CAsFirstCup

Yes it did. When I posted the thread, I was unaware that Walgreen's and CVS provide free tests. Thankfully there was a kind poster who let me know we no longer have to pay $130+ for Covid tests.

Thank you for the information!

"Effective September 20, 2021, in accordance with State of California guidelines, guests (ages 3 and up) attending events at Honda Center will be required to show proof that they are either fully vaccinated (at least two weeks after the last dose) or received a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to the event start time." https://www.hondacenter.com/arena-info/reopening-policies/ Since children under age 12 are not eligible for the Covid vaccines, this means children ages 3-11 will not be allowed to attend Ducks games without a negative Covid test within 72 hours of a game. This makes absolutely no sense since the scientific data clearly shows that young children have less risk from Covid than from the seasonal flu, and carry a low viral load and aren't vectors as was feared at the outset of the pandemic. I feel bad for fellow season ticket holders who have children in this age range as they won't be able to take them to games without paying up for Covid tests. According to the California Department of Public Health: "These measures are in effect through November 1, 2021. CDPH will review these measures by October 15, 2021, to assess the need for measures after November 1, 2021." https://covid19.ca.gov/mega-events/#more-info I sure hope the CDPH eliminate this requirement after Nov. 1, especially for the children.

I've been watching Ducks games on nhl66.ir since the Dish Network ended its contract with the Fox Sports Networks (now Bally) 2 year ago.

Brayden Point was a 3rd round pick in 2014. Perry and Getzlaf were late first round picks in 2003. Yes, that was a deep draft, but next year is expected to be one also. Every pick doesn't have to become a star, but the more you have the better chance you have of landing gems like Perry, Getzlaf and Point. Murray hasn't done ANY trading of 28+ year old veterans for significant picks and/or prospects in 3 seasons of missing the playoffs. I expressed frustration over this at the trade deadline and the response was: "Teams aren't willing to make trades for veterans right now because they would have to protect them in the expansion draft. After the expansion draft the market to sell veteran players will improve." And just as expected, Murray did absolutely nothing following the expansion draft to trade for the future....

" Corey Perry, the Ducks’ only Hart Trophy winner, has had four goals in the playoffs in his first season with the Canadiens. The Ducks bought him out and allowed him to chase championships, and he’s been in back-to-back Finals, with Dallas and Montreal. And guess what? He still controls the puck and pushes enemy buttons, to the point that he got slugged by Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy on Monday. Kyle Palmieri produced seven goals for the Islanders in the postseason. The Ducks sent him to New Jersey for second- and third-round picks who dissipated, and Palmieri has never stopped making them regret it. The playoffs once lived in southern California, quite comfortably. Now hockey season climaxes with the NHL draft, on July 23. That is when the Ducks and Kings, drafting third and eighth in the first round, try to buy the vowels that might unlock their puzzles With some exceptions, those “exes” in the playoffs are understandable casualties of the hard salary cap. But did the Ducks and Kings get enough, in terms of cap room or personnel, for the credible warriors they lost? Of course not, and if you could merely draft your way back to excellence, the Stanley Cup would be a citizen of Edmonton. In a six-year span beginning in 2010, the Oilers had four No. 1 overall picks." https://www.ocregister.com/2021/07/06/whicker-luke-hughes-could-help-ducks-negotiate-long-road-back/

I've noticed the same thing. The players that GMBM traded away, let go, or couldn't keep make up a much better team than the Ducks currently have. I understand some of it: we had to lose a player to Vegas in the expansion draft, Montour was traded for a first round pick, Bonino was traded to get Kesler, Perron left as a UFA to play in his preferred location of St. Louis. But there are some boneheaded trades in there that are maddening. The worst one was trading away Kyle Palmieri at age 24 for a 2nd round draft pick when he was coming off a season scoring at a 20 goal per 82 game pace. He then average 26+ goals a year over the next 5 seasons for the Devils. And he is tearing it up in the playoffs for the Islanders. Another terrible one was trading Patrick Maroon for a 4th round pick plus prospect Martin Gernat less than a year after he had scored 7 goals in 16 games in the 2015 playoffs. He went on to score 27 goals the next season for the Oilers and played a key role for the Blues and Lightning winning Stanley Cups the past two seasons. Hopefully we Ducks fans will only have to suffer one more year with Bob Murray as GM.

I would protect: Rakell, Terry, Lundestrom, Volkov Lindholm, Manson, Fluery, Mahura Gibson Protecting Rakell and Manson primarily for their trade value. Fowler is playing better, but his contract is too rich at $6.5 MM/yr for the next 5 years with a NTC. I don't see the Ducks as a Cup contender for at least another 4 years, by which time Cam will be 33. I think Mahura will be a better player than Fowler by then, and cost a lot less. If those were the protected players, who do you think Seattle would take? What's your protect list?

Good article. It's worth emphasizing this quote "Bob Murray, promoted in November of 2008, has held his general manager’s job longer than all but two NHL counterparts GMs (David Poile of Nashville, Doug Wilson of San Jose)." Murray is now in his 13th year as Ducks GM. The Rangers' GM, who was doing a much better job with their rebuild than Murray is with the Ducks', got fired this week. It's amazing that Murray's incompetence continues to be rewarded with such a long tenure as GM.

Once Calgary and Vancouver are eliminated from the playoffs, I don't see why they would need to delay the Canadian division playoffs any more so than the other divisions.

Buffalo lost so there is no way to finish with worst record, which was always a long shot anyway. Canucks win 6-3. #2 spot is now practically certain even if the Ducks win their last 2 games.

Devils win on Long Island 2-1! They are now guaranteed to finish ahead of the Ducks. The #2 position going into the lottery is now almost guaranteed. There is a very remote possibility the Ducks could finish ahead of Vancouver. The Canucks would have to get fewer points in their last 9 games than the Ducks get in their last 2, and they currently have a 4-0 lead in Edmonton!

Thanks for posting that article. Backes is sure a class act! I didn't know he was so close to 1000 games. It's a shame he didn't play more this season because he could have hit 1000 career games in a Ducks jersey if he had. I believe he played well enough to deserve to play many more games, but he is so classy he never complained about his limited playing time. Instead he was thankful for the games he was in the lineup, especially this one in St. Louis.

I agree. As much as I want the Ducks to be in the best draft position possible, I can't advocate players and/or coaches deliberately losing. And while it would be great if Buffalo manages to win both of their last 2 games and pass the Ducks in the standings, it's a bigger deal for New Jersey to stay ahead of the Ducks since moving up to the 3rd worst record would push the Ducks from the 2nd to 4th best position for the lottery and the subsequent rounds of the draft.

I expect them to lose 3 out of the remaining 4 games in regulation, which would be enough even if the Devils lose all 5 of their remaining games. New Jersey also still has a game left with Philly so they probably won't lose all 5. But anything can happen, so you are right. I still thoroughly enjoyed the Ducks win last night. Was at the Pond when Miller set the record for most wins as an American born goalie 2 years ago and wish I was there last night.