Speculation: 2022-23 Management/Coaching/Ownership

[Hockey Duckie]

I've nervous with those comments from PV about taking 10 yrs and following in the footsteps of CO and Tampa. Every team is different, and while he has some valid points, I just hope he's not too stubborn and un-flexible to shift on the fly and make adjustments, as needed.

I also find it interesting about the comments of "building blocks and a winning culture". A team dead last at this point isn't doing too well on that front. I know it's early in his tenure, but again I feel like we've not made a step forward as a team at all. I am thankful that the rookies are still generally progressing as about expected, however.

Two seasons ago, the Ducks finished 2nd worst team in the league.

Last season, everyone was healthy and three youths took huge strides in Terry, Zegras, and Lundy. In the first 33 games, we were boss and on top of the pacific. Then the injuries happened and re-exposed our lack of NHL talent depth. At least it's proven that you can still develop while tanking.

PV said rebuilds usually takes 5 years and he hopes to cut that shorter with the Ducks since they have Terry, Zegras, Drysdale, McTavish, and a top-5 farm team. I guess the next five years is about refining and finding specific players to enhance the team's success for a Cup.

It's rare to see a top pairing D get traded and if they do, then they will cost an arm and a leg. (Lindholm trade is an obvious exception.) I don't see Verbeek willing to use high end assets for a top-end D in the early build years because the Ducks' prospect pool is stacked with good to great prospects in the near future. If Verbeek can sign the NCAA guys in LaCombe and Thrun, then it helps to shorten that timeline of relevancy b/c both of their bodies have been developing in the college program for four years and are probably ripen or overripen for Verbeek's taste. Verbeek also just discovered Hinds in our prospect pool.

It's gonna be a long ride.

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

I like Verbeek and wasn't trying to project anything. I just am generally cynical unless the actions match the words.

There’s two issues with that, though. For one, the actions very much match the words. The guy spent $18 million in cap space upgrading the team and it stands to reason he’d be disappointed they’re in dead last. The other is that this isn’t really cynicism. In this instance, where’s the personal gain for Verbeek to be untruthful about that? It’s just copium.

 

[Ducks DVM]

“I haven’t even really thought of that,” he said. “To be honest with you, Dallas and the coaching staff’s mandate really has been the development of young players. It was going to be more measured (on that) than wins and losses. When I look at young players in the minors, it usually takes them to Christmas to find their feet. I’m looking at it the same way with a bunch of our young players here and looking for that as well, so they figure it out.

“I guess that’s kind of where I’m looking with the whole group. I’m giving them some runway to find themselves.”

I would like to think that this would end every loss, near loss, and win with posts about how THIS was finally the game that leads to a coaching change. Also going to link to this interview the next time someone argues with me about why a hot take at the start of the season with major changes is better than waking 20 games.

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

Thanks for this.

I don't think he's going to please many people on here with a lot of that, but none of it seems out of line with what he's done since he's been here.

If anything, it's just nice to hear from the GM once in a while. The silent Murray era was frustrating to say the least, so this sort of thing is more than welcome. Change is good.

I’m honestly the opposite, I’d rather not hear much from the GM in season unless it’s after a move or something. I don’t think it does much good. Insight is cool but these kinds of things are pretty much never that, this included.

 

[Quack Shot]

I’ll come out and say this, I believe in Beeker.

 

[goonsaredumb]

I’ll come out and say this, I believe in Beeker.

Same, I'm not about to make blanket judgments about Verbeek's abilities as a GM based on the decisions he's made thus far when he hasn't even been GM for a full season, seems some people have already made their minds up about his capabilities as GM and what kind of players he does and doesn't like and that he should already be on thin ice and at risk of being fired and it's just like could Verbeek end up being a bad GM in the grand scheme of things? sure it's possible but until he's had a few years as GM to fully execute his vision for the team I'm not going to be making any major statements on his GM abilities and I'm instead going to trust he knows what he's doing and is doing what is best for our team in the long run, I'm certainly not making any harsh judgments on the guy based on a fraction of a season, one offseason and a fraction of another season in the middle of a rebuild.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

This is backwards, though. Burrito didn’t use this quote to prove their position, they just pointed out the dogshit reasoning for being skeptical of that quote.

Like I said I think there’s a lot of instances to be skeptical of what a GM says publicly and this isn’t even close to one of them. It reeks of projecting beliefs onto Verbeek, which has been a common theme on this board since he was hired.

I like that you get me but it takes the wind out my sails when I want to fight.

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

I like that you get me but it takes the wind out my sails when I want to fight.

Ah shit my bad, I’ll find my own fights to pick next time haha

 

[AngelDuck]

I’m okay with where we are right now for 3 reasons:
1) who the coach is right now. Sorry but he’s not good. Has he ever not finished in the bottom 10? And he’s had like 7 seasons as a head coach now. Pretty abysmal

2) what the roster looks like. Enough said

3) who’s available in the draft. The chance to get one more blue chip guy is very appealing


We need to see real tangible improvement to the TEAM next season though
I’m kind of losing my patience hearing that we just need to see progress out of individual young players. At a certain point, very soon, that won’t be enough. It’s time to start building a team that is hungry to get better together

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

I’m okay with where we are right now for 3 reasons:
1) who the coach is right now. Sorry but he’s not good. Has he ever not finished in the bottom 10? And he’s had like 7 seasons as a head coach now. Pretty abysmal

2) what the roster looks like. Enough said

3) who’s available in the draft. The chance to get one more blue chip guy is very appealing


We need to see real tangible improvement to the TEAM next season though
I’m kind of losing my patience hearing that we just need to see progress out of individual young players. At a certain point, very soon, that won’t be enough. It’s time to start building a team that is hungry to get better together

I’m actually genuinely curious to see how Eakins would do with an actual decent team in front of him. The first half of last year was far and away the closest to that he’s ever gotten and they did decently. I don’t want it to be here though and unfortunately for him I doubt he gets the chance again.

 

[Deuce22]

I’m actually genuinely curious to see how Eakins would do with an actual decent team in front of him. The first half of last year was far and away the closest to that he’s ever gotten and they did decently. I don’t want it to be here though and unfortunately for him I doubt he gets the chance again.

I doubt if any GM would actually entrust him with a decent roster.

 

[Ducks DVM]

I’m okay with where we are right now for 3 reasons:
1) who the coach is right now. Sorry but he’s not good. Has he ever not finished in the bottom 10? And he’s had like 7 seasons as a head coach now. Pretty abysmal

2) what the roster looks like. Enough said

3) who’s available in the draft. The chance to get one more blue chip guy is very appealing


We need to see real tangible improvement to the TEAM next season though
I’m kind of losing my patience hearing that we just need to see progress out of individual young players. At a certain point, very soon, that won’t be enough. It’s time to start building a team that is hungry to get better together

Eakins hasn’t been great, but let’s at least be honest about it. He’s inherited two bottom 7/8 teams. He coached ~1-1/3 seasons in Edmonton, and ~3-1/4 here, less than 5 years, not 7. The Edmonton team finished 3rd from last the season he was fired, and 2nd from last the season after that - that was simply a terrible team. And the Ducks would absolutely not have been a bottom 10 team last year had the team not been deconstructed at the trade deadline. And, in 3-1/4 years, there’s been virtually no help from the farm team. The franchise woes run a lot deeper than Eakins.

 

[bsu]

I doubt if any GM would actually entrust him with a decent roster.

That seems like a way to lose your job as GM pretty quick.... Imagine wasting a good roster with this structure.

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

I doubt if any GM would actually entrust him with a decent roster.

Probably not, which sucks for him. Hindsight’s 20/20 but he really shouldn’t have taken this job in the first place, unless it sets him up for a bit of a future as a developmental NHL coach. You don’t really see that but it makes sense and would be cool for him.

 

[MMC]

How would you guys feel if Eakins was extended another season or two?

 

[Leonardo87]

How would you guys feel if Eakins was extended another season or two?

 

[Leonardo87]

In all seriousness, if Zegras, Vaak, Benoit, Lundy, Terry(really not a kid anymore), and McTavish all start producing or keep producing and take significant strides with the team improving. I can stomach another season of Eakins.

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

In all seriousness, if Zegras, Vaak, Benoit, Lundy, Terry(really not a kid anymore), and McTavish all start producing or keep producing and take significant strides with the team improving. I can stomach another season of Eakins.

If we get a top 3 player in the draft next year.. Than we have to push for a playoff spot.. We need a competent coach and good special teams.. Our PK is the the main reason why we lost so many games this year.. We are just horrible at it..

 

[Ducks DVM]

How would you guys feel if Eakins was extended another season or two?

100% fine with it. The kids are developing under him, the teams don’t quit under him, and I don’t see the roster quality being worthwhile until 2 years from now at the earliest. A “top coach” won’t take the job here for next year, because ownership won’t pay that rate and because the top coaches won’t take the job, they‘ll just wait for an actual playoff roster to become available (which happens every year). So that means it’ll be another minor league head coach/NHL assistant, which is a crapshoot. People like to forget just how desired a coach Eakins was with the Marlies. The people who were lamenting we didn’t get Travis Green got very quiet when he tanked with Vancouver.

Eakins hasn’t shown he’s a great NHL coach by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s a known quantity that is moving the roster parts that matter in the right direction. If that stops, or if/when he loses the room, then replace him. This team won’t be relevant for years, there’s no Scotty Bowman riding in on a unicorn to make them a top franchise within the next 2 years. The next coach can always be worse, especially if they’re unproven.

 

[Ducks DVM]

If we get a top 3 player in the draft next year.. Than we have to push for a playoff spot.. We need a competent coach and good special teams.. Our PK is the the main reason why we lost so many games this year.. We are just horrible at it..

You might want to look at the records of the teams that got 1st overall picks the next year over the last decade. They aren’t playoff teams. This roster is not 1 player away from being relevant - they’re short multiple top 6 forwards and most of the defense.

 

[Leonardo87]

If we get a top 3 player in the draft next year.. Than we have to push for a playoff spot.. We need a competent coach and good special teams.. Our PK is the the main reason why we lost so many games this year.. We are just horrible at it..

Ducks are not coming anywhere close to a playoff spot next season. I knew this would be a rough season but didn’t think they would be dead last.

I’m expecting another bottom 10 finish next year and supposed to be a good deep draft For D in 2024.

I think the goal should be when Z is Terry’s age maybe a year younger , for them to start contending for a playoff spot. So 2-3 years.

 

[MMC]

100% fine with it. The kids are developing under him, the teams don’t quit under him, and I don’t see the roster quality being worthwhile until 2 years from now at the earliest. A “top coach” won’t take the job here for next year, because ownership won’t pay that rate and because the top coaches won’t take the job, they‘ll just wait for an actual playoff roster to become available (which happens every year). So that means it’ll be another minor league head coach/NHL assistant, which is a crapshoot. People like to forget just how desired a coach Eakins was with the Marlies. The people who were lamenting we didn’t get Travis Green got very quiet when he tanked with Vancouver.

Eakins hasn’t shown he’s a great NHL coach by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s a known quantity that is moving the roster parts that matter in the right direction. If that stops, or if/when he loses the room, then replace him. This team won’t be relevant for years, there’s no Scotty Bowman riding in on a unicorn to make them a top franchise within the next 2 years. The next coach can always be worse, especially if they’re unproven.

I wasn't happy with him being brought back at first, but this season made me realize I was more just frustrated by the lack of direction in Eakins and Murray. Now that the front office and coaching staff seem to be on the same page and moving in a clear direction, combined with the team still competing hard and our top young players all looking great I'm fine with keeping him around until the front office believes this team is ready for its next step

 

[Arthuros]

How would you guys feel if Eakins was extended another season or two?

Well, I'd probably be a little annoyed, but I would hate it more if Verbeek brought in an unknown quantity with such a young squad.

 

[Deuce22]

How would you guys feel if Eakins was extended another season or two?

My faith in Verbeek would be greatly shaken.

 

[Ducks DVM]

I wasn't happy with him being brought back at first, but this season made me realize I was more just frustrated by the lack of direction in Eakins and Murray. Now that the front office and coaching staff seem to be on the same page and moving in a clear direction, combined with the team still competing hard and our top young players all looking great I'm fine with keeping him around until the front office believes this team is ready for its next step

Yeah, I fought for years against the “tanking is good” mentality, but now that we did it, I think it needs to be done right. No shortcuts, no huge UFA pickups until there’s enough franchise depth to warrant it, and no “compete for the playoffs” push until there’s enough roster depth to actually continue to get better, as opposed to being stuck in the range where you aren’t good enough to become a threat in the playoffs, but you also can’t get a pick high enough to move the needle.

I’m in the acceptance stage. I think many people are still in stage 1-3.