Free agency... frenzy?

The NHL teams that will hit the ice for the beginning of the 2010-11 season are going to look considerably different from the teams that left it a few weeks ago.

Our Anaheim Ducks are no exception.

What with captain Scott Niedermayer retiring, Ducks have some big holes to fill.

Typically, this time of the year is buzzing with trade news and signings. This summer seems a little quiet... or maybe that's because the Ducks haven't been dealing any big names. Yours truly actually started writing this post weeks ago. Then I decided to wait for more Ducks news before publishing.

I'm still waiting.

To date, we have the following changes to the Ducks roster:

- Left winger Logan MacMillan was traded to the Calgary Flames for left wing/center Jason Jaffray

- Former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Toni Lydman was signed to a three-year contract

- Center Saku Koivu was re-signed to a two-year contract (Personally, this news made my day!)

- Center Trevor Smith, formerly of the New York Islanders, was signed to a one-year contract

- Left wingers Aaron Voros and Ryan Hillier of the New York Rangers were acquired for defenseman Steve Eminger

- Left winger Josh Green inked a one-year contract

- Defenseman Brendan Mikkelson continues on as a Duck with a one-year contract

- Left winger Matt McCue (along with his sharp right hook) was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for left winger Tomas Zaborsky

- Defenseman Danny Syvret, formerly with the Philadelphia Flyers, was inked to a one-year contract

- Defenseman Cam Fowler, the Ducks first overall pick at this year's draft, signed a three-year entry-level contract

- Defenseman James Wisniewski agreed to a one-year contract with the Ducks, only to be traded to the New York Islanders for a third round 2011 draft pick later that same day

I'm not sure what Bob Murray is up to, but he better not be finished yet. Somebody better be helping Lubomir Visnovsky with that blue line, and serious ink needs to be spilled as far as Bobby Ryan and Teemu Selanne are concerned!

Prospect Camp

Yours truly hasn't gotten too heavily involved with our Anaheim Ducks prospects and draft picks in seasons past, but being hockey deprived since the season's end drove myself and many other Ducks fans to Anaheim Ice this past week to watch our new Ducklings participate in prospect camp.

Scrimmages were open to the public on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings.

Just a few casual observations:

- Dan Sexton, having not attended a prospect camp, showed off his speed and puck handling skills.

- 2010 draft pick Kevin Lind looked good holding up the blue line.

- Ex-assistant coach Newell Brown's son, Adam, showed us some of his netminding skills.

- Kyle Palmieri is a name I want to see come up from the minors this season. The kid has speed, smooth hands, and a shooting patience reminiscent of Corey Perry.

- 2010 draft pick Devante Smith-Pelly plays a gritty style and boasts a frame that will only fill out in the upcoming years.

- We were also excited to see Ducks' 2010 first round draft picks Cam Fowler and Emerson Etem show us why they went 12th and 29th overall, respectively.

And a few pictures:

Big crowds at Anaheim Ice




Timo Pielmeier between the pipes




Cam Fowler on a one-on-one rush


Defensemen Scott Valentine and Mat Clark defend against right winger Justin Vaive


Marco Cousineau and Nick Bonino




Cam Fowler helping Marco Cousineau defend the goal




Kyle Palmieri and Adam Brown at the bench


Devante Smith-Pelly skates to a halt after the whistle


The guys stretch after 60 minutes of play