Post by Anaheim GM on Jan 12, 2011 11:04:30 GMT -5
Anaheim, CA.- According to team officials, the head coaching staff and Owner/President/GM Mark Kopsack privately met Wednesday morning to evaluate the team's progress and play so far this season. Peter Loviolette, head coach of the Ducks, told reporters in a joint news conference with GM Kopsack that the session was "incredibly productive."
"We evaluated each player individually and collectively to see which areas our team can improve," the head coach told reporters. "What we came up with, we feel, is very positive for the team and for the players."
The Anaheim Ducks are saying that they are not talking about wholesale changes in strategy or personnel, however, did mention that there would be a lineup change or two afoot. "I think what we would like to do is optimize the lineup with each of our player's strengths in conjunction with considering what each guy may appear to be weak in, as well," Kopsack told reporters in his Wednesday morning press conference. "We want to maximize our player's potential and use each other's strengths to get better together. With the lineup the way it is we feel we have identified that the organization is not getting the most out of its players. This team is in third place in the Pacific Divisions so there is plenty of room for improvement," Kopsack concluded. The areas that Kopsack said need improvement specifically were Anaheim's powerplay and penalty kill.
Sources close to the team state that veteran forward, Dave Scatchard has been called up from Louisville to fill in on the team's fourth line playing right wing. Cory Murphy, a healthy scratch since he began the season poorly, has been sent down to the minors to log minutes and stay in game shape. "We discussed with Cory (Murphy) the importance of him mentoring the young defensive core (while he is in Louisville) which we have identified as a glaring weakness of ours from an organizational standpoint," Kopsack mentioned.
The newly acquired Jay Pandolfo will move to the third line along side Jay McLement and Daniel Paille, making "the grind line" a much more formidable scoring threat to the opposition. Todd Marchant will be moved back to his natural position at pivot to anchor the team's fourth line. "We think with Todd (Marchant) at center that the Ducks have an extremely strong backbone and foundation. Having him there will also allow the coaches to focus on bolstering our team's penalty kill production which, we feel, has been underachieving," head coach Peter Loviolette said. The Anaheim Ducks are currently 22nd in the NHL in power play percentage.
Minor changes in defensive pairings were also said to be taking place, however, nothing specific were stated by either Kopsack or Loviolette. Kopsack would not confirm that the team would be entertaining offers on Left Wing/Center Erik Christensen as rumors swirl that he would be a healthy scratch for tonight's game against San Jose. "There is absolutely nothing to say in regards to trade offers, per policy. However, Erik does understand what we are doing here and admits that he has not played his best hockey this season thus far. We have faith that he will make improvements to improve his game and get better," Kopsack stated.
"We evaluated each player individually and collectively to see which areas our team can improve," the head coach told reporters. "What we came up with, we feel, is very positive for the team and for the players."
The Anaheim Ducks are saying that they are not talking about wholesale changes in strategy or personnel, however, did mention that there would be a lineup change or two afoot. "I think what we would like to do is optimize the lineup with each of our player's strengths in conjunction with considering what each guy may appear to be weak in, as well," Kopsack told reporters in his Wednesday morning press conference. "We want to maximize our player's potential and use each other's strengths to get better together. With the lineup the way it is we feel we have identified that the organization is not getting the most out of its players. This team is in third place in the Pacific Divisions so there is plenty of room for improvement," Kopsack concluded. The areas that Kopsack said need improvement specifically were Anaheim's powerplay and penalty kill.
Sources close to the team state that veteran forward, Dave Scatchard has been called up from Louisville to fill in on the team's fourth line playing right wing. Cory Murphy, a healthy scratch since he began the season poorly, has been sent down to the minors to log minutes and stay in game shape. "We discussed with Cory (Murphy) the importance of him mentoring the young defensive core (while he is in Louisville) which we have identified as a glaring weakness of ours from an organizational standpoint," Kopsack mentioned.
The newly acquired Jay Pandolfo will move to the third line along side Jay McLement and Daniel Paille, making "the grind line" a much more formidable scoring threat to the opposition. Todd Marchant will be moved back to his natural position at pivot to anchor the team's fourth line. "We think with Todd (Marchant) at center that the Ducks have an extremely strong backbone and foundation. Having him there will also allow the coaches to focus on bolstering our team's penalty kill production which, we feel, has been underachieving," head coach Peter Loviolette said. The Anaheim Ducks are currently 22nd in the NHL in power play percentage.
Minor changes in defensive pairings were also said to be taking place, however, nothing specific were stated by either Kopsack or Loviolette. Kopsack would not confirm that the team would be entertaining offers on Left Wing/Center Erik Christensen as rumors swirl that he would be a healthy scratch for tonight's game against San Jose. "There is absolutely nothing to say in regards to trade offers, per policy. However, Erik does understand what we are doing here and admits that he has not played his best hockey this season thus far. We have faith that he will make improvements to improve his game and get better," Kopsack stated.