Speculation: 2023-24 Roster Thread
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All Mighty
Registered User
Even with Lundestrom’s injury, I have a hard time seeing us starting the season with 4 of Zegras, McTavish, Carlsson, Groulx, and Gaucher as our centers. I imagine at least one of Henrique, Strome, or Carrick will be starting at center.
WhatTheDuck
9 - 20 - 8
Yeah that's too much youth down the middle. I think even before the Lundy injury, we needed another proven veteran bottom six C to help defensively and on the PK. Now it's even more imperative.
Who would be our personnel killing penalties if the season started today?
- Sep 21, 2018
- 3,871
- 6,133
Some mix of this might be the starting lineup as of now:
Killorn-Henrique-Terry
Zegras-McTavish-Strome
Vatrano-Carlsson-Silfverberg
McGinn-Carrick-Jones
Fowler-Gudas
Hagg-Drysdale
LaCombe-Helleson
My guess to answer your question:
PK 1:
Killorn-Henrique
Fowler-Gudas
PK 2:
McGinn/Silfverberg-Carrick
Hagg-Helleson
We should get another defenseman before the season starts and I would assume he'd be plugged into the lineup and the PK instead of either Hagg or Helleson.
Killorn is very good at PK’ing. Also have Rico and Silf, and If Groulx makes the team. That gives us 4 forwards to work with. Plus, also have McGinn.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
With Lundy, we'd have a more traditional setup down the middle:
Offensive C's: 1C Zegras and 2C McTavish
Defensive C's: 3C Lundy and 4C Groulx
Replacing Lundy with Carlsson, we might use Carlsson more in an energy line as a 3C. If we're going the slow route of playing rookie centers at wing first, then it's very possible Strome play 3C.
As for PK forwards left:
PK1: Rico and Silf
PK2: Groulx and Carrick
Extras: Vatrano, Vatrano, McGinn, and Terry (at the end of a PK)
If Jones is on the right side, I hope he plays in the top 9 over Silf. I think Silf is better used as 4th line/PK specialist at this point (unless he comes out fully healthy and at a level we haven't seen in a while. He could be the puck retrieval guy for one of those lines.
Killorn is an excellent PK’er. Would put him in front of most of our current guys.
- Sep 21, 2018
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I didn't give much thought into placement, but I agree with you. I'm hoping Jones continues his progression that we saw toward the latter half of last season.
All Mighty
Registered User
This would be how I would lineup our current forwards (assuming Carlsson at least starts in the NHL):
Henrique-Zegras-Terry
Killorn-McTavish-Vatrano
Carlsson-Strome-Jones
McGinn/Leason-Groulx-Carrick/Silfverberg
I wanted to put Henrique, Killorn, and Strome on different lines in the top 9 to make sure the veterans were spread out a bit. I am guessing that Zegras at least starts out as a center, but if not then he can simply swap with Henrique. I also assume that Carlsson would start on the wing because we’ve done that with both Zegras and McTavish. Strome had especially poor defensive results last year, so I thought I’d put him and Carlsson on the 3rd line to hopefully give them better matchups. And a lot of the players on the top 2 lines are swappable, too. For the 4th line, I just want Groulx to have a chance to be a 4C/PK guy at the start of the year. I think he should get that opportunity since he is waiver-eligible now, unless Cronin does not like him in camp.
Henrique-Zegras-Terry
Killorn-McTavish-Vatrano
Carlsson-Strome-Jones
McGinn/Leason-Groulx-Carrick/Silfverberg
I wanted to put Henrique, Killorn, and Strome on different lines in the top 9 to make sure the veterans were spread out a bit. I am guessing that Zegras at least starts out as a center, but if not then he can simply swap with Henrique. I also assume that Carlsson would start on the wing because we’ve done that with both Zegras and McTavish. Strome had especially poor defensive results last year, so I thought I’d put him and Carlsson on the 3rd line to hopefully give them better matchups. And a lot of the players on the top 2 lines are swappable, too. For the 4th line, I just want Groulx to have a chance to be a 4C/PK guy at the start of the year. I think he should get that opportunity since he is waiver-eligible now, unless Cronin does not like him in camp.
Im looking forward to seeing how Cronin handles the center/wing situation. New coach, new ideas, new methods; he might buck the trend with guys like Carlsson and just put them at center from the get-go.
Im betting on Leason seeing waivers. And I wont be surprised if a guy like Gaucher sees a few games out of camp. The staff has been pretty vocal about him.
Yeah, I think it was the Columbus game? He made a great pass and I thought it was Terry (only saw the 9 on the jersey and had been drinking a bit), after seeing it was him I was amazed. Then he had a few other great plays, I think by eye test that might have been his best game I've seen. Hope he can build on that.
Smirnov2Chistov
Fire Greg Cronin!
Just glancing over the comments, shaking my head but not surprised
Lundestrom is criminally underrated around here. He was really one of the few on this team that transitioned the puck into the offense zone. It’s not his fault that he was stapled to Silfverberg, but that’s more on Eakins.
I wish they had given more time to Lundy on the top six.
Lundestrom is criminally underrated around here. He was really one of the few on this team that transitioned the puck into the offense zone. It’s not his fault that he was stapled to Silfverberg, but that’s more on Eakins.
I wish they had given more time to Lundy on the top six.
Who is he beating out in the top 6?
And he was very up and down last season. After he came back from injury he looked better but then slumped again. I noticed Jones more as the season went on than Lundy.
Worst thing with Lundy is these injuries. Happening at the worst times in his career, as he's trying to get going and establish himself. Lundy, Jones and Drysdale all with some significant injuries in some key developmental years.
Ducks DVM
sowcufucakky
I agree on Lundestrom being underrated, but Silfverberg was the significantly better player from January on last year.
- Oct 6, 2020
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- 384
Ducks GM preaches patience, won't rush prospects
PV thinks Zegras likely to switch to wing instead of Mctavish. Also said, Leo can go to SD and then Sweden if he can’t handle NHL or AHL.
PV thinks Zegras likely to switch to wing instead of Mctavish. Also said, Leo can go to SD and then Sweden if he can’t handle NHL or AHL.
Great hype article, ha. Makes me excited, great video.
Still, the defense is what will hurt us this year but unlike last year we should see our young guys stepping up and we should be better than last year definitely. It's just we're not very balanced and unproven there.
If you think about it, we didn't lose any forwards and our young core should get better and we added Killorn and Leo so we should be deeper in there.
I still don't see us making the playoffs (but I will be rooting for us to get in) because of that unproven D corps.
I think this is highly likely too optimistic for Leo, but technically we could roll:
Zegras - Leo - Terry
Killorn - McTavish - Henrique
Jones - Strome - Vatrano
McGinn - Groulx - Silfverberg
[Leason, Carrick, Lundestrom (IR)]
Fowler - Drysdale
LaCombe - Gudas
Hagg - Helleson
[Mintyukov, Zellweger, trade]
Gibson
Dostal
D is the most sus, ofc, but we should get some wins with this roster. Forwards crops look decent. I expect a few months of adoption period to Cronin tho.
Zegras - Leo - Terry
Killorn - McTavish - Henrique
Jones - Strome - Vatrano
McGinn - Groulx - Silfverberg
[Leason, Carrick, Lundestrom (IR)]
Fowler - Drysdale
LaCombe - Gudas
Hagg - Helleson
[Mintyukov, Zellweger, trade]
Gibson
Dostal
D is the most sus, ofc, but we should get some wins with this roster. Forwards crops look decent. I expect a few months of adoption period to Cronin tho.
So looks like Leo is going to get a chance at the NHL right out of the gate, I think it makes sense with Lundy likely missing most of the season which sucks. I also believe they said they are looking to add another D.
Forward group actually looks solid, and can compete, but the D needs at least another #4/#5 shutdown guy.
The whole Z to wing thing coming from Verbeek sorta confirms what we have assumed here on the forum. What has me wondering is if it will effect contract negotiations with Zegras. Verbeek sees him more for the wing due to McTavish and Leo. He has been successful both at C and the wing, and it’s hard to really measure the stats at C because even when he was listed as a C in a game he had Rico or Strome taking face offs for him and playing C.
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Forward group actually looks solid, and can compete, but the D needs at least another #4/#5 shutdown guy.
The whole Z to wing thing coming from Verbeek sorta confirms what we have assumed here on the forum. What has me wondering is if it will effect contract negotiations with Zegras. Verbeek sees him more for the wing due to McTavish and Leo. He has been successful both at C and the wing, and it’s hard to really measure the stats at C because even when he was listed as a C in a game he had Rico or Strome taking face offs for him and playing C.
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Hockey Duckie
Registered User
I read this, but it doesn't mesh with Carlsson's tryout at the NHL level. And if he can't hack it at the NHL level, then AHL level. If not the AHL, then back to Orebro.
Verbeek said:
"As I told some of these guys, 'Listen, skill-wise and probably thinking-wise, you can play in the NHL. But strength-wise and speed-wise, you can't, so those are the things that you've got to really get after in the summertime to make sure you're ready for the NHL.'"
Right now, Carlsson is a shade under 200 lbs. IIRC, new HC Cronin can see Carlsson around 220 lbs. Continuing to develop in the SHL with Orebro for another year and at center would be the ideal "won't rush prospects" M.O.
Testing out Carlsson at the NHL level runs contrary to the "preach patience, won't rush prospects" message. We have enough spare parts to cover Lundy's loss to not rush Carlsson, but it's also intriguing that we can see Carlsson at 3C. If Carlsson is playing wing with the NHL club, then I'm lost with move since the org sees Carlsson as a center.
it feels good to be excited about hockey season again
For Verbeek to be open to him playing in the NHL must mean he's truly close. I trust him more on prospect readiness than Murray
I like that top 6, would even consider swapping McTavish and Carlsson, just so Carlsson could have some more responsible vets next to him. Seeing him with Terry and Z would be so awesome though. Obviously that’s assuming he’s ready for NHL duty.
I think Carlsson who was the 2ndOA may not be in the same boat at the prospects who need to develop more. Verbeek and Co may feel he is better to develop in the NHL or AHL but will have the SHL to fall back upon.
I find it intriguing also but want what’s best for the player. Can’t screw this up even if it means him staying another year in the SHL.
I think the plan could be to ease him into that 3C role with maybe Strome starting there then move to wing when Leo is ready and more comfortable . Similar to how McTavish came into the league.
I think you give the kid his 9 games. Where’s the harm in that?
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