First-round picks: No. 5
2000-01 record: 25-41-11-5, 66 points (Tied for 26th overall)
What they need
As another new coaching regime takes over in Orange County, the Ducks are almost in an expansion mode -- they lack punch on offense (27th in league at 2.29) and defense (22nd, 2.94 GAA). With Teemu Selanne now in San Jose, Anaheim's need of acquiring a supporting cast for Paul Kariya is even greater.
In the system
Anaheim's first round pick from 2000, left wing Alexei Smirnov (12th overall), played in 29 games last season for Russian League side Dynamo, scoring just two goals. Another Russian League prospect, goalie Ilja Bryzgalov (44th overall in '00), had a solid season for Togilatti with a 1.84 goals-against average in 34 appearances. On the domestic front, defenseman Bill Cass (153rd overall in '00) had six points (six assists) and a plus-6 ranking in 38 games for NCAA champion Boston College (Hockey East).
In the AHL at Cincinnati, center Andy MacDonald, who signed as a free agent signing last summer, had a solid season with 15 goals and
40 points in 46 games. Left wing Maxim Balmochnykh (45th overall in '97) continued his adjustment to the North American game with 15 points (6 goals, 9 assists) in 65 games.
The highest climber in the Ducks' farm system in 2000-01 was left wing Petr Tenkrat (230th overall in '99), who spent 46 games in Anaheim (5-9-14) after notching 18 points (9 goals, 9 assists) in 25 games in the AHL.
Recent draft history
When it comes to their first round draft selections, the Ducks have leaned toward Europe. Five of their seven first-round picks have been European-born, although defenseman Ruslan Salei (9th overall in '96), a native of Belarus, was playing in the IHL at the time of his selection.
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