General Manager Bob Murray was swift this off-season, securing a top-flight center in Saku Koivu, then executing a great trade with Philly, sending Chris Pronger to the Flyers and getting two number-one picks, a third rounder, and defenseman Luca Sbisa; also, Joffrey Lupul, a former first round pick of the Ducks, returns.

Saku Koivu and returnee Joffrey Lupul. Swift move by GM Bob Murray, who took a gamble on Brendan Morrison last season, only to see him struggle all year and end up traded to Dallas. The team needed a second line revamp more than anything else this offseason, and got it. Look for Teemu Selanne, back for one more year, to join a line with Lupul and Koivu. The upgrade at second line center pushes Andrew Ebbett to the fourth line (Todd Marchant remains as center of third/checking line).

Bobby Ryan becomes a restricted free agent after this season, so look for Murray to lock Ryan into an extension to solidify Ryan’s position with the club in concert with Lupul, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, whose deals expire after the 2012-13 season. Offensively, the club will have a very solid top-six for years to come. Ryan Getzlaf (25-66-91).

A heated competition amidst the third and fourth lines yielded a few new faces. Evgeny Artyukhin, acquired from Tampa for Drew Miller, is a big wing (6’5”, 254) with surprising quickness. Petteri Nokelainen will see an expanded role, and enforcer and fan favorite George Parros returns.

Last season, the Ducks fielded the NHL’s best group of six defensemen. With Pronger gone, the complexion of the “Big Bad Ducks” will change a bit. The intimidation factor that Pronger brought is lessened. Complicating matters is the departure of Francois Beauchemin, who joins former GM Brian Burke in Toronto.

Nick Boynton, 30, will add some muscle, and James Wisniewski, 25, returns after avoiding arbitration. Ryan Whitney, 26, can move the puck and has an offensive upside that the club would like to see more often. Additionally Whitney must limit his turnovers.

Luca Sbisa, 19, acquired in the Pronger deal, is a former first round pick of the Flyers (19th overall, 2008). An excellent skater, with good reaction time. He can only be returned to junior (Lethbridge, WHL), not the AHL. Look for Sbisa to at least start the season in Anaheim.

Leading the defense corps once again is Scott Niedermayer, who signed a one-year deal. Niedermayer (14-45-59) finished fourth overall in scoring by a defenseman.

In goal, Jonas Hiller earned the starting job late last season and during the team’s surprising playoff run. J-S Giguere, however, still garners respect in the eyes of coach Randy Carlyle. Giguere has publicly stated that he wants to start. Look for Carlyle to use the terms “1” and “1A” often.