Return on their investment
| Thursday, Oct 15 2009 09:50 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Oct 15 2009 09:50 PM
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Most of them were in rookie camp together, spent more time together in Anaheim's regular National Hockey League training camp and, in a normal situation, would be playing in the American Hockey League.
But the 2009-2010 hockey season is anything but normal for the Anaheim Ducks and Bakersfield Condors.
The Ducks do not have their own American Hockey League affiliate this season and that has the Condors bloated with an influx of talent that normally would be playing a notch up the hockey ladder.
"Most of they guys we have there are capable of playing in the American league this year, without a doubt," said David McNab, senior vice president of hockey operations for Anaheim. "That situation (playing in the AHL) has not been available at the present time."
The Ducks signed a two-year AHL agreement with the Iowa Chops (Des Moines) in 2008 but abruptly ended that arrangement in May, citing a lack of payment on the affiliation contract. The Chops were later involuntarily suspended from play this season by the AHL due to league violations.
As of Thursday, the Ducks had nine players at the American league level and 10 a step below in the ECHL with the Condors.
Among the players assigned to the Condors are rookie forward Logan MacMillan, Anaheim's first-round draft pick in 2007; rookie goaltender Timo Pielmeier, a third-round draft pick of San Jose in 2007, four other third-round draft picks, a fifth-rounder and other prospects from juniors or universitys.
One of those third-rounders -- goaltender Justin Pogge was acquired from Toronto in August, has never played below the AHL, got into seven NHL games last season and is No. 3 on Anaheim's depth chart.
Certainly the Ducks have a hefty investment in Bakersfield this season and they are taking it very seriously. McNab attended a preseason game in Stockton, was here on Thursday and will be here to watch games tonight and Saturday.
"Its obviously a different year for everybody in Bakersfield," McNab said.
Obviously.
"It's pretty simple," MacMillian, 20, said of the situation. "Things with their AHL team didn't work out last year so they don't have one this year. This is their other affiliate and they really didn't have many spots to put guys. They are four or five guys who played in the AHL the whole year last year down here. This is the only place they could put guys.
"We have a young team mixed with a little bit of experience here and there with guys. Guys are building chemistry and I think it should only get better."
One of those who was in the AHL all last season is defenseman Stu Bickel, who signed with the Ducks following one year at the University of Minnesota.
Bickel, 23, played in just 21 games as a rookie last season due to a couple of injuries and hopes to make the best of the situation which has landed him in Bakersfield.
"It's an unfortunate situation this year not having an American league team but I think we're pushing each other here and everyone is getting better," Bickel said. "There's a lot of guys here that probably wished they'd be in the American league this year. You make the best of what you have.
"I was in San Antonio before this and they thought I could come and play a bigger role down here and progress better down here. It didn't make since for me to stay there and be limited on ice and not be in the lineup all the time. I have a chance to play a bigger role and I look forward stepping into that role."
Pielmeier, 20, was acquired by the Ducks in a trade last spring, and has played well at rookie camp and in NHL and AHL exhibition games.
A native of Deggendorf, Germany, Pielmeier headed to North America two seasons ago for the Quebec Major Junior League after being drafted by the Sharks.
"I talked to a lot of people and they said if you want to play in the NHL you have to go over here -- get into the hockey passion over here," he said. "I had two great years. It was so much fun and it went pretty well. Now I'm happy to be here."
McNab said he doesn't expect his players to not not give 100 percent just because they are playing in the ECHL.
"If you want to further your career you have to go down and play well," he said. "They just can't go through the motions. With all our guys, they have to realize the situation we have, play accordingly and play well."
