MVN: Most Valuable Network

For a guy who didn't do too much when free agency began, Ducks GM Bob Murray is making up for lost time.  The latest Ducks signing is defenseman Nick Boynton, who was signed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.

"Nick is the type of veteran defenseman we were hoping to add to our lineup," Murray commented.  "He's played over 500 NHL games and brings a physical presence to our team."

The 30 year old d-man now adds to a growing defensive corps for the Ducks.  While they lost Chris Pronger in a trade, the current defense line-up stands at Scott Niedermayer, Ryan Whitney, Boynton, Sheldon Brookbank, Luca Sbisa, Brian Salcido, Brett Festerling and Brendan Mikkelson.  

If the Ducks are successful in arbitration with James Wisniewski, they will also add him to the group of guys looking to fill seven spots.  The top four would include Niedermayer, Whitney, Boynton and Wisniewski, leaving just three spots open to five players.  Can you say competition?  In this case, healthy competition because they will all be motivated to do their best and make the final cut.

Boynton has played for Boston, Phoenix and most recently Florida.  After an incident this past February, it was pretty clear Boynton was not going to re-sign with Florida.  Steve Gorten of the Sun Sentinel noted that Boynton had an argument with coach Peter DeBoer about his ice time and the response was to send Boynton home from the road trip. 

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_hockey_panthers/2009/02/the-boynton-situation.html

In his article, Gorten observed that Boynton "sticks up for teammates on the ice and is very much liked in the dressing room."  He also stated that Boynton is an "emotional player."

In my opinion, these are not bad qualities to have and sticking up your teammates is a quality that is not lacking on the Ducks.  If there was a problem with communication between coach and player, that won't be an issue in Anaheim, where the players know exactly where they stand with Randy Carlyle.

While it remains to be seen how well he'll do in Anaheim, Boynton should be another good addition to the Ducks line-up. 

In a continued effort to bulk up the Ducks scoring ability in the off-season, the team signed Finnish center Saku Koivu to a one year contract worth $3.25 million.  "Saku Koivu's character and leadership qualities are unquestioned," said GM Bob Murray.  "He is a skilled playmaker and we are thrilled to add him to our team."Koivu, who has spent his entire career with the Montreal Canadiens, is a two time All Star and Olympian.  He will likely be on a line with fellow Finn, Teemu Selanne, with whom he already has proven chemistry from when they've skated together for team Finland."I'm very excited to join the Ducks this coming season," Koivu commented.  "I'm also looking forward to a full season with Selanne as a teammate."Koivu, 34, was thought to be going to the Minnesota Wild to join his brother, Mikko, but he decided not to join him just yet. ... Read more

The Ducks have re-signed two players in the past two days.  The most important of those signings was center Todd Marchant.  Marchant was signed to a two-year deal that pays $2.25 million - $1 million this year and $1.25 million next year.  A new contract had been in the works for a while.Marchant, who turns 36 next month, has been with the Ducks since 2005-2006 when he was picked up off waivers from Columbus.  He has proven to be a versatile asset with the ability to play on any line.  When Sami Pahlsson was traded to Chicago in March, Marchant stepped up onto the third line and filled the checking line center void nicely. "We're pleased that Todd will remain a Duck for the next two seasons," said GM Bob Murray.  "His versatility on the ice and presence in the locker room is something this club has deeply valued... Read more

Fox Sports Prime Ticket is offering replays of Ducks games every Tuesday night from now until September 1.  Games will air at 7:00pm for nine Tuesdays in a row.  Each night will highlight a different Ducks game.For those hankering for a little Ducks hockey, this should help ease the summer doldrums.  And watching ice hockey when it is hot outside certainly helps melt the summer heat as well!... Read more

Unrestricted free agent Francois Beauchemin is officially no longer a Duck.  The 29 year old defenseman signed a three-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs, averaging $3.8 million per year.  A hefty increase in salary, but not quite what the expected rate was going to be in free agency.With Chris Pronger traded to Philadelphia and Beauchemin now wearing a Leafs jersey, it becomes more important to re-sign James Wisniewski.  Wisniewski was made a qualifying offer, as he is a restricted free agent.  However, Wisniewski, who earned $900,000 last season, has elected salary arbitration rather than accept the minimum 5% increase that was tendered in the qualifying offer.  By going to arbitration, Wisniewski cannot entertain offer sheets from other teams, which is a good thing.  Dustin Penner was easily lured to Edmonton with a fancy offer sheet two years ago and then GM Brian Burke happily waved good-bye when he decided... Read more

ESPN The Magazine issued their seventh annual Ultimate Standings among all the major sports franchises in baseball, basketball, football and hockey.   Rankings were based on eight different criteria: Bang for the Buck, Fan Relations, Ownership, Affordability, Stadium Experience, Players, Coaching and Title Track.The Ducks finished 11th overall of all sports.  The team that plays across the freeway, the Angels, were 1st overall.  The team that the Ducks play against up the freeway, the Kings, finished 95th overall.  ... Read more

Earlier this week both Bobby Ryan and Ryan Whitney were invited to attend the US Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Orientation Camp.  The camp will be held August 17 - 19 in Illinois.  Both players are part of 34 invitees who will be preparing to compete in the upcoming Winter games next February in Vancouver.  This morning, Team Canada announced their list of camp invitees.  Among them were Scott Niedermayer, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Francois Beauchemin.  Teemu Selanne is almost guaranteed a spot on the Finnish team, so there could be quite a nice Ducks representation when the Olympics roll around.  In the 2006 Olympics, Sami Pahlsson brought back home the Gold medal with Sweden, outranking Selanne's Silver medal with rival Finland.  Hopefully the Ducks who represent their countries will be able to bring home more medals (and bragging rights) this time.... Read more

Defenseman Scott Niedermayer and the Ducks have come to terms and agreed upon a one-year contract for $6 million plus bonuses.    Niedermayer became an unrestricted free agency this morning, but had already told GM Bob Murray that he wanted to play one more year with the Ducks.Niedermayer had contemplated retirement, the third time since the Ducks won the Stanley Cup in 2007.  He got off the fence of indecision right before the entry draft, which allowed Murray the ability to trade Chris Pronger's $6.25 million salary in exchange for a steal of a deal from Philadelphia.Although it took a while for the two to come to an agreement on contract, which left many Ducks fans on pins and needles wondering if he really would sign, both sides got the deal done.                                                                                                   "Keeping Scott Niedermayer in an Anaheim Ducks jersey was paramount for our club," said Murray. "We're extremely pleased... Read more

The Ducks re-signed center Erik Christensen to a one-year contract extension on the eve of free agency.  Christensen, as a restricted free agent, was not given a qualifying offer by the club, something that would have required an automatic raise in salary.  That enabled the Ducks to re-sign him to a $750,000 one-way contract, the same amount as last year.Christensen, 25, was acquired from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for prospect Eric O'Dell on March 4, 2009.   He played 17 games with Anaheim, scoring 2 goals and 9 points during that time. Christensen was hampered by a shoulder injury that has since been corrected with off-season surgery.  He is not expected to be ready to go by the time training camp opens in September, but should be ready shortly thereafter.His signing was met with some confusion by Ducks fans, who were underwhelmed with his performance last spring.  Christensen showed plenty... Read more

The Ducks have already been active in the weeks leading up to free agency on July 1.  GM Bob Murray pulled off a huge trade with the Philadelphia Flyers that sent Chris Pronger and prospect Ryan Dingle in exchange for Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa and three draft picks, one of them conditional.  Although it has been revealed that Sbisa is still nursing a groin injury that first kicked up last September during training camp, the deal is a good one. The Ducks rid themselves of a big chunk of salary - $6.25 million of Pronger's salary in his final contract year.  The Ducks get some secondary scoring in Lupul, who is tied up for the next four years.  Sbisa will be examined by Ducks team doctors to determine the course of action that needs to be taken for complete healing of the groin injury, but it is likely he will... Read more

Day two of the draft gave the Ducks five more picks, one in each round except the final round (that pick had been traded away earlier).The Ducks chose defenseman Matt Clark at #37.  Clark was one of the older players available in the draft, turning 19 this fall.  The 6'3" blueliner is described as a stay at home defenseman.With their third round pick, the Ducks chose Russian goaltender, Igor Bobkov, at #76.  Bobkov was ranked 10th among European goalies and helped Russia earn a silver medal in the under-18 world tournament.  Another defenseman was chosen in the fourth round at #106.  Sami Vatanen is on the smaller size at 5'9", 163 lbs, but has very good skills.  The Finnish d-man looks up to current Ducks captain, Scott Niedermayer.The Ducks took another European at 136th, this time going to Slovakia for center Radoslav Illo.  Illo had a shoulder injury in the... Read more