What effect will the Ducks' unexpected slow start have on the future of the franchise?
This was supposed to be The Year for the Anaheim Ducks. Partly out of opportunity — because they are a talented team coming off a run to the conference final and because the team that beat them had to restructure their roster to stay under the salary cap — and partly out of necessity — because most of the key young players become RFAs next summer and because Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Ryan Kesler are on the wrong side of 30.