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Amidst all the free agent signings, new Ducks GM
Bryan Murray managed to pull off a bit of a huge deal when he sent
Jeff Friesen,
Oleg Tverdovsky and right wing prospect
Maxim Balmochnykh to the New Jersey Devils for
Petr Sykora, defenseman
Mike Commodore, goaltender
Jean-Francois Damphousse and prospect
Igor Pohanka.
Well, if you base the trade on which team gets the
best player, you have to like the Ducks acquisition of
Petr Sykora. Sykora has soft hands, deceptive speed and a very accurate
shot. Playing on the “A” line in New Jersey certainly did not hurt his
success, but it seemed as though last year that whole line just wasn’t
“clicking”. Thus the move of
Jason Arnott to Dallas and now Sykora off to the Ducks. That said, if
Sykora is able to adapt quickly to the more open style of play in the
Western Conference he won’t miss NJ at all; particularly playing with the
likes of
Paul Kariya and
Adam Oates. If the Ducks keep those guys together there certainly is the
potential for some great numbers. The 25-year-old Sykora notched 21 goals
and 27 assists for 48 points last season, a big decline from the year before
when he posted career-highs with 35 goals and 81 points. He has posted at
least 20 goals in each of the past five seasons.
Fantasy Impact: Last year was difficult one, and unfortunately for
Sykora he goes to a team that is not likely to make the playoffs. He’ll
benefit from the clear designation as the teams’ #1 right-winger, and might
flirt with 40 goals if all goes well, but a return to 30 goals and 70
points, with a much uglier +/- (-15) is what we expect.
Commodore brings the Ducks a big, rugged and very
aggressive stay at home defenseman, who’ll make folks pay for hanging out in
front of the Ducks netminders. Pushed by
Sascha Goc and
David Hale in New Jersey, Commodore will get a baptism by fire on the
Pond. His Fantasy Impact won’t be great unless you count PIMs in your
pool: 8 points and a – 15 on a young team.
One of the net minder’s Commodore will be
protecting is J.F. Damphousse. Damphousse becomes the Ducks' back-up and
will push current #1
Jean-Sebastien Giguere if not this training camp, then in future ones to
be sure. Damphousse had a solid season in 2000-2001 in the AHL, and was the
Devils back-up last year where he performed merely OK – posting 1 win in 4
starts with a 2.46 era and .896 save %. That said, Damphousse is a diamond
in the rough. Quick reflexes and sound butterfly style will benefit him and
the Ducks for quite some time. The Devils were able to move Damphousse as
they also have Finnish goalie
Ari Ahonen in their system, who will likely back-up
Martin Brodeur this season.
Igor Pohanka, the Devils 2nd round pick in the 2001 draft, is a slick
play-making center who had 25 goals and 68 points in 58 games last year with
Prince Albert. He’s 6’3” and 200 lbs, and still growing. A nice prospect to
add for the prospect bare Ducks.
Now, Sykora is the best player in the trade, but
the best upside as far as impact goes, has to go to the Devils. In acquiring
Jeff Friesen and
Oleg Tverdovsky the Devils have acquired two young players headed into
their primes that have under-achieved by their own measurements. Languishing
in the Ducks “roll the lines” philosophy had
Jeff Friesen thinking about defense first, rather than scoring goals.
Likely one of the three fastest players in the NHL, Friesen never seemed to
get it going with the Ducks last year, and has vowed that in New Jersey,
he’ll finally reach his potential. This is music to a poolie’s ears. Only
25, Friesen, had scored at least 20 goals per season prior to his
disappointing 17 goals and 43 points for the Ducks last year. The change of
scenery may be just what the doctor ordered for Friesen. That and he’ll get
a chance to play with the likes of
Scott Stevens,
Joe Nieuwendyk,
Scott Gomez,
Patrik Elias, and
Martin Brodeur.
Fantasy Impact: We don’t think he’ll see 30 goals again, but his speed
and his tenacity will be a welcome addition to the Devils – watch for him to
be a primary threat on the PK as well. Project 24 goals and 50 points with a
+12. From a Ducks point of view, we wonder how they are going to try and
fill the void left by the departure of Oleg from the blue line.
In Tverdovsky, the Devils add another mobile
defenseman that at the age of 26 is just entering his prime. A smooth skater
and excellent passer, Tverdovsky’s arrival gives the Devils so many options
on their blue line. A bona fide QB for the power play he may struggle for
prime minutes with
Brian Rafalski and
Scott Niedermayer ahead of him, which may lead to Niedermayer being
dealt, although you can never have too many defenseman that can move the
puck.
Fantasy Impact: The blue line in New Jersey just got better, younger
and faster – which was a noticeable flaw in the Devils' playoffs exit last
year against the Hurricanes. He had 6 goals and 32 points last year, but 50+
point seasons the two before that. We think he jumps the ladder over
Niedermayer, and pairs with
Brian Rafalski on the Devils #1 PP unit – if that is the case, expect 10
goals, 42 points and a +9.
Finally, Maxim Balmochnykh, 23, was Anaheim's
second-round pick in the 1997 draft. After three very disappointing AHL
seasons, the Ducks simply gave up on the skilled but lackadaisical
Balmochnykh. Some say he reminds them of a poor man’s
Robert Dome (of Pittsburgh fame). As such, a change of scenery can only
help Maxim, but he may just never make it.
Fantasy Impact: Nada. |
