Well that was quick...
So there we have it, the SCF is upon us and who will be in it??
[#2 Chicago Blackhaws 
V 
#7 Philadelphia Flyers]
Chicago were able to do a proper job of sweeping the San Jose Sharks. The Flyers almost did that against the Montreal Canadiens but settled to win in 5 games thus taking them to the SCF. I won't be picking a team to win the Cup this season though I do have hopes, but I will say that I am happy to see the Sharks, Wings, Kings, and Yotes nowhere near Lord Stanley's hardware. It's also nice to know that the Ducks are still the only California team to have a Cup. So we will see who's year it will be when game 1 kicks off this coming Saturday. Sadly, I won't be able to see games 1-3 live because of the new job, so it will be DVR madness for me!
Speaking of the Ducks and Cup, I will be doing a special entry on June 6th which will mark the 3 anniversary of Anaheim winning it all against the Ottawa Senators. I also will be having a guest writer give us his memories of that glorious event! It's going to be great.
Detroit Red Wings legend, Steve Yzerman, has been named the new GM for the financially struggling Tampa Bay Lightning. This comes as a little surprise to me because I would think that one such as Stevie Y would not want to having anything do with a franchise that is known to be on their last breath, but it's obvious that he's up to the challenge.
ALSO:
Contract negotiations between Anaheim Ducks GM, Bob Mur
ray, and the Bobby Ryan camp have resumed. It's-about-time. Negotiations between the two stopped because BM felt that it was better to have BR focus on his game towards the end of the regular season and didn't want to create any unnecessary distractions. All of the Ducks faithful have been wondering what was going on between the two parties being that they would like to see BR get re-signed with Anaheim and not have to get to the point where the club has to match any offer sheets from other bidders. Remember the Dustin Penner situation but then former Ducks GM, Brian Burke, had the team in a dodgy situation with the salary cap and were forced to move Penner to Edmonton. This time around, it will be a better situation:
“First of all, we’re in a much better shape financially than the summer with Penner,” Murray said. “A much better situation. Secondly, with Donny Meehan (one of Bobby Ryan's agents), it’s his job to get the best contract possible for his client. It’s David’s and my job to fit it in the right spot so we can compete next year. We both have different goals in mind."
“In the end, you usually can come together.”
The cap hit for Bobby's next contract looks to be no less than $5MM a year and would see him in a Ducks sweater until 2014. A contract very much like Anaheim forwards, Ryan Getzlaf + Corey Perry, who were re-sign with the club for a little more and whose contract will be up in 2013.Bobby Ryan has stated that he still wants to be with the club. I think the fact that he has bought a new home in SoCal will suffice as clear evidence of his intentions.
We will see.
And last but not least:
This weeks Ducks Vlogstrosity is up and running for your viewing pleasure. And even though I talk about the same stuff in today's blog entry, that doesn't mean that you get to NOT watch it. So watch it!
Go Ducks!
PS:
If you want to see something amazing:
