Anaheim Ducks

With the departure of Dan Ellis, the Anaheim Ducks have nothing substantial at the backup goaltender position behind Jonas Hiller. Hiller, having already played in 73 games last season, is slated to take on an even bigger role this season, and will be heavily relied on throughout the year.

However, Hiller is still somewhat of a wild card, since over the past couple seasons he's seen all-star and Hart Trophy-caliber success, while also suffering for an extended period of time from vertigo symptoms. These symptoms caused his playing ability to significantly suffer.

Now, with an entire season and almost two vertigo-free years behind him, could Hiller be set to return to his highest caliber of play and take the Ducks back to the playoffs?

Time will tell.

Since replacing Jean-Sebastien Giguere as the Ducks No. 1, Hiller has asserted himself as one of the more reliable and elite goaltenders in the NHL today. If the Ducks are to be successful, they'll need Hiller to live up to his potential, and be to them what Jonathan Quick was to the Los Angeles Kings last season. 

Like the Kings, Anaheim has struggled in recent years for offense, despite the powerhouse first line of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan. Anaheim's problems can also be attributed to its defense, as they've spent so much time playing from behind, the Ducks' first line wasn't able to relax and take control of games. 

Hiller will have a little extra help on the defensive side of the puck with the offseason acquisitions of Sheldon Souray and Bryan Allen. Though the pressure will still be on him to perform, and to give his team an opportunity to play with a lead more often.

If the Ducks' high-profile scorers have another slow season, Anaheim will be counting on Hiller to make them a defensive team. The Ducks built their Stanley Cup-championship season around the defense of Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger and, since losing both players, haven't been able to replicate that success.

The firing of Randy Carlyle and the hiring of Bruce Boudreau marked a critical point in the Ducks' transition, where they now have a coach who will focus them on speed and high-powered offense, rather than the slug it out dump and chase style perfected by Carlyle, though lost on Anaheim's new defensive core. 

This year will be the first full year in which we could see a highly offensive minded Ducks team, and if we do, it'll be up to Hiller to shoulder a high percentage of the defensive load.

The fact is simple: Fast break teams play fast-paced hockey, and if Anaheim is going to speed up, they'll need their goaltender to keep up. 

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Now that the Rick Nash trade speculation is finally over, the focus has now shifted to the ultimate destination of Anaheim Ducks' winger Bobby Ryan. Ryan has been on and off the trading block for a long time now, and his patience for this rumored movement has all but ran out.

However, his vocalizing of that frustration to the media was over a month ago, and there hasn't been any noise on the Anaheim front, aside from a few free agent signings. Talk has even moved on to how general manager Bob Murray is going to re-sign Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, both of whom have contracts that expire at the end of this coming season.

So it's worth considering: Have the trade winds surrounding Ryan settled down, and can we expect to see him at the Ducks' training camp?

I think it's entirely possible. Here's why:

Asking Price

Unlike the Rick Nash situation, Ryan plays for a competitive team with a real shot at making the playoffs with their current roster. Hence, opposing general managers know that Murray isn't desperate yet to move Ryan, and that Murray will want to get his money's worth if he's going to move one of his most valuable assets. 

It's entirely possible that the asking price is just too steep, and that there aren't any teams willing to give up what Murray is asking, which is likely to be something to the tune of a top-six forward, a top-four defenseman and a prospect or a high draft pick.

It's asking a lot, and it would be hard for any team to give up those kind of resources, even if they're getting Bobby Ryan in return.

Getting Along

It's also worth considering that Ryan wasn't unhappy in Anaheim; rather he felt unwanted and under-appreciated, and with good reason. If the Ducks' management have gotten their act together and assured Ryan that they want to keep him on the team, and that he won't have to worry about being on the trade block any longer, then perhaps Ryan is content to forgive and forget.

That's purely speculation, but with no noise coming out of the Anaheim camp, you have to wonder if the Ducks are going to try to lock down their core group of players and keep Ryan on board.

Also taking into account the fact that Teemu Selanne is coming back for one more year, and probably wouldn't want to come back to a team in the middle of a "rebuild," you have several indicators that Anaheim is going to stick to its guns and dig in with what they have. 

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Anaheim Ducks forward Saku Koivu has had an impressive international career. Koivu has won Olympic medals, IIHF medals and been named Finnish national team captain.  

The Turku, Finland native can add another international honor after being named as an Olympic torchbearer for the London 2012 games (via NHL.com).

Koivu will take the torch on July 24, three days before the opening ceremonies, through the London borough of Hillingdon.

Hillingdon is about 25 miles away from the Olympic Stadium downtown.

Koivu is not the only hockey player to play a part in the Olympic traditions in recent years.

In 2010, Wayne Gretzky served as the Olympic cauldron lighter in Vancouver. That same year, Sidney Crosby, Trevor Linden and Stan Smyl were all torchbearers. 

Koivu, who is entering his fourth season with the Ducks, has won three bronze medals in the Winter Olympics and a silver medal in 2006 when we was the tournament's top scorer and All-Star.

The 37-year-old was named captain of Team Finland in 1997 and has held that position since, except for a short stint in the 2008 World Championships.

Koivu also helped Team Finland to the IIHF gold medal in 1995.

He was the captain of the Montreal Canadiens for 10 seasons and is the first European to ever hold that post for the Habs.

The torch-bearing tradition dates back to Ancient Greece. During the games, the flame burned continuously, signifying peace throughout the duration.

At 42 years old, the man who was nicknamed the "Finnish Flash" is still better than the vast majority of players half his age.

When the Anaheim Ducks inked Selanne to another one year deal they were ensuring the NHL would not lose one of its greatest remaining treasures.

After Detroit Red Wing Nicklas Lidstrom retired this summer, Selanne remains one of the last true generational talents left in the NHL. 

A quick review of the Finnish Flash's resume:

• 1988 First Round Draft Pick; 10th overall; Winnipeg Jets
• 1993 Calder Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year
• NHL-record 76 goals scored during his rookie campaign in 1993
• Initial winner of the Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy 1998-1999 for most goals in a season
• 11 All-Star Game Selections
• 2007 Stanley Cup Champion with the Anaheim Ducks 

In addition to all those accomplishments, Selanne is also near to becoming only the seventh player in NHL history to score 700 or more goals. The task is daunting, but as of now Selanne only sits 37 away from that number. 

If Teemu can keep his motor running all the way through this season and next, whether it be in the NHL or another league, he has a great shot at representing Finland in the Olympics for a sixth time. Finland is still looking for that elusive Gold Medal after missing out on it in 2006 when they lost to their arch-rival, Sweden. 

In keeping the Finnish Flash for at least one more season, the Ducks have done the entire NHL a favor by keeping one of the most respected and exciting players of all time around.