Cincinnati Enquirer

OVERVIEW: With a number of top NHL prospects expected to return next season, things are looking up for the AHL Cincinnati Mighty Ducks after a surprising playoff run that saw them knock out the defending Calder Cup champion Houston Aeros in a two-game series sweep and take the top-seeded Milwaukee Admirals to seven games in the West Division semifinals.

First-year pros Juha Alen, Chris Kunitz, Shane O'Brien and Joel Perrault were among the 10 rookies in the lineup for the final two games against Milwaukee and are part of a nucleus that improved dramatically as the season progressed. MVP Ilya Bryzgalov, G, carried the load with 64 appearances and 27 wins - in front of a largely inexperienced defense.

BEST DEFENSEMAN: Chris Armstrong. led Cincinnati and tied for sixth among AHL blueliners in scoring with 46 points (nine goals, 37 assists) in 70 games.

BEST ROOKIE: LW Kunitz's dramatic late-season fade - he scored 15 goals in his first 38 games, but only four in his final 21 games - took some luster off the 24-year-old's rookie season, but he still wound up leading the team in goals (19) and finished fourth in points (44). His 0.75 points per game average led all AHL rookies. Kunitz also appeared in 21 games with Anaheim, recording six assists.

UNSUNG HERO: Dan Bylsma, RW. Scored only three goals in 36 games after being assigned January 16 by Anaheim, but he provided a young team with a riveting example of professionalism, guts and determination.

NOTEBOOK: Tony Martensson, C, recorded a franchise-record 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in the playoffs. ... LW Stanislav Chistov's six playoff goals were also a new club record. ... Unsung RW Dan Bylsma, 33, said he plans to retire after 12 pro seasons, including nine in the NHL. ... RW Corey Perry, 18, had a goal and an assist in two playoff games after joining the team following the completion of his season with his junior team, London of the OHL. He was drafted by Anaheim in the first round (28th overall) in June's NHL draft.