"In the last couple of years, we thought we were a threat. [Kesler] makes us a bona fide threat to become an elite team."



While not on the ice during the week-long Ducks Prospect Development Camp, Head Coach Bruce Boudreau spent his time keeping a watchful eye on the young players. We caught up with him to get his take on the offseason moves.

On his offseason

“I really haven’t settled into the offseason yet. You have the draft, and you’re watching hockey until June 15, and now we’re at the summer camp. The summer season, or the offseason, usually starts when this is over. In today’s game, the summer gets shorter and shorter. We’ll be ready to get back at it in August.”

On observing prospect camp

“The biggest thing is you’ve never seen the draft guys, so it’s interesting to see them after you’ve talked to them. The second thing is you see the guys who were here last year, and you see how much bigger, stronger and improved they are. Those things are real eye openers for the coach.”

On the Ryan Kesler trade

“Obviously, as a coach, you’re sitting there saying ‘That’s a great deal.’ I loved Nick Bonino and ‘Sbis’ (Luca Sbisa), but you’re getting a top-flight guy that can give Getzy (Ryan Getzlaf) a rest every now and then. It gives you strength down the middle. I’ve never coached a team in the NHL that’s had a second-line center that you’re going to have with Ryan Kesler. It’s a great [acquisition], and it gets you excited.

In the last couple of years, we thought we were a threat. This makes us a bona fide threat to become an elite team.”

On being at the NHL Draft

“It’s tremendously exciting to watch [the draft picks] coming down the aisles and just remembering what it was like when you were drafted. You see their parents and you get a chance to talk to them all, and they’re on Cloud 9. It’s the biggest day in the lives of both the parents and young men coming up. It’s really a great time.

The hardest part is watching kids who don’t get drafted when they come to the draft. That’s sometimes not as easy.”

On Clayton Stoner

“He’s a big, fairly young, solid guy that brings toughness plus a little bit of offensive ability. Watching the playoffs and watching Clayton hit guys and take no prisoners and making plays, I thought this guy would be a really good addition for our team.”