from Darren Dreger of The Dreger Report,

"Quite frankly, when your best players aren't your best players you're not going to win the game and that's the bottom line," Boudreau said. "On a too consistent basis, our best players aren't our best players."

No one needs to remind Getzlaf he has to do more. He’s never gone this dry or been this ineffective. Even though he's a veteran player and the Ducks captain, perhaps he too is simply learning how to deal with a slump.

Firing Boudreau is easy, and if things don't vastly improve in the near future, a coaching change might be the only option. Murray still has faith in his team and has been trying to make a trade to add scoring punch, but trading in the NHL has become a lost art.

There are deals to be made if names like Cam Fowler, Sami Vatanen or Hampus Lindholmare included in a package, which isn't going to happen. There are also budget restrictions preventing the Ducks from adding a big contract, so Murray either continues to be patient or he sacks his coach.

For the time being, it appears he's willing to wait, hopeful the core of this team will find the scoring touch that has eluded them through most of this season.

more plus some Ryan Johansen talk...