GDT: #13 ⋅ MIN @ ANA ⋅ 7:00 PM PST

[Smirnov2Chistov]

I keep seeing blips on here that after the game even Zegras now mentioned something about being unaware as to what hes doing (or something along those lines).

what did he say exactly?

I don't think ownership is cheap, what are we supposed to be spending money on exactly that would help this situation? It's not like some unicorn premier coach is out there waiting in the wings. Even if we fire Cronin, it would be an interim coach most likely and then we'd have to find someone in the offseason that actually wants to guide us out of this disaster.

Samueli is one of the richest owners in not just the NHL but all of professional sports. He was 12th in Forbes richest sports franchise owners in 2023, and with the Broadcom acquisition he's probably in the top 10 now with a valuation approaching $20B.

Maybe if Verbeek didn't put all his eggs in one basket - Stamkos and Marchessault, then we could've brought in players with different identities that could have helped. I don't remember the UFAs from last summer but it would be interesting to look into that again

I don't think ownership is cheap, what are we supposed to be spending money on exactly that would help this situation? It's not like some unicorn premier coach is out there waiting in the wings. Even if we fire Cronin, it would be an interim coach most likely and then we'd have to find someone in the offseason that actually wants to guide us out of this disaster.

Samueli is one of the richest owners in not just the NHL but all of professional sports. He was 12th in Forbes richest sports franchise owners in 2023, and with the Broadcom acquisition he's probably in the top 10 now with a valuation approaching $20B.

Maybe if Verbeek didn't put all his eggs in one basket - Stamkos and Marchessault, then we could've brought in players with different identities that could have helped. I don't remember the UFAs from last summer but it would be interesting to look into that again

 

[ducks8]

Gibson gonna head back to IR to avoid this mess

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Numerous charts and graphs say otherwise.

Lol…. Can’t wait for em

 

[Firequacker]

Hah, I guess that makes us the DCMS.

Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery
Ducks Can't Make Shots

Generally speaking, GMs usually make a trade before firing a coach. If we follow that logic, who's the first to be traded?

This thought just gives me flashbacks to the Cogliano trade (which notably didn't even save the coach's job for the season). The situation seems too grim for a trade to fix.

Obvious hockey/leadership answer is Fowler, but after the summer trade rumors, that might be too obvious to actually shake anything up. Obvious 'sending a message' answer is Zegras, but that seems too obviously counterproductive unless Verbeek is judging players on points alone (and if he is, especially right now, we have bigger problems). I have a hard time seeing him trading any of his Culture-Building Veterans before he has to, if he's gonna be too stubborn to fire the coach. LaCombe would make roster sense but they've talked him up so much recently (then again, that didn't mean anything for Drysdale).

Honestly the biggest shakeup trade might be McTavish. He's been seemingly given a lot more leash than any other young player and has put up some points, but still earned two fourth line demotions (and one last year) and a parade of dumb penalties. Draft pedigree and bounce-back potential likely give him solid value still. Seemingly popular with the team. Not a Verbeek draft pick. If the main goal of the trade is "fire a shot across the bow and hopefully save the coach's job," he's probably the most effective guy to ship out.
None of that is to say it's a good idea at all, of course.

 

[Leonardo87]

Gibson gonna head back to IR to avoid this mess

 

[Hey234]

Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery
Ducks Can't Make Shots


This thought just gives me flashbacks to the Cogliano trade (which notably didn't even save the coach's job for the season). The situation seems too grim for a trade to fix.

Obvious hockey/leadership answer is Fowler, but after the summer trade rumors, that might be too obvious to actually shake anything up. Obvious 'sending a message' answer is Zegras, but that seems too obviously counterproductive unless Verbeek is judging players on points alone (and if he is, especially right now, we have bigger problems). I have a hard time seeing him trading any of his Culture-Building Veterans before he has to, if he's gonna be too stubborn to fire the coach. LaCombe would make roster sense but they've talked him up so much recently (then again, that didn't mean anything for Drysdale).

Honestly the biggest shakeup trade might be McTavish. He's been seemingly given a lot more leash than any other young player and has put up some points, but still earned two fourth line demotions (and one last year) and a parade of dumb penalties. Draft pedigree and bounce-back potential likely give him solid value still. Seemingly popular with the team. Not a Verbeek draft pick. If the main goal of the trade is "fire a shot across the bow and hopefully save the coach's job," he's probably the most effective guy to ship out.
None of that is to say it's a good idea at all, of course.

My intuition tells me that the second they trade any of the big young players, they will almost certainly improve on their new team and make that decision regretful. Zellweger, Minty, McTavish, Zegras, Gauthier, Carlsson and Terry should be given more time with a new coach.

Players I would trade that have any sort of value: Killorn, Vatrano, Strome, LaCombe, Fowler. I personally would trade for Connor Murphy and then trade LaCombe/Fowler+ for a top 6 forward. Then, I would jettison one of those forwards to anyone who will take them. Moves out 2 roster players and adds to new ones. Then, I would replace the whole coaching staff.

 

[Webster]

Solberg needs to come over next year, Gudas will be his perfect mentor.

 

[DavidBL]

Solberg needs to come over next year, Gudas will be his perfect mentor.

I like the type of player and think we need it, but there isn't really any evidence that he is ready for the NHL. He's not even playing 15 minutes a night on his current team.

 

[anezthes]

My intuition tells me that the second they trade any of the big young players, they will almost certainly improve on their new team and make that decision regretful. Zellweger, Minty, McTavish, Zegras, Gauthier, Carlsson and Terry should be given more time with a new coach.

100%. Maybe—just maybe—when everyone looks like , it might be a coaching or systems issue. We should hope that's the case, because the alternative is pretty frightening.

Those comments from Lyubushkin, Terry, Killorn, and Zegras are very telling, IMO.

 

[Firequacker]

My intuition tells me that the second they trade any of the big young players, they will almost certainly improve on their new team and make that decision regretful. Zellweger, Minty, McTavish, Zegras, Gauthier, Carlsson and Terry should be given more time with a new coach.

Players I would trade that have any sort of value: Killorn, Vatrano, Strome, LaCombe, Fowler. I personally would trade for Connor Murphy and then trade LaCombe/Fowler+ for a top 6 forward. Then, I would jettison one of those forwards to anyone who will take them. Moves out 2 roster players and adds to new ones. Then, I would replace the whole coaching staff.

Oh, I wasn't at all saying I would make a McTavish trade. I'd be very annoyed with one for exactly the reason you point out.
IMO if the coach is bad and needs firing, don't screw around with trades, just fire him. Why bother putting it off? Even if it's a player you're already thinking you're going to move eventually, maybe the new coach gets the team playing better and increases that player's value.
To me the only good reason to make a trade first is if you think it'll actually solve the problem without firing the coach. So I was coming at it from the angle of "what's the harshest message Verbeek could send if he thinks it's just a player issue?" I think that's McTavish but I also think it would be a bad idea.

If he just feels like he must make a trade first, I wouldn't hate anything you're suggesting, they're good moves. But I'd still rather Cronin be gone before making them. If he's not... if Verbeek ships LaCombe or Fowler out for anything but a clearly superior return, then fires Cronin anyway, he'd better hope they don't look any more valuable on their new team. Otherwise it looks like he's made two mistakes instead of one.

 

[Webster]

I like the type of player and think we need it, but there isn't really any evidence that he is ready for the NHL. He's not even playing 15 minutes a night on his current team.

Because their coach thinks Solberg shouldn't be pushed too hard in the SHL at age 18. Yes it's early, but he looks more like a 3rd pairing guy to me anyway, I can see him in a typical enforcer role. I doubt the Ducks signed him to save the blueline.

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

This changes by empty stadiums. No sales on foods and no sales on merchandise. Until you don't hurt their pockets. They won't react. PV needs pressure from the owners. Seems like he has way to much rope

 

[Deuce22]

This changes by empty stadiums. No sales on foods and no sales on merchandise. Until you don't hurt their pockets. They won't react. PV needs pressure from the owners. Seems like he has way to much rope

Very patient and hands off ownership. They allowed Murray to run roughshod for years before pulling the plug.

 

[DuckRogers10]

100%. Maybe—just maybe—when everyone looks like , it might be a coaching or systems issue. We should hope that's the case, because the alternative is pretty frightening.

Those comments from Lyubushkin, Terry, Killorn, and Zegras are very telling, IMO.

I know what Lybushkin and Z said. What did Terry and Killorn say?

 

[DavidBL]

I know what Lybushkin and Z said. What did Terry and Killorn say?

Essentially that they don't have any unit cohesion and don't know where anyone is on the ice

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Very patient and hands off ownership. They allowed Murray to run roughshod for years before pulling the plug.

To be fair, Murray kinda earned their trust after going to the playoffs eight times in a decade, that also featured two Conference Finals appearances. Had the team in playoff contention in year 3 of his rebuild at the All-Star break - and that was without Murray b/c he resigned in early Nov.

Samueli's are more inclined to be patient since Verbeek reset the rebuild and told them rebuilds take about five years. Not much more the Samueli's can do after being catfished into a reset rebuild.

 

[robbieboy3686]

Oh, I wasn't at all saying I would make a McTavish trade. I'd be very annoyed with one for exactly the reason you point out.
IMO if the coach is bad and needs firing, don't screw around with trades, just fire him. Why bother putting it off? Even if it's a player you're already thinking you're going to move eventually, maybe the new coach gets the team playing better and increases that player's value.
To me the only good reason to make a trade first is if you think it'll actually solve the problem without firing the coach. So I was coming at it from the angle of "what's the harshest message Verbeek could send if he thinks it's just a player issue?" I think that's McTavish but I also think it would be a bad idea.

If he just feels like he must make a trade first, I wouldn't hate anything you're suggesting, they're good moves. But I'd still rather Cronin be gone before making them. If he's not... if Verbeek ships LaCombe or Fowler out for anything but a clearly superior return, then fires Cronin anyway, he'd better hope they don't look any more valuable on their new team. Otherwise it looks like he's made two mistakes instead of one.

lol at you suggesting lacombe return needing to be superior , well I guess a 6th compared to waiving him is a superior return.

 

[Deuce22]

To be fair, Murray kinda earned their trust after going to the playoffs eight times in a decade, that also featured two Conference Finals appearances. Had the team in playoff contention in year 3 of his rebuild at the All-Star break - and that was without Murray b/c he resigned in early Nov.

Samueli's are more inclined to be patient since Verbeek reset the rebuild and told them rebuilds take about five years. Not much more the Samueli's can do after being catfished into a reset rebuild.

I was referring to the abusive culture, not the on ice product.

 

[Firequacker]

lol at you suggesting lacombe return needing to be superior , well I guess a 6th compared to waiving him is a superior return.

The point was that if Verbeek makes a trade just so he can say he did something before firing the coach, he needs to clearly win the trade. Otherwise his coaching hire was a mistake and he made a needless bad trade trying to pretend otherwise.

What exactly winning a trade looks like for a given player isn't really relevant to what I was saying.