he never says that it'll come this year. And barring a miracle from the Hockey Gods, it probably won't. But that doesn't mean that this team is incapable of success.

Last season was composed of many impressive feats of individual accomplishment. Teemu Selanne scored his 1300th point and solidified his future position in the Hall of Fame, Pears scored 50 goals, won the Rocket Richard and the Hart Trophies, and Lubomir Visnovsky scored a career-high 68 points. Cam Fowler began the season on a tentative ten-day tryout, and eventually blossomed into a crucial part of the Ducks defensive corps.

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