Despite the promise of impending labor Armageddon and a prolonged work stoppage, your friends at Puck Daddy are previewing the 2012-13 NHL season (whenever the heck it starts). Why? Because this is the most important election in the history of all-time ever, and you need to understand the issues and the candidates — starting with the Anaheim Ducks.

The Anaheim Ducks' 2011-12 season began in Helsinki before it sunk into hell.

Coach Randy Carlyle paid for a 7-13-4 stumble from the gate with his job, getting fired on Nov. 30, 2011, in favor of recently canned Washington Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau. (Carlyle would later be hired by his old pal Brian Burke in Toronto.) Boudreau led the Ducks to a 27-23-8 record that included an 8-1-0 streak in January that teased contention. But Anaheim finished at 34-36-12, placing last in the Pacific.

It was a particularly brutal reversal of fortunes for the team's Big Three. Corey Perry, reigning MVP, went from 50 goals to 37 and 98 points to 60. Ryan Getzlaf had a career low in goals (11) and the lowest point total (57) since his rookie season. Bobby Ryan, who took part in a failed conversion to center, dropped from 71 points to 57.

The good news: goalie Jonas Hiller returned after his strange bout with vertigo-like symptoms to play 73 games. The bad news: The Ducks went from a plus-4 goal differential in the previous season to a minus-27 in 2011-12.

"Oh, Like Teemu Would Come Back If We Were That Terrible."

The Ducks made some major changes to their blue line, committing $21.5 million over three years to do so.

Having resurrected his career in Dallas, Sheldon Souray was inked to a 3-year, $11-million deal to help resuscitate a power play that went from second in the NHL to a 16.6-percent rate (21st overall). Bryan Allen (3 years, $10.5 million) arrived from the Carolina Hurricanes as one of the League's most underrated defensive defensemen.

Anaheim also added some grit up front in Brad Staubitz and Daniel Winnik.

The subtractions were noteworthy, if not devastating. Lubomir Visnovsky was the most significant name, as the dynamic offensive defenseman was shipped to the New York Islanders in a deal he's still fighting to overturn. (OK, "overturn" being a poor choice of words, perhaps.)

Fan favorite George Parros took his 'stache to the Florida Panthers for a 2-year deal. Sheldon Brookbank's plodding physicality signed with Chicago. Jason Blake was an unsigned unrestricted free agent after three seasons in Anaheim. Niklas Hagman skated off to the KHL. NCAA free agent defenseman Justin Schultz, after leading the Ducks on for a bit, took his talents to Edmonton.

At forward … the Ducks remain committed to the RPG Line, even if one is left wondering how committed the RPG Line is to the Ducks.

There's some question whether Boudreau will keep the trinity together, given his penchant for moving players around the lineup, but we're talking about three players that are one season removed from combining for 103 goals. All three are in their prime.

But Perry and Getzlaf are also in a contract year. Which leads to the general uncertainty about the RPG Line: Given their pending UFA status, and Bobby Ryan battling trade rumors from the locker room to the golf course, is this their last ride?

Story continues