from Helene Elliott of the LA Times,

Coach Bruce Boudreau has already made Horcoff part of the Ducks' leadership group, five or six players Boudreau consults when making decisions on travel, practices and other matters. It's significant that Horcoff earned that honor so quickly, reflecting the respect the Ducks have for his 14-season career and their belief he can make an impact beyond his versatility as a penalty killer and bottom-six center or winger.

Horcoff said he chose the Ducks because he thought they'd give him the best possible chance to finally win the Stanley Cup, a quest he missed out on with the runner-up Edmonton Oilers in 2006. The Ducks chose him because they think he can help lead them to the championship that has eluded them the past few seasons.

"To play at 37 you have to do something right a lot," Boudreau said. "You have to stay in great shape. You have to be a good player. You have to be a good team player. You've got to be smart, and isn't that what you want in a leader as well?"

It sums up what the Ducks expect from Horcoff, who spent most of his NHL career with the Oilers — including three seasons as their captain — before spending the last two seasons in Dallas. Boudreau has had Horcoff center for Patrick Maroon and Max Friberg in training camp, and Horcoff has held up well through days designed to be grueling.

"Bruce had a meeting with five or six of us before the camp started and said, 'Listen, we're going to be hard. We're going to go hard. We want to be the best in-shape team. We want to be the fastest team out there, and camp's going to be tough and we want the older guys to lead the way in intensity,' " Horcoff said. "And I've seen that. It's been hard. It's been a tough camp so far, but that's the best way to have it."

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