From the Ducks Website:The Ducks announced today that 19-year-old defenseman Luca Sbisa will be reassigned for the duration of the season, most likely to a junior team. Sbisa, acquired by the Ducks with Joffrey Lupul in an offseason trade that involved sending Chris Pronger to Philadelphia, had played every game this season for Anaheim before being scratched for last night's 6-4 loss to Columbus. He had no points in those eight games while averaging just over 12 minutes of ice time.
Ducks coach Randy Carlyle commented on the decision to reassign Sbisa following practice Sunday afternoon: "A lot of it has to do with the way we’re playing right now. We think that he’s come in and played fairly well, but in the situation we’re in right now, we think it could be a detriment to have him in the pressure situation that we’re in. I know it’s a difficult decision for a player to take -- he’s going from the NHL to possibly having to play back in junior hockey -- but we want him to play in the league for 15 years, not for 5 years. If we can do anything to alleviate the pressure of this year, have him play in major junior hockey and continue his development, I think the next step will be a lot easier. He has some assets that are highly sought after, but he’s still only 19 years old. We’ve discussed it for the better part of two weeks. We felt if we couldn’t continually keep him with 10 to 12 minutes of ice time a night, it wouldn’t be beneficial. And the way our team is playing, we felt he wouldn’t garner those minutes in the next while. We made a decision based upon what’s best for the player in the long term."
The Ducks have yet to announce exactly where Sbisa will be reassigned.
Well, I 'd have to say this is excellent news for the Hurricanes! I do know that Sbisa is indeed returning to Lethbridge. I chated breifly with Head Coach/GM Rich Preston tonight and he indicated Luca is returning to the Hurricanes. I expect him to be in Lethbridge in the next couple of days. Preston wouldn't say anything more to me when I tried talking to him about it this evening. All Preston did was look at me and smile. I think that says it all!
Thanks,
Pat
With the addition of Sbisa, the Canes defence core has just become much better. Including the additions made earlier this year, I would say that Preston is pretty happy with the way things are working out for him!
ReplyDeleteSo, the assumption would be that Valchar is on the move (and Preston's comments in today's Herald back that up), which frees up space for another 20 year old. I'm hoping we see that spot filled with a gritty veteran forward that can add a little more physical presence up front and stir some things up (I'm thinking a Wuchterl-fashioned player).
ReplyDeletei heard some thing about him being traded on the talkshow tonight..missed the conversaton tho wats that all about????
ReplyDeletevalchar and 7th rounder for dustin cameron would be a great move for lethbridge
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