T1B

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=260509017


These guys are good.

The Ducks are big, young, fast and very skilled...I don't see this as being a one-time deal with these guys. They've got one of best collections of young forwards in the NHL with Bobby Ryan probably coming in next year...last season's first round pick...and Ryan Shannon, a very skilled and fast forward down with Portland could be up with the team next year. They've already McDonald, Lupul, Perry, Getzlaf and Penner up with the team now. Bryzgalov looks like a legit goalie making Giguere expendable. They only thing they need to worry about adding depth to the blue line...Niedermayer won't be around forever.

Anybody who has a problem with (what appears to be) this years Western Conference Final can send concerns/complaints to Mr. Gretzky.



.....and give Mr. Pocklington a buzz, too.

I don't care where these teams play...they've earned where they are at right now. I think it's good the NHL to have these Sun Belt teams succeed. Tampa Bay won the cup last year...you had a total of 6 non-traditional hockey cities make the playoffs (Dallas, Nashville, San Jose, Anaheim, Carolina, Tampa Bay). With the financial structure the way it is, there's no excuse to fail as a franchise. The poorer teams can add better players and the richest teams can't buy up all of the talent. It comes down to good management. The ability to spend wisely and develop homegrown talent are two big keys to succeeding in the NHL and look no further than to Anaheim and San Jose as being two excellent examples of that.