Speculation: 2023-24 Roster Thread

[MMC]

I just don't see it. I don't see any players late in the first rounds of those 19 and 20 drafts that change the our situation. We had 3 firsts in those drafts as well. It's not like we didn't fall in the standings anyway. I'd put money that BM was trying to do what LA did. Except our top picks in those years are doing much better than LAs. We're also assuming that these great returns we wanted were actually available.

Well if that’s the case then he’s an idiot because unlike Kopitar Getzlaf was no longer a true 1C and we didn’t have a Doughty type #1 on defense

 

[DavidBL]

Well if that’s the case than he’s an idiot because unlike Kopitar Getzlaf was no longer a true 1C and we didn’t have a Doughty type #1 on decense

I don't think it would have been a complete mirror. They do bad for 3 years get 3 good young players and start building up again instead of selling off talent be a bit more aggressive in the UFA market. I keep hearing how easy it is to find talent there.

 

[robbieboy3686]

 

[Firequacker]

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I get what he's saying, but this just seems like a really weird quote. Especially given that they don't seem to compete for the same roster spot (seeing as they play different sides almost exclusively and have been linemates for half the season). Last I checked nobody, including Cronin every other time he's talked about him?, is expecting Leason to be an enforcer. It's as irrelevant as explaining what Johnston brings that Isac Lundestrom doesn't, they're players that do completely different things.

I guess it's easier to fall back on comparing Leason and Johnston than pretending literally anyone is scared of Bo freaking Groulx, the guy who was actually listed as replacing Leason at 4RW in the practice lines.

 

[robbieboy3686]

I get what he's saying, but this just seems like a really weird quote. Especially given that they don't seem to compete for the same roster spot (seeing as they play different sides almost exclusively and have been linemates for half the season). Last I checked nobody, including Cronin every other time he's talked about him?, is expecting Leason to be an enforcer. It's as irrelevant as explaining what Johnston brings that Isac Lundestrom doesn't, they're players that do completely different things.

I guess it's easier to fall back on comparing Leason and Johnston than pretending literally anyone is scared of Bo freaking Groulx, the guy who was actually listed as replacing Leason at 4RW in the practice lines.

 

[DuckDuckGetz]

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If he improves those things he'd be a very serviceable bottom 6 player.

 

[JAHV]

As someone who's not incredibly enamored of Leason and is actively upset by Johnston, I kind of hope both will be replaced on the roster by better hockey players.

I am curious about how well his comment about Johnston vis a vis Kane's jabs would hold up under scrutiny. I don't think the NHL tracks "opponent pokes/60". Does Johnston actually stop pests from doing this? And if he does, just how useful a skill is that for winning hockey games?

 

[Firequacker]

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Yeah, I saw that, and IMO it doesn't really help.
-I do not think I would classify any of those as an "only Brett Leason" problem right now, but if it was all he'd said it's fair enough.
-But there was the "horns" comment from camp, where he also said he understands that's not his nature and they're happy with what he's doing.
-Then it was what, December when he talked about Leason being a player you can anchor a third line around and get some offense from, cited his skating and his hands... then immediately healthy scratched him for two games.
-Then Leason looks real good on the third line with Lundestrom and reinforces that point, and is promptly kicked down to the fourth line.
-And now he's not an everyday NHL player and needs to be more like Ross Johnston? (And also needs to be a threat with the puck, which is fair, so we are replacing him with *checks notes* Bo Groulx?)

Like yeah, Leason seems to have hit a wall since his strong early season, but the combination of what Cronin has said and done regarding him lately is just sort of incoherent. Especially singling him out when, y'know. *gestures vaguely to the rest of the team*

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I think BM for sure had a plan. It just wasn't the same as his.

When Verbeek took over as Anaheim's GM, the Ducks were 3rd in the Pacific. The previous season, Anaheim owned the 2nd worst record in the league.

The start of the 2021-22 season was a great sign for Anaheim. BM couldn't see his plan through fruition. Verbeek thought BM had a plan too, from the Detroit News:

"This team doesn't need to be rebuilt; they're in the middle of their rebuild, so this is a great opportunity to take this team forward and turn them into a contender," Verbeek said during his introductory press conference. "You don't have to come in there and look to take a long time. There's good players in the NHL, good players in the minors and there are players that have been drafted. There's a lot coming to support the growth of this team. That's truly what I'm excited about."​

Verbeek decided to reset the rebuild and not worry about lots of moving parts. Under Verbeek, It feels like the youths are going to be teaching the younger youths how to win.

• After 51 games
  • Last year: 16-29-6 (38 points)
  • This year: 18-31-2 (38 points)

This year's TDL is March 8, 2024. We have 11 games left until March 8th. Expecting to lose at least Rico. Could also lose Lyubushkin. Silf might generate interest with his late surge.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

When Verbeek took over as Anaheim's GM, the Ducks were 3rd in the Pacific. The previous season, Anaheim owned the 2nd worst record in the league.

The start of the 2021-22 season was a great sign for Anaheim. BM couldn't see his plan through fruition. Verbeek thought BM had a plan too, from the Detroit News:

"This team doesn't need to be rebuilt; they're in the middle of their rebuild, so this is a great opportunity to take this team forward and turn them into a contender," Verbeek said during his introductory press conference. "You don't have to come in there and look to take a long time. There's good players in the NHL, good players in the minors and there are players that have been drafted. There's a lot coming to support the growth of this team. That's truly what I'm excited about."​

Verbeek decided to reset the rebuild and not worry about lots of moving parts. Under Verbeek, It feels like the youths are going to be teaching the younger youths how to win.

• After 51 games
  • Last year: 16-29-6 (38 points)
  • This year: 18-31-2 (38 points)

This year's TDL is March 8, 2024. We have 11 games left until March 8th. Expecting to lose at least Rico. Could also lose Lyubushkin. Silf might generate interest with his late surge.

Silf would be a smart add for a playoff team if they can get the cap to work....

Hes prob a fairly cheap option, and the type of player that will show up even when hes not on the scoresheet.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Silf would be a smart add for a playoff team if they can get the cap to work....

Hes prob a fairly cheap option, and the type of player that will show up even when hes not on the scoresheet.

Silf makes $5.25 mil this year. We're gonna have to eat some of that salary to make it worthwhile of a return.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Silf makes $5.25 mil this year. We're gonna have to eat some of that salary to make it worthwhile of a return.

Oh I wasn’t expecting a big return , just that he’s be a smart low key add by a team for a playoff run

 

[Leonardo87]

So looking at practice lines… Top 6 looking like..

Rico - Leo - Strome
Vatrano - Mac - Terry

Groulx now on the 4th line. Guess Cronin saw what we saw. Hope Mac can get going again, has good line-mates, who can both score goals .

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Oh I wasn’t expecting a big return , just that he’s be a smart low key add by a team for a playoff run

Yeah he'd be a huge defensive addition to a contenders bottom six, comparable to the low price it would likely cost. They'd probably have to get a third team involved for max retention, but we are talking mid to late round picks (3rd or 4th to us and 5th/6th to a third team).

The double max retention would get him down to a cap hit of 1,312,500 (pro rated from that date on of course). I think most contending teams could find a way to fit that in. The third team is essentially getting a pick for about 350k real dollars and one of their retention slots.

 

[AngelDuck]

So looking at practice lines… Top 6 looking like..

Rico - Leo - Strome
Vatrano - Mac - Terry

Groulx now on the 4th line. Guess Cronin saw what we saw. Hope Mac can get going again, has good line-mates, who can both score goals .

Cronin finally trying McTavish and Terry together. Think that could be a really good 2nd line for us the next 5 years

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Yeah he'd be a huge defensive addition to a contenders bottom six, comparable to the low price it would likely cost. They'd probably have to get a third team involved for max retention, but we are talking mid to late round picks (3rd or 4th to us and 5th/6th to a third team).

The double max retention would get him down to a cap hit of 1,312,500 (pro rated from that date on of course). I think most contending teams could find a way to fit that in. The third team is essentially getting a pick for about 350k real dollars and one of their retention slots.

the question is does silf want to go to a contender, or is he happy to play out his contract here.

He’s def worth more to our bottom 6 than the asset we’d return on him. But if he wants a chance at a cup then maybe we move him.

 

[Kalv]

So looking at practice lines… Top 6 looking like..

Rico - Leo - Strome
Vatrano - Mac - Terry

Groulx now on the 4th line. Guess Cronin saw what we saw. Hope Mac can get going again, has good line-mates, who can both score goals .

Groulx was -4 last game along with Terry. Vatrano and Fowler -3

 

[Leonardo87]

Groulx was -4 last game along with Terry. Vatrano and Fowler -3

Watching Groulx and he is a step behind. Overskates the puck doesn’t not pass cleanly. That line got pinned in all night.

This is why I welcome players like Gauthier who can play a full 200 foot game and are physical.

 

[DuckDuckGetz]

So looking at practice lines… Top 6 looking like..

Rico - Leo - Strome
Vatrano - Mac - Terry

Groulx now on the 4th line. Guess Cronin saw what we saw. Hope Mac can get going again, has good line-mates, who can both score goals .

I'm still scratching my head over why our best goal scorer isn't with our best playmaker but I guess this is an improvement

 

[Kalv]

Watching Groulx and he is a step behind. Overskates the puck doesn’t not pass cleanly. That line got pinned in all night.

This is why I welcome players like Gauthier who can play a full 200 foot game and are physical.

There was one particular play vs Oilers I liked that Groulx took the puck from the outside and attacked the net, but ofc he's not a top6 kind of guy. Still happy he got a look with better players and I hope it somehow helps him to establish his bottom 6 role somehow.

 

[All Mighty]

 

[Ducks DVM]

I'm still scratching my head over why our best goal scorer isn't with our best playmaker but I guess this is an improvement

I think it’s because they’re our only currently legit top 6 players, and Cronin wants to spread out the talent. Henrique is middle 6 but is on one of his hot streaks, and McTavish due to injury or other is also middle 6 at this point. Hopefully whatever he’s playing through if an injury won’t have long term consequences.

 

[robbieboy3686]

There was one particular play vs Oilers I liked that Groulx took the puck from the outside and attacked the net, but ofc he's not a top6 kind of guy. Still happy he got a look with better players and I hope it somehow helps him to establish his bottom 6 role somehow.

He’s not a top 5 kinda guy, he’s not a bottom 6 kinda guy. He isn’t an nhl kinda guy.

 

[ScarTroy]

I think it’s because they’re our only currently legit top 6 players, and Cronin wants to spread out the talent. Henrique is middle 6 but is on one of his hot streaks, and McTavish due to injury or other is also middle 6 at this point. Hopefully whatever he’s playing through if an injury won’t have long term consequences.

Plus it’s not like Carlsson, Henrique and Strome have looked bad together. They are getting their chances, Strome could have had 4 goals last game. Hopefully get Terry producing with McTavish, and then play the odds that Carlsson and Henrique set up so many grade-A chances for Strome that he pots 1-2.

 

[Kalv]

During the next 8 games, we're facing all the teams from 26-31 (we're one of them tho) + mediocre Leafs, LAK, and Preds. Minty and Killorn is about to come back.

I expect us to go something like 4-4, if not 5-3. With some luck, even better.