Play McElhinney

With the Ducks officially out of the playoffs andthree more games left in the regular season, all teams that Anaheim will play against are not in the playoffs on Thursday (4/08/10) against the Dallas Stars,  Friday (4/09/10) against St. Louis Blues and on Sunday (4/11/10) against the Edmonton Oilers. Anaheim shouldn't play Ryan Getzlaf (like said in the previous post) let him completely  heal. The Ducks lost to the Los Angeles Kings last night giving up a 3 goal lead and losing in the shootout. As was, it didn't really matter the outcome of the game after the Colorado Avalanche beat the San Jose Sharks in overtime and the Avalanche beating the Vancouver Canucks yesterday in the shootout.

Jonas Hiller is another player who should be shelfed; if he does return it would only be for two games, the issue with this because as well with Getzlaf he hasn't played since March 24 against the Vancouver Canucks. Shelfing Hiller would be the best thing, two games won't allow Hiller to get into a rhythm. Even if Hiller does feel better and is able to play at least one of the three games; Hiller should still be sitting on the bench because it'd be too much of a mental toll on him just for three games when his team isn't even going to make the playoffs this season. Give Curtis McElhinney the next three games this will help him improve his game and playing him the next three games, despite losing to the Kings will keep him in his rhythm that he had from the beginning. Allow Hiller to start on a clean slate next season where his back should and will be spasm free next season.

The question stay lies will we see McElhinney next season, will he offered an extension and would he accept that offer? Curtis may stay with the Ducks for at least one more season as a back-up to Hiller. Something else comes into a factor, how many more teams are looking at McElhinney and are willing to sign him. McElhinney was acquired over Toskala because he was cheaper than Tosky was, something the Ducks needed to do, so they stayed under the cap. It is unknown how well Toskala would of played with Anaheim, but he did struggle when he was with Toronto.
 Other teams may be interested in McElhinney especially since he's played so well but I do see him re-signing with Anaheim next season. If the Ducks do give him consistent minutes next season and NOT over play Hilller.  McElhinney will have a much, much improved game. The Ducks are giving him his best chance to become a better goaltender. The Anaheim coaching/staff and the fans can see his potential. If McElhinney isn't able to play the next two games, this may and will interfere with his rhythm, putting in a goalie who won't have an immediate rhythm, this isn't anything against Hiller because this applies for every goalie, one cannot just magically come into a perfect rhythm specifically after an injury interfered with it. It's because, as cliche as it sounds, "We're all human." being human doesn't allow anyone to be some well oiled machine. Giving Hiller the next three games would give the impression as if he were not too good of a goalie because he'd be struggling to keep in the game.

Allowing Hiller to start on a clean slate would allow him to rest both physically and mentally, as starting him for the final two games, when they really don't count could put too much stress on him and he needs to be mentally strong as a goalie to play the game he does. However, another factor that could go into an argument to play him is it would help him physically, such as keeping his limbs lose and that he should be played since these three games don't count. Physically though, this could injury has back even more, he will probably not  play the next three games; it is unknown if he is still feeling tightness in his back. It would be best as said to give McElhinney the last games; let him improve and become a better goaltender, let him know w hat he needs to improve in his game. McElhinney will not only learn  from Pete Peeters but he'll learn from Hiller and the best way he'll learn is by experience and the next three games if played would give him that needed experience.