GDT: #12 ⋅ VAN @ ANA ⋅ 7:00 PM PST

[Terry Yake]

Multi points nights for Heinen and Sherwood. Wooof

surprised sprong didn't get a hat trick

this team is pathetic, and it starts at the top. the samuelis don't care about winning

 

[Dryish]

I wonder at what point Sabres fans were resigned to just not being good ever again, because I'm starting to inch there ever so slowly

We're about two coaches and one more failed GM away from that point.

 

[Hey234]

Other than new or improving young players, the Ducks essentially swapped Lyubshkin and Henrique for Dumoulin and Fabbri. While I like both players, it's essentially treading water. The team is essentially the same. PV did not obtain the players he identified as needs so the team has the same issues as last season. With basically the same coach, exception Clune, this team is the same and the expectations for results should be the same unless significant growth from multiple young players.

I feel like a broken record, but the Ducks need to aquire a high end scoring forward. At the same time, the team is just not playing good hockey. Teams with low skill can still play solid, structured hockey. The Ducks seem unable to do that and lack confidence as a result. Even if Cronin isn't the main issue, at some point, you have to start seeing results.

 

[caliamad]

I actually liked the beginning of the game. We executed well and put the pressure on them. We were outshooting them and out chancing them. They adjusted, drew a penalty, got 2 back to back goalsand we started to slowly drift away from an aggressive game to pumping pucks in the neutral zone again or with no pressure in offensive zone. Game over.

It was crystal clear. By the beginning of the 2nd they had their way with us and it led to the 3rd goal.

Killorn was the worst offender to me. He had the pick near our blue line and just floated a pick to center. He didn’t even look at making a pass. He had very little pressure, really pissed me off and I felt the game started to turn once they did that.

Their forecheck was effective after that and our wasn’t.

I didn’t even bother watching the 3rd. I had seen enough.

 

[hockey webcomics]

I didn’t even bother watching the 3rd. I had seen enough.

i would say i did it just for fun, then i realized i would be lying.
it was no fun

 

[AngelDuck]

It’s unwatchable and we’re only like 15% through the season.

We have a complete nightmare scenario on our hands right now

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

Will be interesting to see whether they can apply some of that sustained pressure from last game against a non-terrible team. I won’t ask for converting chances or anything outlandish like that. Just, execute a system against a team that isn’t as pathetic as we are. Baby step 1.

Baby’s not walking yet.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

Other than new or improving young players, the Ducks essentially swapped Lyubshkin and Henrique for Dumoulin and Fabbri. While I like both players, it's essentially treading water. The team is essentially the same.

That's what I've been saying most of the offseason. You could go as far as saying Fabbri could be a downgrade with his injury struggles.

I've been pretty unimpressed by Zellweger, LaCombe and Luneau so far.

But all the 'propaganda' regarding LaCombe has been great so far! Cronin told me he was the 'most improved'!

 

[dracom]

I stopped watching after the second. There’s just no reason to watch anymore. The franchise has completely destroyed any enjoyment in watching this team.

 

[Mr Rogers]

the losses are coming now. They aren’t really playing any worse than in the first 10 or so but they got maybe a W or two and OTL points from Dostal as he stood on his head. Now that he’s looking a bit more human (still been fine) and they still can’t score, the Ls are piling up.

Just tough to see where the breakout is gonna come from looking at the forward group. The vets look done (outside Terry) and the young guys seem to have no confidence.

 

[KelVarnsen]

Dostal absolutely covered up the warts of the first few games. Now that he has come a little back to earth, the L's will continue to pile up in mass.

 

[JAHV]

This really is unwatchable hockey. I can handle boring hockey if the team is clearly competitive and executing on a viable plan. I can handle bad hockey if the team is playing in an exciting way that shows they have skill and potential but just aren't there yet.

But please don't give me both.

 

[duckaroosky]

This really is unwatchable hockey. I can handle boring hockey if the team is clearly competitive and executing on a viable plan. I can handle bad hockey if the team is playing in an exciting way that shows they have skill and potential but just aren't there yet.

But please don't give me both.

The other teams don't even look like they're trying. It's just like the most casual NHL game/scrimmage. Making their after game dinner plans as they stroll to a 5-1 win.

 

[Hey234]

It's too many support players. The Ducks have a lot of solid players who would be successful in other situations. The vets they have are not on-ice leaders but off-ice leaders. They need players who can pull them back in and settle games down. The Ducks don't have those players and PV tried/failed in obtaining them.

It's a failure of the GM to properly add to his team, failure of the coach to properly use the players he has been given, and failure of the players (especially the vets) for not showing a consistent effort every night. When a team is failing at all 3 levels, it's a recipe the creates the Anaheim Ducks.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

The other teams don't even look like they're trying. It's just like the most casual NHL game/scrimmage. Making their after game dinner plans as they stroll to a 5-1 win.

It comes into sharper focus when you watch the games on the opponent’s broadcast. They’re just so excited to be firing on all cylinders, entering the zone at will, there’s a sense of inevitability that they’ll win.

For them, these games may as well be exhibition games. There’s NHL talent here but this isn’t an NHL team. They can’t even pass.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

The Magic Phrase shows up at about 2:57-3:43 (although to be fair the reporter asked kind of an incoherent question).

 

[StreetHawk]

It's too many support players. The Ducks have a lot of solid players who would be successful in other situations. The vets they have are not on-ice leaders but off-ice leaders. They need players who can pull them back in and settle games down. The Ducks don't have those players and PV tried/failed in obtaining them.

It's a failure of the GM to properly add to his team, failure of the coach to properly use the players he has been given, and failure of the players (especially the vets) for not showing a consistent effort every night. When a team is failing at all 3 levels, it's a recipe the creates the Anaheim Ducks.

Adding vets who would help turn the corner is going to have to be via trade. You could do what chi did and add the likes of Hall, TT, Bertuzzi, but they are at this point more secondary guys. Going to have to give to get.

 

[Static]

The milk is spoiling. I do wonder if a roster shakeup is needed or if the coaching really is what is ruining us. It is never just one thing, but I don't know the best way forward.

Something needs to change, so maybe just start pulling levers? Not like things can be much worse.

 

[Static]

The "just give it time" way of thinking, which is most likely what will continue, is worrying because they seem to be getting worse as they lose confidence.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1854208181913956669

Every game is an opponent's time to shine.

 

[TheGoodShepard1]

It’s not just that the dump and chase is so boring and not suited for this team’s personnel at all. It’s also that 95% of the time, the dump-ins are absolutely purposeless, simple rim-around that are easy pickings for the goaltender and for 99.9% of that 95%, the goalie is able to easily outlet to a teammate and the opponent beats our forecheck out of the zone in 3-4 passes

 

[StreetHawk]

The milk is spoiling. I do wonder if a roster shakeup is needed or if the coaching really is what is ruining us. It is never just one thing, but I don't know the best way forward.

Something needs to change, so maybe just start pulling levers? Not like things can be much worse.

In season shake up is going to be difficult to pull off. Again, that's a complete failure on PV to only have brought in Dum and Fabbri. Adding guys via free agency, probably a tough sell to players with options as the Ducks are still 2 seasons away from really getting to the PO while the kids improve.

Going to have to be a trade. Ducks since missing the PO have had 10 first round picks (3 are now gone from 2019 and 2020 drafts), and 9 second rounders. If they need to part with some of these assets or future assets, they probably need to do something significant in the off-season at least to jump start the team.

 

[robbieboy3686]

The milk is spoiling. I do wonder if a roster shakeup is needed or if the coaching really is what is ruining us. It is never just one thing, but I don't know the best way forward.

Something needs to change, so maybe just start pulling levers? Not like things can be much worse.

Verbeek has been around the league long enough to know weather the coaching is competent or not. He’s in his 3rd season as Gm, he knows he’s mentioned back to back years “ we want to be competing for a playoff spot “ he knows how he’s looking. If it’s the coaching, he will make a move sooner than we think. If it’s player related, trades and core shake ups coming ( think drysdale ) but multiple moves

 

[Static]

Not enough is talked about (some here have mentioned it) how much a franchise is really just a chemistry experiment. It is never as easy as [good player] + [smart coach] = success.

I have no doubt we employ talented players and that cronin knows hockey better than I will ever dream, but these ingredients don't work together. We can't keep testing it looking for different results, something has to be changed.