While the Ducks have been unable to buy a win, the Gulls are a seemingly unstoppable force.
Since our last update the Gulls have continued rolling, picking up eight straight wins and have extended their point streak to fifteen straight games. Corey Tropp has returned from injury and the parent club Ducks have shaken things up by moving players from both their own and the Gulls’ roster but San Diego appears to be on an unshakable positive trajectory.
News and Observations:
Club Records
In the midst of this most recent streak the Gulls have set club records for both win streaks (with eight) and points streak (with fifteen and still counting). They also have a league high 125 transactions (even more now thanks to Bobs recent Thanos-style finger snap trades of the last week). The Gulls have not lost a game in regulation since Saturday December the 8th.
BobThanos Finger Snaps: Half the Ducks/Gulls roster fades away
In case you have been hiding under a rock. GM BobThanos finally had enough and made a string of moves in the last week; which breaks down as follows:
Andrew Cogliano to the Stars for Devon Shore
Pontus Aberg to the Wild for Justin Kloos
Luke Schenn and 2020 7th rounder to the Canucks for Michael Del Zotto
Jo Blandisi to the Penguins for Derek Grant
Max Jones recalled to Ducks
Troy Terry recalled to Ducks
Ondrej Sustr recalled to Ducks
Kiefer Sherwood re-assigned from Ducks
Jake Dotchin re-assigned from Ducks
Patrick Eaves assigned on long term conditioning loan
Losing Jones and Terry hurts a lot, as does losing Blandisi in quite simply the stupidest trade Murray has made in the last year (Can’t sign the guy you had the rights to so you acquire him later in the next season via trade for a guy you had RFA rights to??) however I think the Gulls will be able to not only survive this – but continue their strong play.
Kloos was the leading scorer on the Wild and as I pointed out in the trade announcement article – is another University of Minnesota product – making that four in the Ducks organization now. He will likely take Blandisi’s spot in the lineup so as of right now the lines look like.
They are going to have to hope that Sideroff or Kossila is back soon because Eaves can only spend fourteen days in San Diego and I am guessing the Ducks will call Street back up soon to cover the final forward spot.
Who Will Step Up?
As noted; Jones and Terry will leave big voids in the Gulls line-up but I still believe they can get through this. In the most recent game without the dynamic duo the team as a whole played well but the players that stood out the most to me were Alex Dostie and Sam Steel. It has been speculated that Steel will get the next recall but I believe Murray is reluctant to commit to that many rookies in the starting lineup. It will likely be Street or Carrick to make the trip up next.
Dostie was flying around the ice against the Stars – if ever there was a time for the second year pro out of Quebec to step up, its now.
Gulls Drinking Experience
I promised @KROQChip I would do this – given she made one for the Ducks; so here it is:
Next Up!
Its Star Wars night! Featuring the Bakersfield Condors on Saturday – 7pm. Then off on the road yet again to face the Reign (Mon 3pm), Rampage (Fri 5:30pm) and rounding out January with the Stars again on Saturday the 26th at 5:00pm.
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