I don't think anyone is surprised with the way the Ducks/Preds series outcome. Nashville had the Ducks number at 3-1 in their 4 regular season games, and 4 vs. 5 match-ups are always a toss up.
You can't argue with how the big line played for the Ducks. Corey Perry with 8pts in 6 games, Ryan Getzlaf with 6pts in 6 games, and Bobby Ryan with 4 in 4, including his undressing of David Legwand in Game 5.
The second line was one of the best offensive lines in hockey, with Teemu Selanne leading the way with 7 points. His line with Saku Koivu (7pts) and Jason Blake (6pts) were great at one end of the ice, however, it seemed like they, along with defenseman Lubo Visnovsky were always on the ice when goals were scored against the Ducks.
On defense, Cam Fowler showed why he belonged in Anaheim all season. They need to drop some of the dead weight on defense and get some guys back there that that can play defense. They have a solid top 4 in Visnovsky, Fowler, Beauchemin, and Lydman. Sbisa is going to need to come into his own in 11-12. At $2+ mil next season, he becomes a larger target if he can't help shore up the defensive end. Andy Sutton no way, no how belongs in the Western Conference, and, at $2.125, he isn't a candidate for a buyout as he was a 35+ contract (WTF was Bob Murray thinking?). After that, the Ducks have a huge drop off and an even larger question in net.
Jonas Hiller hasn't been the same since signing his big deal early in the season (you'd probably have vertigo as well!). Ray Emery and Dan Ellis stood in for Hiller in relief down the stretch. Ray Emery's comeback was incredible and certainly has earned some interest with NHL teams as he will be a UFA on July 1. Do the Ducks try and keep him? Seems to me that the Ducks need to figure out what is going on with Hiller and whether his $4.5 million is worth keeping. The Ducks were 15-5-1 down the stretch to make the playoffs with the Ellis/Emery tandem. Hiller played in only 3 games after the All Star Game, going 1-0 (SO win btw) with 2 no decisions (he was pulled after 11 minutes in both games).
There is roughly $10 million open in Anaheim's budget for 11-12 and won't find out until July 1 whether Selanne wants to return, and have Todd Marchant (UFA) and Dan Sexton (RFA) out there to re-sign if they wish. Marchant had his worst season ever, and at 38, you have to wonder how much is left in the tank.
As far as the Kings are concerned, they showed inconsistency in their first round series against San Jose, despite taking 3 games to OT. One of those games, Game 3, was a complete meltdown that I've come to term "The Fuck Up on Figueroa." Is a 4-0 lead the worst lead in hockey? I always thought a 2 goal lead was the worst.
The Kings had a great opportunity to win Games 1 and 6, especially with a 5 minute power play late in regulation of game 6. If I am a Sharks fan, I'm worried. 3 games go to OT with the Kings missing Anze Kopitar, and, having a 75% Justin Williams? The only flash I feel SJ showed was in their Game 3 comeback and their domination in Game 4. The Sharks are lucky to have moved on.
19 regular season games and 6 playoff games showed us exactly how lazy Dustin Penner is. He went 2g+4a, EVEN, and 2pim since he arrived in LA from EDM. His playoff line was 1g+1a, -3, 4pim. Maybe if he wasn't 6ft4 and almost 250lbs, he wouldn't stand out as such a lazy fuck! Do the Kings suck it up and play him at a $4.25 million cap hit, or, are they better off with a $1.417 million buyout for each of the next two seasons? Remember, you have Brayden Schenn most likely coming up next year at $3.14 mil. Add in the buyout, and Schenn essentially costs you $4.557 mil. Sounds better to me than $7.39 mil for both.
Kings have $48 million on the books for next season and still don't have Drew Doughty signed (RFA). The have Michal Handzus (can't see LA bringing him back at $4 mil), Poni (not coming back at @ $3.2), Brad Richardson (RFA + due for a small raise), Oscar Moller (RFA; I still think this guy is a career AHLer), Wayne Simmonds (RFA + due for a raise of some sort; maybe a longer term deal at less $), Trevor Lewis (RFA who came into his own in the playoffs), and Alec Martinez (has certainly earned a spot with the big club) out there as free agents.
Keep in mind the Kings have Kopitar coming back, so, the top end of the team will look a little different than what we saw in the 1st round against SJ.
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