The question is who

The question is who. The Ducks have two excellent goaltenders who may have struggled at one point or another within the past two seasons; Hiller has struggled a little bit coming into the 2009-2010 season. Given, he did get a lot of breaks during the Columbus game with the defense bailing him out in certain situations, but the thing is in the record book it shows up as a win both for the team and him.Here's a knack, Hiller is a very good goalie maybe he did get bailed a lot in the game versus Columbus but he hadn't played for a long while in fact it waws just his 3rd start within 11 games. He opposed Roberto Luongo; who on Halloween in 2008 beat him in a stunning 13 round shootout but Hiller in the next shootout against the Canucks in opposition of Luongo would win. Appropriate for Halloween right? 13 rounds. As for the speaking of the game against the Canucks. Hiller made huge and highlight saves; particularly the second goal he let in should not of gone in that was a mistake by him, as it went off his leg pad into the net.

The Ducks are finally getting back together playing Ducks hockey. Giiguere emphasized that HE and Hiller would have to step up their play. We've watched over the beginning of this season to where we are now. We had nothing but pain and our hearts ripped out in different occasions from losing games, giving up leads because the Ducks would lay back; to the announcements of all injuries that from the beginning of this season to the current state injury wise. The defense still struggles but the day of Dec 8, 2009 someone, who never heard his name called during the NHL entry draft. Minnesota born 22-year old Dan Sexton was recalled. Undrafted and hailing from Bowling Green; he had no NHL experience under his belt. Tons of fans don't know who he is, and he's even in the low ranks of those who know his play in Canada because he's not a "Canadian Boy" in fact in case you missed the hint (of Minnesota) he is an American. Sexton has played extremely well and he has impressed, he set a Ducks rookie record. Sexy had 9 shots and he scored two goals. He scored them against Marty Turco of the Dallas Stars. Sexton's second NHL goal would be huge. Joffrey Lupul would score the first goal against Turco, a spark would fly. But something people didn't expect was Sexton to take that spark and ignite a fire under the Ducks. The Ducks were down three. Lupul scored to put the gap at two going into the third period and Sexton would get the next two including the tying goal less than two minutes left in the game. Saku Koivu would score the game winner as the second lien of Bobby Ryan Saku Koivu, Dan Sexton would strike again and again.



As said, the question is who. All during the summer there were heavy rumors about J.S. Giguere asked to waive his No Trade Clause and the rumor was confirmed that Giguere was asked to give a list of teams he wouldn't mind going to General Manager Bob Murray. Although the beginning of the season Giguere would be in rumors, purposing him being traded to Toronto which would send goaltender Vesa Toskala to the Ducks. While Hiller isn't in the media about being traded.(Edit on that) Hiller is in the media at least there's a rumor in the Swiss media titled 16 Millionen für Jonas Hiller? (16 million for Jonas Hiller?) In all regards, it's trying to be figured out if this is an extension contacted by Bob Murray or if it's from a Swiss League or a different NHL Team? I definitely believe teams are interested in him. In a technical spot light, Hiller is the younger goaltender and he has a lower salary which is one reason he was originally thought to be the No 1 goaltender and Giguere was to be traded away dumping his six million salary. Teams such as the Philadelphia Flyers are in need of a goalie, and now the Flyers have the second chance NHL career Ray Emery injured on a torn abdomen which required surgery to fix. Finally, Coach Randy Carlyle has eased up on his mantra "If you win, you're in" which has given both goaltenders more consistent play time lately. Hiller has yet to sign an extension with the Ducks because he is still unsure with a guy like Giguere in competition with him. Giguere is trying to re-secure his No 1 spot which he lost to Hiller last year.

With Giguere, teams may be less interested in him due to the mere fact they don't want to handle his high salary especially if the salary is supposed to drop within the next couple years. Giguere is also older which maybe result in less interest in him. Giguere Ducks wise is the face of the franchise acquired from the Calgary Flames Giguere came to Anaheim in 2001 and has been with the Ducks ever since; including helping the Mighty Ducks to the Stanley Cup final in 2003 against the New Jersey Devils and he would win the most valuable player award tje Conn Smythe Trophy just the fifth player to do so on a losing team. In 2007, the Ducks with help from Formmer goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov and mainly J.S. Giguere would win the Stanley Cup the first team on the West Coast and in California to do so. In the loss to the San Jose Sharks in which Giguere kept the lethargic and mostly unenthusiastic Ducks team kept the Ducks at a decent gap. Giguere played well against the rival Sharks in San Jose who got the nod as the team had traveled to San Jose directly after the 3-2 win in Vancouver. Despite the four goals allowed by Giguere but the Sharks were coming off four days of rest and the Ducks would be coming off a game less than 24 hours before. Against the Sharks, it was Giguere's 428th start with the Ducks. In total Giguere holds three franchise records in goaltending for the Ducks; which includes the most starts, the most wins, and the most shutouts. Guy Herbert recorded the first shutout in Ducks history in 1993 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Goalies would come and go as Giguere stayed who signed a No Trade Clause in 2007 after the Ducks won the Stanley Cup as he had constantly signed extensions with the Ducks throughout his career. Giguere was drafted by the Hartford Whalers, now known as the Carolina Hurricanes, then went to the Calgary Flamese and is now here in Anaheim where he has played for the last 8-9 years.

The obvious was Hilller's stellar performance in the remainder of last season and in the playoffs. You all know what he did and how well he performed in those playoffs, but at the same time you know the exhilaration against the San Jose Sharks and then the pain, heart wrencher against the Detroit Red Wings; two huge rivalries. A point that should be taken here is if Giguere does beat out Hiller for the No 1 spot it means Hiller really should go to a team which he can be starter because he is a goaltender who is too good to just be riding the bench. As said before, he is the better trade bait than Giguere in mere chance due to his pay and his age. Hiller would be a goaltender who would probably take a pay cut by a different team, if he were to get the starting role. The debate still falls in the uneasy hands of management on who goes and who stays. Right now, the goaltending isn't so much as a problem as the defense corps is despite them coming together.

We're still waiting for rookie Matt Beleskey to score his first NHL goal and for Kyle Chipchura to score his first Ducks goal and for those two patience and shoting more will pay off. Someone like Beleskey has come very close to scoring his first, but could not convert on it as he answered a question purposed by a fan "who is the hardest goalie you've faced?"

Bobby's response was: "Manny Legace he's always had highlight saves against me and I've yet to score against him."

and Beleskey said with a laugh "So far every goalie"



Emotionally, as of right now goalie wise I'm one who doesn't want to think about who's going to be gone but yet I'll analyze with people, ask them who them believe is going to stay; I completely make myself go blank on these answers emotion wise.