Bob Murray’s kick in the butt currently working for the Ducks

After firing Randy Carlyle and Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray watched his team go 3-9-2 under Bruce Boudreau immediately after. His team was tailspinning down the Western Conference standings, so Murray played his final card before he would be forced to potentially alter his roster via the trade market.

Telling the world that, of the entire Ducks roster, only Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu were untouchable, the rest of his team was forced to either change the results on the ice; or, as unfathomable as it seemed, the rumors of breaking up his big three of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan would possibly come to fruition, as Murray would begin looking to the future and doing some in-house remodeling.

Whether it was Murray's way of warning some of his troops to being preparing change of address forms or a way to motivate his club, it's worked, so far. Since that conversation with Helene Elliott of the LA Times on Jan. 4, the Ducks are 4-0-1, outscoring opponents 21-9 as they head into their game against Vancouver on Sunday night.

During this current streak of success for the Ducks, the Getzlaf/Perry/Ryan line has combined for 17 points in five games, and Murray's words have gotten across to his captain, who spoke with the great Eric Duhatschek this week.

From the Globe and Mail:

"I know how this business goes, and the pressure Bob's under, and I wasn't doing him any favours," Getzlaf said in a moment of sober self-analysis Thursday. "That's the way things go. He's showed a lot of faith in me in years past and I'll continue to show that faith back to him.

"I don't want to go anywhere," continued Getzlaf, with emphasis.

"Anaheim, the city itself, has been unbelievable for me. My wife is from there. It's definitely where we've laid our roots and plan to stay as long as we can.

The playoffs might still be too far out of reach (15 points behind Minnesota), but signs of life out of that roster will be enough to stave off the blowing up of a roster who's second half surge last season was one of the NHL's best stories heading into the playoffs.