Ducks GM on Wisniewski's playoff benching: 'I wish he’d gotten an opportunity'
Bob Murray wishes James Wisniewski had been given more of a chance to fly in the playoffs.
The Anaheim Ducks general manager acquired the defenseman - along with a third-round draft pick - from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Rene Bourque, William Karlsson, and a second-round pick, only to see Wisniewski scratched during his team's run to Game 7 of the Western Conference Final.
"I’ve got to commend the guy," Murray said Tuesday. "Knowing Wiz the way I do, it was worrisome, but the professionalism he showed was outstanding.
"We’ve got to take the blame - the coaching staff and I do - for hurrying him into the lineup before he was in shape. He’s in great shape now. He worked his butt off. I wish he’d gotten an opportunity because I know he would have played well."
Murray is referring to a bone bruise suffered by Wisniewski in his final game with the Blue Jackets that was expected to keep him off the ice for one-to-two weeks. In the end, he made his Ducks debut eight days after the injury, and perhaps never really got up to speed in the new system recording five assists in 13 regular season games.
The GM also admits another one of his acquisitions turned out better than expected.
"The other factor is, I’ve got to be honest, I didn’t realize Simon (Despres) would jump in and play like this," he confessed. "He just took a job. He was excellent. We got kind of set in our defensive pairs and the balance of our pairs, and kind of ran with it. It just didn’t work out for Wiz, but next year is another year."
Despres averaged over 20 minutes a game during the playoffs, scoring a goal and adding seven assists, and proved to be valuable after being brought in from Pittsburgh, with Ben Lovejoy going the other way.
If that move doesn't happen, Wisniewski likely plays during the postseason, and perhaps it's a different story for the Ducks. Still, the decision by head coach Bruce Boudreau to play Clayton Stoner over Wisniewski remains a head scratcher.
Wisniewski has two years left on his current contract, and is set to be the Ducks' highest-paid defenseman next season, unless Murray decides to put him back on the trade market.