Ducks Get Down to 23
The Ducks pared down their roster Monday to get ready for opening night in Detroit
Monday, 10.04.2010 / 7:00 PM
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By Matt Vevoda
AnaheimDucks.com
Monday morning elicited the final player cuts for the Ducks in anticipation of opening night, and with them came an overjoyed excitement for Cam Fowler.
The 18-year-old defenseman beat the odds and remains among the 23 healthy players on the club’s roster. Making matters even more thrilling for Fowler is the added bonus that he’ll likely make his NHL debut on opening night in Detroit, which is less than 10 miles outside of where he grew up in Dearborn.
“It’s going to be unbelievable,” Fowler said. “Growing up as a kid, you dream of the day that you get to suit up for an NHL team. You never even think about having the first game being in your hometown with 40 or 50 friends and family to watch you. There will definitely be some nerves flowing through my system and a lot of excitement. It’s a great opportunity for me.”
Fowler is among a revamped Ducks blue line that is working in unison to quickly gain chemistry. Definitely the youngest of the bunch, he hopes to continue to prove he belongs in that mix as the season progresses.
“It’s a feeling out process and learning the tendencies of my teammates,” Fowler said. “I’m just trying to bring that same work ethic that they have to the rink every day. As a young guy, I need to prove I can play here and that starts with hard work.”
Thought the opening night roster has been solidified, Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle quickly pointed out that does not mean competition for positions has ended by any means. That will be an ongoing process. Joining the team in Detroit was one matter, staying with the club is a whole other.
“Have they earned a spot? They have earned an opportunity to continue with our group,” Carlyle said. “That is all they have done. They have to maintain that through the regular season.”
Though the defense seemed to be set as of last week following the reassignments of Brett Festerling and Danny Syvret to Syracuse, the forward grouping remained a close fight for positions. In the end, it was Josh Green and Maxime Macenauer who were sent down, although each made strong cases from themselves in training camp.
“Don’t think those players will not be back with our hockey club,” Carlyle said. “They will have an opportunity and it’s an encouraging sign. I think Macenauer had a tremendous camp for a young player. He was a surprise at camp. As far as Josh Green, I thought he had a strong camp and the same thing.”
Though Troy Bodie found his niche with the Ducks midway through last season, the final roster cuts ensured the 6-4 forward of being on an opening night roster for the first time in his career. “It’s an honor to be chosen out of camp,” he said. “It’s another stepping stone.
“I started down in the minors (last year) and you never know what is going to happen. I bounced around from San Antonio to Toronto. You’re playing every game trying to get up here. Once you do and stay, it’s a big relief, but you have to keep working.”
Ryan Carter was also happy with the outcome of Monday’s news and is slated to begin his third regular season with the Ducks. He admitted the final day of roster cuts were in the back of his mind, but that his attention was more on his own play.
“Training camp is always competitive,” the center said. “You have to be ready to come in and compete. There are some young guys around and good players. That is a good thing for the organization. Competition brings the level of play up. You go out there and that is what you can control. That is what you have to focus on.”
Now pared down to the 23 players they are entitled to have per league rules on their roster, the Ducks are ready to get to work on starting the season off on a high note. From Day 1 in training camp, the coaching staff has emphasized the need to get out of the gate strong. It will by no means be an easy task for Anaheim, who will play at Detroit, Nashville and St. Louis in a span of four days from Friday through Monday. But the team is more than ready to begin that challenge.
“Traditionally in the past couple of years, we have not gotten off to good starts,” said Bobby Ryan, who continued to play as a winger on Monday’s practice at Honda Center. “The key for us is to get on the road, spend some time around each other and come together as a group. We’re going to leave a day early and have a dinner. I think it’s important. “
Said George Parros, “The road brings you closer together. You’re stuck in planes, buses and hotel rooms all together. You get to know one another. There are a lot of new faces. It can be good. But it’s also tough, home openers on the road. Teams play hard in their own barns, especially on opening night. We have a couple of those to deal with and we’ll see how it plays out.”
Notes
Left wing Matt Beleskey sat out of Monday’s practice with a sore groin, but it was more as a precaution against making things worse. “It’s been bothering him for awhile,” Carlyle said. “We just felt in the timeframe that we have until Friday that he would be better served not skating and receiving treatment. He worked out. We feel he will be available Friday.”
Toni Lydman (double vision) does not appear to be heading on the three-game road trip. But if he can get through a full practice tomorrow, that could potentially change. “I would say no at this point,” Carlyle said. “If you see him in a full practice tomorrow and he lass through the whole thing, then there is a maybe. Until he stays a full practice with us, I think we wouldn’t entertain brining him. It’s a short three days. We play Friday night, Saturday and then Monday afternoon.”
AnaheimDucks.com
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| “It’s going to be unbelievable,” Fowler said. “Growing up as a kid, you dream of the day that you get to suit up for an NHL team. You never even think about having the first game being in your hometown with 40 or 50 friends and family to watch you." |
The 18-year-old defenseman beat the odds and remains among the 23 healthy players on the club’s roster. Making matters even more thrilling for Fowler is the added bonus that he’ll likely make his NHL debut on opening night in Detroit, which is less than 10 miles outside of where he grew up in Dearborn.
“It’s going to be unbelievable,” Fowler said. “Growing up as a kid, you dream of the day that you get to suit up for an NHL team. You never even think about having the first game being in your hometown with 40 or 50 friends and family to watch you. There will definitely be some nerves flowing through my system and a lot of excitement. It’s a great opportunity for me.”
Fowler is among a revamped Ducks blue line that is working in unison to quickly gain chemistry. Definitely the youngest of the bunch, he hopes to continue to prove he belongs in that mix as the season progresses.
“It’s a feeling out process and learning the tendencies of my teammates,” Fowler said. “I’m just trying to bring that same work ethic that they have to the rink every day. As a young guy, I need to prove I can play here and that starts with hard work.”
Thought the opening night roster has been solidified, Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle quickly pointed out that does not mean competition for positions has ended by any means. That will be an ongoing process. Joining the team in Detroit was one matter, staying with the club is a whole other.
“Have they earned a spot? They have earned an opportunity to continue with our group,” Carlyle said. “That is all they have done. They have to maintain that through the regular season.”
 |
| “It’s an honor to be chosen out of camp,” Bodie said. “It’s another stepping stone. I started down in the minors (last year) and you never know what is going to happen. You’re playing every game trying to get up here. Once you do and stay, it’s a big relief, but you have to keep working.” |
“Don’t think those players will not be back with our hockey club,” Carlyle said. “They will have an opportunity and it’s an encouraging sign. I think Macenauer had a tremendous camp for a young player. He was a surprise at camp. As far as Josh Green, I thought he had a strong camp and the same thing.”
Though Troy Bodie found his niche with the Ducks midway through last season, the final roster cuts ensured the 6-4 forward of being on an opening night roster for the first time in his career. “It’s an honor to be chosen out of camp,” he said. “It’s another stepping stone.
“I started down in the minors (last year) and you never know what is going to happen. I bounced around from San Antonio to Toronto. You’re playing every game trying to get up here. Once you do and stay, it’s a big relief, but you have to keep working.”
Ryan Carter was also happy with the outcome of Monday’s news and is slated to begin his third regular season with the Ducks. He admitted the final day of roster cuts were in the back of his mind, but that his attention was more on his own play.
“Training camp is always competitive,” the center said. “You have to be ready to come in and compete. There are some young guys around and good players. That is a good thing for the organization. Competition brings the level of play up. You go out there and that is what you can control. That is what you have to focus on.”
Now pared down to the 23 players they are entitled to have per league rules on their roster, the Ducks are ready to get to work on starting the season off on a high note. From Day 1 in training camp, the coaching staff has emphasized the need to get out of the gate strong. It will by no means be an easy task for Anaheim, who will play at Detroit, Nashville and St. Louis in a span of four days from Friday through Monday. But the team is more than ready to begin that challenge.
 |
| “The key for us is to get on the road, spend some time around each other and come together as a group," Ryan said. "We’re going to leave a day early and have a dinner. I think it’s important.“ |
Said George Parros, “The road brings you closer together. You’re stuck in planes, buses and hotel rooms all together. You get to know one another. There are a lot of new faces. It can be good. But it’s also tough, home openers on the road. Teams play hard in their own barns, especially on opening night. We have a couple of those to deal with and we’ll see how it plays out.”
Notes
Left wing Matt Beleskey sat out of Monday’s practice with a sore groin, but it was more as a precaution against making things worse. “It’s been bothering him for awhile,” Carlyle said. “We just felt in the timeframe that we have until Friday that he would be better served not skating and receiving treatment. He worked out. We feel he will be available Friday.”
Toni Lydman (double vision) does not appear to be heading on the three-game road trip. But if he can get through a full practice tomorrow, that could potentially change. “I would say no at this point,” Carlyle said. “If you see him in a full practice tomorrow and he lass through the whole thing, then there is a maybe. Until he stays a full practice with us, I think we wouldn’t entertain brining him. It’s a short three days. We play Friday night, Saturday and then Monday afternoon.”
