Anaheim Ducks

Recent reports suggest Anaheim Ducks' winger Bobby Ryan has demanded a trade due to lack of front office commitment over the past 12 months.

According to USA Today, Ryan blasted management in an interview with the Courier-Post on June 22.

"Anaheim to me has been a team over the past year that really has shown me nothing to prove that they want me here, unfortunately."

Ryan added, according to the interview, that front office personnel only mentioned one team—Philadelphia—out of four potential destinations.

Although the Cherry Hill, N.J., native stated his top choice would be the Flyers, a handful of other teams would make a great fit for the 25 year old.

San Jose Sharks

After last season's first round playoff exit, the Sharks reportedly looking to make a move for a big name player.

While San Jose has been heavily linked with Blue Jacket's forward Rick Nash, Ryan is a more viable long-term option, according to Sean Gentille of Sporting News. 

The 25-year-old Ryan is younger, cheaper and has scored more goals in each of the past three seasons than Nash."

Moreover, San Jose's roster is comprised of 11 players aged 30 and above—six of which are forwards. Adding a young stick to a veteran lineup could pay large dividends.

Columbus Blue Jackets

General Manager Scott Howson is carefully weighing options in regards to dealing Nash, his franchise forward.

However, for the reasons listed above, Howson should look no further than Anaheim.

Ryan carries a smaller contract and boasts identical numbers. His 31 goals and 26 assists mirror Nash's 30 and 29. Certainly the trade wouldn't be straight up, but the minor details can be neglected in this case for argument's sake.

Columbus patched up its defensive woes this weekend by drafting blue liner Ryan Murray and trading for net-minder Sergei Bobrovsky, so the thought of off-loading Nash—and receiving a similar, younger player in return—isn't out of the question.

New York Rangers

The addition of Ryan in New York makes sense simply because his stick would give aid to a struggling offense.

The Rangers showed its lack of scoring power in the playoffs, netting an average of 2.15 times per game. 

New York might want to avoid a trade in order to keep its young talent, but if Zach Parise stays in New Jersey, Ryan—who has scored 30 or more goals in each of the past four seasons—would be a strong fit.

Philadelphia Flyers

Ryan publicly his admiration for the Flyers organization and conceded the thought of playing close to home can't be ignored.

In his interview with the Courier-Post, Ryan said:

"Everybody wants to play in your hometown, but it would be tough because a lot of expectations come when you're put into a situation like that. For me, if I'm moved, Philadelphia would be a very ideal and comfortable place for me."

Once again, in neglect of trade detail discrepancies, Ryan and Flyers star Claude Giroux on the same line would have any hockey fan watering at the mouth.

Whether Bobby Ryan's future lies on the east coast, west coast, or in the midwest, his time in Anaheim looks to be dwindling. As the NHL offseason continues to develop, don't be surprised if Ryan is dealt to one of the following in the coming weeks. 

The 2012 NHL draft was all about size and safe bets for the Anaheim Ducks. In what was a fairly typical "Ducks draft," Anaheim took a defenseman at sixth overall and a California native at 36th overall in the second round.

This draft looked similar to two years ago when they drafted defensemen Cam Fowler in the first round and Southern California native Emerson Etem in the second.

Perhaps one of the most surprising aspects of Anaheim's selections was the list of players they passed on to take Hampus Lindholm, the aforementioned sixth overall pick. Matthew Dumba, Jacob Trouba, Filip Forsberg and Mikhail Grigorenko were all on the board when Anaheim made their first selection, making their pick of Lindholm somewhat odd, as he wasn't slated to go quite so high in the first round.

As it would turn out, general manager Bob Murray has had his sights on Lindholm for quite some time, and he felt that his selection was low-risk, high-reward move. If he turns out to be right, this could mean that within a span of three years, the Ducks have anchored what will be their top defensive pairing of the next generation with Fowler and now Lindholm.

In the short term, Lindholm will continue to play at least one more year for Rogle in Sweeden. However, look for him to be in the Anaheim Ducks' lineup soon, as they certainly see an incredible amount of potential for this player going forward. It requires patience on the part of the fan, but given enough time, scouts and the Ducks organization agree that Lindholm will be contributing at the NHL level sooner rather than later.

Though predictable, the Ducks have been steadily and patiently building their future, and this year's draft means the continuation of that construction. It only adds brightness to the glimpse of light that is the Anaheim Ducks' hockey horizon.

Position: C/LW

Height/Weight: 6'2", 200 lbs.

Shoots: Left

DOB: 1/11/1994

Youth Team: LA Selects Hockey Club

Current Team: USNTDP Juniors

As one of the most-talented American prospects in the draft, one would think that forward Nicolas Kerdiles would have received more hype during the lead-up to the event. The United States National Team Development Program standout flew under the radar to some degree, however, and may turn out to be one of the best value picks in the entire draft when we look back several years from now.

Kerdiles proved his worth this past season as he accrued 13 points in 18 games with the USNTDP Juniors, but he was at his best when the stakes were highest. The United States won gold in the U-18 World Championships and Kerdiles may very well have been the team's best skater. He potted four goals and ended up with nine total points in six games, and he had a plus-eight rating on top of that.

Although Kerdiles may not necessarily be a dynamic offensive player, he does a lot of things very well. He uses his ample 6'2", 200-pound frame well to his advantage as he is good at shielding the puck and isn't afraid to go to the dirty areas. He also has a good, quick release on his shot and is a crafty playmaker, particularly when he is serving as a pivot in the middle.

Kerdiles has shown a good commitment on the defensive end that suggests he can be a strong two-way center in the NHL one day. He may not always be as physical as he is capable of, but when he decides to use his size, it normally means bad things for the opposition. Kerdiles is the type of sandpaper player with offensive ability that NHL teams so desperately desire come playoff time, so he'll get his shot at some point.

Kerdiles will hone his craft at the University of Wisconsin this season and figures to remain there for at least three years as his body and all-around game continue to develop. I don't expect Kerdiles to ever be a dynamite offensive player at the next level, but if he can score between 20 and 25 goals while remaining solid defensively as well, he will more than live up to his draft status.

Bobby Ryan wants out of Anaheim, and it appears that a move could come very soon because of the candid comments by Ryan in a phone interview with Randy Miller. Ryan has been subject to numerous trade rumors over the past few seasons, and it has taken a toll on the young and consistent 30-goal scorer.

In an interview with Randy Miller of the Courier Post, Ryan expressed himself.

Ryan lamented:

I take things personally,” Ryan said. “Anaheim to me has been a team over the past year that really has shown me nothing to prove that they want me here, unfortunately. Obviously, it's not the ideal situation. When you get drafted, you want to win championships with that team and every time they look to add a piece to the puzzle, I'm the piece going the other way.

I gotta be honest with you. At this point, I don't care. Move me ... because it's just tough going to the rink every day knowing that if something goes wrong, you're going to be the guy moved.

Ryan was thrust into trade rumors last November and the New York Rangers were a team that had tons of interest. It is expected that the Rangers and Flyers would be two top teams competing to acquire Ryan.

Miller went on in the report to state that there are four teams interested in Bobby Ryan and the Flyers would be Ryan's preference. A trade for Ryan would include Brayden Schenn and James Van Riemsdyk among other pieces.

The Flyers appear to be out of the Rick Nash sweepstakes because of the trade they made with the Columbus Blue Jackets early Friday. The fact that Sergei Bobrovsky was traded for a package of draft picks earlier could indicate that the sides couldn't agree to terms.

It had been speculated that a goaltender would be a big part of a package for Nash, and considering the Flyers traded a chip in Bobrovsky, could indicate they are "all in" on Ryan. Ryan would prefer to come to the Flyers. The Flyers would love to have him.

The rumors are fresh and starting to become more detailed as the offseason slowly begins, so it will be interesting to see where Ryan ultimately ends up.

Position: D

Height/Weight: 6'2"/185 lbs

Shoots: Left

DOB: 1/20/1994

Youth Team: Jonstorps IF

Current Team: Rogle (Elitserien)

There is no doubt that with so many high-quality defensemen in this year's draft, it is difficult to distinguish one from the next. One defender who stands out from the crowd, however, is Swedish blueliner Hampus Lindholm. The 18-year-old star garnered a lot of attention this past season with his play overseas and developed into one of the premier prospects in hockey.

Lindholm rose through the ranks during the 2011-12 season as he played for Rogle's under-20 team before joining the roster of the senior team. He more than held his own against the big boys and was very solid in the playoffs, as he put up five points in 10 games and was a plus-five.

Lindholm also had four points in six games in the World Junior Championships, so he has shown an ability to produce in high-pressure situations.

Lindholm has a lot of skills, but he was primarily drafted due to his offensive ability. His skating is absolutely fantastic, and he isn't afraid to contribute in the attacking third of the ice. His passing is solid, and his shot is decent, but he is similar to Florida Panthers defenseman Brian Campbell in his desire to take the puck coast to coast.

He also has very good size at 6'2" and 185 lbs, but he needs to grow into his frame a bit more, and he has to learn how to use it, too. He isn't particularly aggressive defensively, which is in stark contrast to how he plays in the opposition's zone. He could stand to get a bit more physical, although it will be overlooked if he develops as expected offensively.

With scoring being at such a premium, puck-moving defensemen are highly coveted in the NHL. Lindholm has the potential to be one of the best in that regard in this entire draft, so that is why he was taken when he was.

If he can develop a mean streak on defense to go along with it, Lindholm could be an All-Star-caliber player.

I'll start by reminding my readers (and myself) that the Orange County Register article citing Teemu Selanne's possible return for a 20th season is not official, and should be taken with a grain of salt. Yet regardless of how mature we choose to be about the rumor mill, it's always worth some speculation as to what a plausible outcome could mean for the team involved.

Selanne's possible return this year is particularly intriguing, as the Ducks have all the markings of a team starting down the path of a rebuild. Is it reasonable to think that Selanne for one more year could stave off a rebuild and make the Ducks a serious playoff contender? Maybe.

Selanne's return could mean a couple different things for Anaheim's management. First and foremost, it will give General Manager Bob Murray some more flexible options dealing with his second and third line. If Murray wants to setup the Ducks to play three scoring lines instead of just barely two like last year, he'll have the option of moving Saku Koivu and Selanne to the third line.

Andrew Cogliano is still under contract and is a capable two-way center. If Murray can add some fire power in free agency, or even drop Bobby Ryan down to one of Cogliano's wings, he'll have three fairly capable scoring lines. Murray also has the option of giving one of the youngsters like Kyle Palmieri or Emerson Etem a shot at second line minutes. 

Without Selanne, the focus becomes solely on building a second line from scratch. Even if Selanne remains on the roster, the likely departure of Jason Blake, George Parros and Niklas Hagman will leave Anaheim's second and third lines severely gutted. However, Selanne's return gives a little more structure, since he'll almost certainly play on a line with Koivu.

In addition, Selanne will give Murray the freedom to worry a little less about dealing with the team's offensive needs and in turn focus on rebuilding the team's size up front. Another area he might look to focus on will be defense, where the Ducks also lack the intimidating presence that made them so successful in the years following the 2005 lockout.

In short, the Ducks could be getting their leading scorer from last season back for one more year. With a first line almost certain to improve on an underwhelming season, Selanne's offense might be just enough to give Murray one more chance to build a Stanley Cup team before the Finnish Flash calls it a career.