NHL Trade Deadline: Anaheim Ducks

February 26 2011 Last updated at 01:00 PM ET

Everything appeared to be going swell for the Anaheim Ducks until the all-star break.

They were quietly hovering in the upper reaches of the Western Conference and, even with injuries, looking like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Then Jonas Hiller, their world-class goaltender, took a shot on the mask in the annual no-check game. Now, the Ducks rest below the playoff bar and are in a battle to qualify.

Although he has played at times, Hiller has been sidelined for extended stretches with what has been described as dizziness, fatigue and vertigo, but not necessarily in that order. The team and the goaltender have insisted that he does not have a concussion, but he did see a Vancouver chiropractor who specializes in treating head injuries.

Hiller has resumed light on-ice workouts, but is not considered close to returning from his latest hiatus. The problem is serious enough that general manager Bob Murray acquired two veteran goaltenders -- the enigmatic Ray Emery, who was signed as a free agent, and the puzzling Dan Ellis, picked up in a trade from Tampa. Emery is pegged as the replacement starter while Ellis is penciled in as the backup.

But Emery, 28, has not played in the NHL this season after undergoing off-season hip surgery to repair a degenerative condition. He played only 29 games with Philadelphia in 2009-10. He was exiled to Russia in 2008-09 and part of 2009-10 after Ottawa let him go for disciplinary reasons and no other team wanted to sign him. He has not participated in the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2006-07, when the Senators fell to Anaheim in the finals.

Ellis, 30, meanwhile, showed promise at times in three seasons with Nashville, but could not establish himself as the clear starter. His chance finally came last summer when he signed as a free agent with Tampa, but he muffed it and Lightning GM Steve Yzerman opted to acquire 41-year-old journeyman Dwayne Roloson for the stretch drive and postseason.

Ellis has only six NHL playoff games to his credit -- and hasn't participated in the postseason since 2008.

NEEDS

Anaheim still has a pressing need for some secondary scoring and has the necessary salary cap space to get it. You would think the Ducks have enough scorers in young stars Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan, along with veterans Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu. But they don't.

Even with Hiller ranking among the league's best goaltenders in save percentage (.925) and shutouts (five), the Ducks trail most other teams in the goals-for department. With Koivu having groin problems, the need for additional scoring has become more urgent.

THE VERDICT

GM Murray was proactive by acquiring goaltenders Emery and Ellis well before the deadline. He did as well as he could while only giving up former backup Curtis McElhinney to get Ellis. Murray also filled a need for a physical offensive-defensemen by obtaining Francois Beauchemin, who is back for a second stint with Anaheim after a trade with Toronto.

The bottom line? More scoring won't help unless coach Randy Carlyle gets his top goaltender back soon. As Hiller's health goes, so go the Ducks.

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