Anaheim Ducks

It is the rare athlete in any major professional sport that continues to produce at a high level in his or her 40s. 

In NHL history, the most famous is Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe, who actually played into his 50s.

With the speed of today’s NHL game combined with the size of its players, it is amazing that there are a handful of skaters over the age of forty playing some inspired hockey.

Equally impressive is the play of Martin Brodeur as well, but I’m considering only skaters here.

With an honorable mention to Jaromir Jagr, I believe that Daniel Alfredsson, Ray Whitney and Teemu Selanne are the best players over the age of 40 in the NHL.

Daniel Alfredsson

While Alfredsson’s numbers are not quite the same as the other two, at least in terms of points per game, he brings certain intangibles to his team.

Alfredsson has a great reputation around the league, and others have pointed to his ability to help his Ottawa Senators on their winning path despite a string of injuries, including their two best offensive players, Erik Karlsson and Jason Spezza.

Alfredsson still plays meaningful minutes, and if Ottawa is able to make a long playoff run, much of the credit will likely go to Alfredsson. On most nights, he looks like he could play another two or three seasons at least.

Ray Whitney

Whitney does not get the same kind of press as the other members on this list, but that is a theme for his entire career. He has been considered too small or not effective enough away from the puck to be a top-line player by many critics.

He has proven those naysayers wrong time and time again.

While he has struggled with injury this year, he has continued to score at almost a point per game.

Nicknamed “The Wizard” because of his excellent puck-handling and passing skills, when Whitney has talented linemates, he is a top-line player on many NHL teams.

If the Dallas Stars can remain in the playoff race, Whitney will have to play a large part in this.

If the Stars fade, don’t be surprised to see Whitney picked up by a contender in the hopes of a long playoff run.

Teemu Selanne

The “Finnish Flash” remains one of those rare players that can have fans in the rink rise out of their skates.

Despite being the oldest player in the league, Teemu Selanne can outskate most NHL players half his age.

While Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry lead the Anaheim Ducks offensively, Selanne continues to be an important part of team scoring.

He’s on pace to have more than 30 points in this shortened season and is a threat to score on every shift.

Secondary scoring is often one of the differences in determining whether or not a team can make a long run in the NHL playoffs.

If the Ducks continue their outstanding play, Selanne should receive a lot of the credit.

The Anaheim Ducks have agreed to an eight-year contract extension with star forward Corey Perry, according to a news release by the franchise.

The Ducks have agreed to terms with right wing Corey Perry on an eight-year contract extension. Perry, a 2007 Stanley Cup champion and 2010 Olympic gold medalist, is now under contract with the Ducks through the 2020-21 NHL season. 

“We are excited that Corey has committed to us for the next eight years,” said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray.“Corey wanted to stay in Anaheim and be part of our organization long term. He is an exceptional player who competes with heart and soul and has won at every level..."

While no financial details of the deal were revealed by the Ducks, TSN's hockey insider Darren Dreger posted on Twitter that Perry will earn close to $70 million in his new eight-year deal.

Though, as Dreger points out, that figure is still quite a good deal for the Ducks given how much Perry would likely have fetched on the free-agent market.

Considering how significant the star forward has been to the franchise over the past few years, it's hard to not see this as a good move by the Ducks.

Since winning the 2010-11 Hart Trophy, the National Hockey League's Most Valuable Player award, Perry has continued to become the go-to guy for the Ducks. He has netted 96 goals since the 2010-11 season—the second-most out of any player in that time.

This season, Perry has netted just nine goals and 15 assists but is tied for second in the league for game-winning goals. He has been crucial in the Ducks' charge to the top of the Western Conference's Pacific Division. According to comments that the forward made via the club's official website, the 27-year-old is keen to continue his dominance in Anaheim for many years to come.

Staying in Anaheim has always been my first choice. This is a great place to play, and I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to remain here.

I want to thank to the Samuelis and the entire Ducks organization for their belief in me. I’m pleased to have this done so our focus can remain on our ultimate goal—bringing another Stanley Cup to Orange County.

Having already totaled some very impressive statistics in his time with the Ducks, another eight years could very well see Perry become one of the franchise's greatest players ever.

In his eight seasons, the 27-year-old has totaled 453 points and won a Stanley Cup with the franchise. Moreover, Perry currently ranks fourth among all-time franchise scoring, third in goals, game-winning goals and power-play goals and fifth in assists.

Now, with another eight years to come with the Ducks, Perry could become a genuine legend in Anaheim should he continue that form.

Not only that, but with the form that he and Anaheim have shown this year, he could also lead this team to further postseason success in that time.

After all, a lot can happen in just eight years, as Perry's career so far attests to. 

Can Corey Perry lead the Ducks to another Stanley Cup in eight years?

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The Anaheim Ducks will be without superstar winger Corey Perry for the next four games because the NHL has suspended him for his late hit to the head of Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker in Tuesday night's contest.

Even though the Ducks rank third in goals scored and have the best power play in the league, losing a player with Perry's impressive skill set (scoring, playmaking, truculence, strong defense) is still going to impact the team in several ways.

Complicating matters is the team's difficult schedule during the stretch of games in which Perry will be unavailable due to suspension. Here's a look at the competition that Anaheim will face without Perry over the next week:

The Ducks are just four points behind the Chicago Blackhawks for first place in the Western Conference standings, and they also have a game in hand. But if Anaheim fails to take a lot of points from the next four games, the team's chances of earning the top seed for the playoffs could significantly lessen.

Let's take a look at how Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau and his team will need to adjust with Perry suspended for the next four games.

Who Takes Perry's Spot at Right Wing on the First Line?

The first adjustment that Boudreau must make is to figure out who will take Perry's right wing spot on the top line alongside superstar center Ryan Getzlaf and winger Bobby Ryan.

When Perry was ejected from Tuesday's game for his illegal hit on Zucker, veteran forward Teemu Selanne was moved up from the second line, and it's very likely that he will remain with the top trio until Perry returns.

Selanne ranks fifth on the Ducks in scoring with 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 25 games, and he has lots of previous experience playing with Getzlaf. Putting two talented goal scores in Selanne and Ryan alongside an elite playmaker such as Getzlaf is the best way for Anaheim to maximize its scoring production from the first line.

The 42-year-old winger is also responsible defensively, and his two-way game also makes him a good fit alongside Getzlaf and Ryan, both of whom are top-tier power forwards.

Another option to replace Perry is Kyle Palmieri, who has missed the last five games because of an injury, but according to Eric Stephens of the Orange Country Register, he will be in the lineup on Thursday night.

Putting Palmieri on the first line in his first few games back from injury, which would result in him receiving substantial ice time, would not be a smart decision by Boudreau. He is better suited for the second or third line.

Here's what I would project the Ducks lines to be with Perry suspended:

Who Will Battle in Front of the Net on the Power Play in Perry's Absence?

Perry has been a key contributor to the Ducks' power play this season, which ranks first in the league with a 26.2 percent success rate.

He leads Anaheim with five power-play goals, and his seven points with the man-advantage is the second-highest total on the team. His 2:46 of power-play ice time per game ranks second among Ducks forwards.

Perry is often located right in front of the opposing goaltender while the Ducks are on the power play because his impressive size (6'3", 210 pounds) makes him a tremendous net-front presence.

His strength makes him a difficult player to move out of the crease, and he's always a threat to score because he does a good job of scoring goals off deflections by getting his stick on shots from the point.

Finding someone to create traffic in front of the net is one challenge for Boudreau while Perry is suspended.

Young winger Emerson Etem would be a good player to put in Perry's spot on the power play because he is a physical forward with similar size (6'1", 210 pounds). Etem has fantastic hands and the strength needed to battle for loose pucks in front of the net to score dirty goals.

He has not scored yet this season, and as a young player in his first full season at the NHL level, being put on the power play and having some success in that role would certainly raise his confidence level.

Anaheim has a 9-1-2 record when it scores on the power play, and being able to continue this success with the extra man will be crucial to the team's chances of winning games without Perry.

However, maintaining their success on the power play won't be easy because three of their next four games are against teams ranked in the top 15 in penalty killing (San Jose third, Chicago sixth, Dallas 11th).

The Penalty Kill Must Be Stronger

The Ducks have the third-worst penalty kill in the league, and it will be even weaker without Perry.

He averages 1:18 of shorthanded time per game, and his defensive skills and willingness to block shots will be missed over the next few games because three of Anaheim's next four games are against teams that rank in the top 15 in power-play success (St. Louis second, Dallas 11th, Chicago 15th).

Without Perry, Ducks forwards such as Cogliano and Bonino will need to play a more important role on the penalty kill. They currently average 1:31 and 1:08 of shorthanded time per game, respectively, and those totals will probably climb while Perry is suspended.

Bonino has been one of the team's most impressive defensive forwards this season, and he ranks third on the Ducks in blocked shots (36) and takes a lot of faceoffs. His importance on the penalty kill will likely increase over the next four games, and it will be interesting to see how he responds to this added responsibility.

Ducks Should Treat Next Four Games as a Test Run for the Possibility that Perry is Traded Before the Deadline

Perry's absence will be a great opportunity for the Ducks to see how well they are able to play against top teams without their best winger.

The 27-year-old forward is in the final year of his contract and will be able to leave the team in the summer as an unrestricted free agent.

Since it's possible that he could earn as much as $9 million on the open market, it would be in the team's best interests to trade Perry for valuable assets such as young NHL players, top prospects and/or draft picks. Keeping him for the rest of the season and taking the chance that he could leave for nothing in the offseason is not a risk that the Ducks can afford to take.

With that said, wingers such as Palmieri, Etem, Cogliano and Bonino need to show Boudreau that they are capable of being productive offensively and effective at both ends of the ice in more important roles with Perry out of the lineup.

The Ducks have gotten plenty of secondary scoring this season, but without Perry, the team's depth at forward will be tested.

If Anaheim plays well without Perry and the team is able to score goals and convert on its power-play chances, general manager Bob Murray might be more comfortable with moving Perry if it becomes clear that he wants to become a free agent and not sign a new contract extension before the trade deadline.

He will also be able to see which areas of his roster are impacted the most when Perry isn't in the lineup during the next four games, which will also give him an idea of what kind of players he will need in return for Perry if the former Hart Trophy winner is trade in the next few weeks.

Boudreau needs to set up his team with the line combinations and power-play units he might use if Perry was traded, which will help prepare the team for that situation in case it happens. The Ducks may want to keep Perry for the entire season regardless if he signs a new deal, but it wouldn't hurt to use these next four games to see what kind of team they might be in the playoffs without their first line right winger.

Nicholas Goss is an NHL Lead Writer at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter. He was a credentialed reporter at the 2011 Stanley Cup Final and 2012 NHL playoffs.

The Anaheim Ducks signed captain and center Ryan Getzlaf to an eight-year contract extension worth $66 million on Friday.

CBC's Elliotte Friedman broke news of the deal's length on Twitter:

Chris Johnston of Rogers Sportsnet and NHL Network indicated just how lucrative the contract is:

The 27-year-old Getzlaf was the Ducks' No. 19 overall pick in the 2003 draft and has spent his entire NHL career with the franchise.

In his eighth season, Getzlaf is shining as brightly as ever after a lackluster 2011-12, notching nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points in just 22 games thus far. It won't be a full schedule due to the lockout, but he is on a stunning scoring pace. 

Ducks general manager Bob Murray released a statement after the deal was completed (h/t CBC Sports):

We are very happy to have Ryan committed to this franchise long-term...He has often expressed his interest to stay in Anaheim for his entire career, a goal we share. He is a leader, a proven winner, and possesses a skill set that's hard to find. This is a great day for the Ducks.

Getzlaf was a key contributor in his first full season with the Ducks during their Stanley Cup championship run in 2006-07, registering seven goals and 10 assists in 21 playoff contests.

At 6'4" and 224 pounds, there are few players who can effectively slow down Getzlaf when he gets a head of steam. He is a physical presence on both ends of the ice and is an exceptional defender to complement his offensive prowess.

If not for the Chicago Blackhawks' unprecedentedly hot start, the Ducks would be the talk of the Western Conference. They sit in second behind Chicago with 35 points, with Getzlaf driving a strong offense that has the best power-play percentage in the league and averages the third-most goals per game with 3.3.

The fact that the Anaheim Ducks 2013 season has finally started is the biggest positive of all. No matter who your team is, it's nice to be able to sit down and watch some hockey after a lockout that felt like it would never end.

With a new collective bargaining agreement in place, that's all history now and business is once again being settled on the ice.

Ducks fans have had plenty to cheer about in the early going, as their team has been surprisingly competitive (3-1-1) in the five games that they've played. It bears mentioning, however, that Anaheim compiled an even more impressive start at 4-1-0 in their first five games last year. We all know how that turned out.

An objective look at this teams show that they have some great pieces to build on, along with some areas where they need to improve moving forward. We'll take a look at the negatives first, and then end on a positive note.

Negatives

Penalty Killing

The Ducks have been able to generate a lot of offense in their first five games, which has perhaps taken some of the consequence out of what has been terrible penalty killing. Before their last game against San Jose, the Ducks had killed off less than half of the penalties they had taken. They now sit at 66.7 percent, landing them the third worst spot in the league.

While early season stats aren't necessarily reliable, penalty killing has been Anaheim's Achilles heel in the past, and early indicators suggest that trend could continue. Moving forward, they'll need to get that percentage much higher if they expect to continue their success.

Goals Against

Poor penalty killing has definitely played a role here, as the Ducks are giving up 3.2 goals per game. Anything above three is going to require a lot of offense to overcome, and you can bet that Bruce Boudreau will be spending some time in practice working on getting that number down.

It's a bit of a puzzling stat, as Anaheim is second in the league in shots against per game, giving up just a shade over 25. Since this was a huge problem area for the Ducks in recent years, it's strange to see that an obvious improvement there hasn't led to less goals.

Again, a huge part of this issue is penalty killing, so if Anaheim can improve in that area, and keep holding opposing team's shot totals down, they'll start to see the benefit of that on the score sheet.

Slow Start for Bobby Ryan

In all the offense the Ducks have been able to create, Bobby Ryan has managed only one goal and one assist to this point in the season. Since Ryan has been their go-to 30 goal scorer for the past four years, the lack of production early on is certainly disappointing.

Though the effects of low production from Ryan wouldn't be realized unless Daniel Winnik, Saku Koivu and Ryan Getzlaf were to slow down, it's still an area to keep an eye on moving forward.

Positives

Anaheim's start to the season would have to be considered a success by most standards. The Ducks came into the new year as a team that had struggled last season and had a relatively unchanged roster since then.

It's starting to look like General Manage Bob Murray and Coach Boudreau are both smarter than we've given them credit for. Anaheim has looked like a fairly complete and competitive team to this point in the season, as they are getting solid play and offensive production from all over their line up.

While there have been no shortage of bright spots for the Ducks, we can thank their third line in particular for a lot of their success early on.

Daniel Winnik

I don't think anyone expected Winnik to score five goals in five games and lead the Ducks in points. In fact, it wasn't a stretch to have Winnik pegged as a healthy scratch to start the year.

Thus far he's been the most productive member of Anaheim's offense, spending most of the first five games on the third line. The most goals Winnik has ever scored in a season is 11, and he's on pace to easily exceed that mark, even in a shortened season.

If Winnik can continue to produce at this high of a level, he'll take a lot of pressure off of Anaheim's top line and give the Ducks an offensive weapon that they didn't expect to have.

Ryan Getzlaf

Not know for his fast starts, Getzlaf has looked great early on and has been able to make a nearly immediate impact, going for two goals and five points in the first five games.

Historically, Getzlaf has struggled to produce on the stat sheet during the beginning of the season, which has undoubtedly contributed to Anaheim's slow starts in recent years.

This year he's looked quick, strong on his skates and has been able to make plays for Anaheim when they've needed them.

The Ducks offensive success around him suggests, that with less pressure to score and confidence moving forward, Getzlaf will be able to stay on pace for a 40-50 point season.

Secondary Scoring

In addition to Winnik, Teemu Selanne, Koivu and Andrew Cogliano have all been regulars on the score sheet for Anaheim. Any worries of issues with secondary scoring have certainly been put to rest, at least for the meantime.

At this point in the season it's the most encouraging sign for a Ducks team that was thought to have little in the way of secondary scoring on their roster.

The only real identifiable downside for Anaheim thus far has been their penalty killing. If the Ducks can clean up that aspect of their game and continue to provide Getzlaf and Corey Perry with substantial backup offense, they'll have a legitimate shot at proving almost all of the Pacific Division prediction models completely wrong.

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By their own standards, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry took a step backwards during the 2011-2012 season. Even if stats don't tell the whole story, they tell most of it, especially for offensive players like Getzlaf and Perry.

After hitting 98 points and taking home the Hart Trophy as the league MVP, Perry dipped to 60 points in 80 games, marking his first decline in point production since joining the Ducks in 2005.

Likewise, Getzlaf dropped from 76 points a season before to only 57 points and 11 goals. Even for a pass-first player like Getzlaf, 11 goals is under-performing for a forward of his talent level.

While Getzlaf and Perry aren't the first players to fall into a slump, it was certainly a noticeable drop for both of them, and was part of the reason for Anaheim's atrociously slow start to the 2011-2012 campaign.

If the Ducks are going to right the ship next season and compete in a stacked Western Conference, they need these two players to generate offense at their full potential.

We have a few reasons to believe they'll bounce back in 2013.

Expiring Contracts

Getzlaf and Perry will both be at the end of their current contracts with the Ducks after next season, and will become unrestricted free agents if not re-signed by Anaheim before then. Regardless of whether or not they're planning on staying with the Ducks or testing the market, their value will be largely determined by their performance in their final contract year.

If they need further motivation, this is it. Getzlaf and Perry get paid for offense, and while the consensus is that they're just hitting their prime, another underwhelming season would lower their stock significantly.

Lack of Secondary Scoring

The Ducks at this point are looking increasingly one-dimensional. Assuming Teemu Selanne's retirement, Anaheim would be depending on a mix of depth forwards and farm system hopefuls to fill out its second line.

While it's possible that Kyle Palmieri and Peter Holland could have breakout years, you have to assume that the greater share of offensive responsibility will fall to Anaheim's first line. It could be argued that this could either benefit the Ducks, or hinder their ability to produce.

Being counted on for more production would mean more ice time for Getzlaf and Perry, regardless of how much Bruce Boudreau wants to "spread out" his scoring. Right now he just doesn't have the pieces to do it, thus most of the goals will come from Anaheim's bigger offensive guns.

The Bobby Ryan Factor

For the time being, it seems as though the chatter surrounding a possible Bobby Ryan trade has been completely silenced, which is good news for Ducks fans. Ryan has been one of the most consistent pieces of Anaheim's offense, good for 30 goals in each of his first four seasons.

Having him on the Ducks' first line and power play makes life easier and more productive for Getzlaf and Perry. Even if Boudreau decides to move him around to other lines, his presence on the team makes the Ducks offense more palatable and effective.

Moving Forward

Predicting whether or not Getzlaf and Perry can pick things up after a slow year isn't an exact science, and it's equally difficult to tell how the lockout and a possible canceled season will affect them.

Though the Ducks still possess one of the most talented first lines in the league, with a newly minted offensive-minded coach in Boudreau. In respect to that talent level, it would be more surprising to see them continue to come in under the 50- to 60-point bracket.

If I were a betting man, I'd be putting my money on Getzlaf and Perry to make another run at 80 and 100 points, respectively.

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