Speculation: 2023-24 Roster Thread

[KelVarnsen]

Ducks have 3 potentially elite centers. Moving Zegras to wing, which most are advocating, is wrong because he is obviously more comfortable and more engaged at center. Verbeek's goal should be to build 3 scoring lines, not settle for 2 and a black hole bottom 6. The wingers aren't here yet, but the centers are.

I don't think Zegras is "obviously" more comfortable at center. The games he played wing he had really good games and I believe the fancy stats back that up. I think he needs to play with shooters and it seems Terry is not that right now.

I would put him on Mac's wing with Vatrano that way he has two physical guys who like to shoot.

When Killorn is back I'd run:
Killorn-Carl-Terry
Zeg-Mac-Vatrano
Jones-Strome-Henrique

 

[Goose of Reason]

Ducks have 3 potentially elite centers. Moving Zegras to wing, which most are advocating, is wrong because he is obviously more comfortable and more engaged at center. Verbeek's goal should be to build 3 scoring lines, not settle for 2 and a black hole bottom 6. The wingers aren't here yet, but the centers are.

Exactly my thoughts. It sucks that our situation at wing is currently what it is in that we feel like one of those guys needs to shift over. We should be able to roll 3 lines and have our centers create mismatches.

 

[Deuce22]

Exactly my thoughts. It sucks that our situation at wing is currently what it is in that we feel like one of those guys needs to shift over. We should be able to roll 3 lines and have our centers create mismatches.

Zegras or McTavish vs. third lines and third D pairings would be beautiful.

 

[Leonardo87]

Zegras or McTavish vs. third lines and third D pairings would be beautiful.

So you would run..

Leo, Zegras, Mac down the middle?

That would actually work very well but we need more winger depth. This is one of the reasons I want to see Terry and Z separated. Too many cooks and they will split the opposite D assignments and one would get one the bottom 4 pairings.

 

[JAHV]

I'd run Leo with Terry and Henrique - Leo to distribute, Henrique to take faceoffs and be a defensively responsible presence, and Terry to have the puck on his stick and take shots. Henrique also has a decent shot when he gets going.

Vatrano - Mac - Strome seems to be working. I'm not convinced it will work forever, but I don't see a need to break it up.

That leaves Killorn - Zegras - ??? We desperately need a better winger for that line than what the team currently has to offer, but I suppose you can throw Jones or Leason over there for now, have them go to the front of the net and pick up Zegras' trash.

 

[Bergey37]

Zegras and Terry are too many cooks in the kitchen. Terry actually was dragging Z down last night, which is crazy. The 2nd line has accounted for most of the offense in the first 5 games, which is good and bad. PP has been non existent.

Just go with..

Vatrano - Leo - Terry
Zegras - McTavish - Strome

When Killer gets back..

Killorn - Leo - Terry
Zegras - McTavish - Vatrano/Strome

The way Rico has played he can play on the 3rd line.

I don't want to break up the 2nd line yet; they ARE (all 3 of them) leading the team in points so far. Earlier I had thought of putting Killiorn with Leo and Terry; but if Z is more comfortable as a center as many here suggest, then Killorn is probably better placed with him. Z needs Killorn's skill and mentoring more than Leo does IMHO. Rico can still be a mentor for Leo. So I'd try:

Rico/Leo/Terry
Vatrano/McT/Strome
Killorn/Z/Leason
Jones/Carrick/Silf

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I think Terry needs to readjust his play back to 2021-22 season. He's been doing too much in trying to carry the team that he doesn't realize he's puck hogging, last year and so far this season. If he can just step back from being too selfish with the puck, then he might be able to score more goals again.

Z and Mac do mesh well with players they are given, but Terry seems incompatible with both players, despite having a lot more chemistry with Z last year than Mac.

Maybe it's psychological. It took a long while for Terry to believe in himself to become a 37-goal scorer in 2021-22. 2022-23 was the first year without Getz and feels like he needs to carry the team. Then this summer, he signs a 7-year contract and, again, feels like he need to carry the team.

I'd like to keep the Z-Carlsson-Terry line to see it maturate. We're only 5 games in and it's a development year. Let's develop.

 

[JAHV]

The Ducks had only three guys below 50% xGF% at 5-on-5 in that game according to naturalstattrick: Gudas, Leason, and Carrick (who was at 0% - the 4th line was not good last night). Everyone else was above, and most well above.

The Ducks as a team were at 67% 5-on-5 xGF%. They had ZERO games that high all of last season, and only two in 21-22.

The Ducks have three games above 56% 5-on-5 xGF% this season. That equals their total from last season. Just for context, that's been done in 77 fewer games.

 

[JAHV]

More fun fancystats:

The Ducks sit 10th in the NHL on the season in xGF% at 53.61%. 47% was the highest they got under Eakins.

The Ducks are 5th best in 5-on-5 defense, giving up only 1.42 goals per 60 minutes. Their expected GA is not nearly as good, so there's still some work to do there, but that means the goalies have been playing well at 5-on-5.

Their actual 5-on-5 offensive production is poor (9th worst). Their 5-on-5 expected production is...2nd best in the league, behind only Toronto. That's incredible. Someone get that ketchup bottle flowing.

Also, someone figure out the special teams, please.

 

[Leonardo87]

I think Terry needs to readjust his play back to 2021-22 season. He's been doing too much in trying to carry the team that he doesn't realize he's puck hogging, last year and so far this season. If he can just step back from being too selfish with the puck, then he might be able to score more goals again.

Z and Mac do mesh well with players they are given, but Terry seems incompatible with both players, despite having a lot more chemistry with Z last year than Mac.

Maybe it's psychological. It took a long while for Terry to believe in himself to become a 37-goal scorer in 2021-22. 2022-23 was the first year without Getz and feels like he needs to carry the team. Then this summer, he signs a 7-year contract and, again, feels like he need to carry the team.

I'd like to keep the Z-Carlsson-Terry line to see it maturate. We're only 5 games in and it's a development year. Let's develop.

This is a very good post. Hit the nail on the head and then some. Terry needs to get back to that type of season when he had Getz as his C. Leo can be that guy for him

I think we will see that Top line marinate more till Killorn gets back, it's not like they don't look good, just cannot score, but I also feel they need to shoot more, and/or get better quality chances. Only way to break through. I'm really hoping for those floodgates to open soon.

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

I made a thread in the main boards.. But I think ducks should trade Gibby to Edm and bring in Kane.. Could help our and our top 6 would be stacked..

 

[MMC]

I made a thread in the main boards.. But I think ducks should trade Gibby to Edm and bring in Kane.. Could help our and our top 6 would be stacked..

We really don’t need Kane or his attitude here, and there’s no way that I would trade Gibson for him. He would also have to waive his NMC which I doubt he’d be willing to do

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

We really don’t need Kane or his attitude here, and there’s no way that I would trade Gibson for him. He would also have to waive his NMC which I doubt he’d be willing to do

Kane or Gibby?

 

[MMC]

Kane or Gibby?

Kane

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

Kane

Kane not come to Cali? lol he would love it here

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

We really don’t need Kane or his attitude here, and there’s no way that I would trade Gibson for him. He would also have to waive his NMC which I doubt he’d be willing to do

A guy that wants to win and play often? Yeah he probably wouldn’t fit in with verbeeks plan of losing every game lol

 

[MMC]

Kane not come to Cali? lol he would love it here

He said when he re-signed with the Oilers that he wants to win, this team isn’t going to be a contender during his contract

 

[MMC]

A guy that wants to win and play often? Yeah he probably wouldn’t fit in with verbeeks plan of losing every game lol

What does this have to do with anything I said? You don’t need to spew your doom and gloom into every topic

 

[Gliff]

I made a thread in the main boards.. But I think ducks should trade Gibby to Edm and bring in Kane.. Could help our and our top 6 would be stacked..

If I made a list of the players I wouldn't want within 100 feet of this roster, he would likely be in the top 5.

He is a f***ing loser, crybaby, diva that has been accused of assault, domestic abuse, and throwing games to fund his massive gambling addiction. Not to mention reports of him being hated by teamates in Buffalo and Winnipeg.

Why would you ever want a guy like that around 20 year old kids just learning to be professionals?

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

What does this have to do with anything I said? You don’t need to spew your doom and gloom into every topic

Evander Kane would be perfect for this team. He hits, hes skilled and most importantly he wants to win.

I can see why the above would be looked down upon by people who are addicted to the tank.

 

[MMC]

Evander Kane would be perfect for this team. He hits, hes skilled and most importantly he wants to win.

I can see why the above would be looked down upon by people who are addicted to the tank.

He’s also a noted locker room problem and not producing to his cap hit. He is looked down upon by anyone who wants to see this team build towards something successful and maintain cap flexibility

 

[Gliff]

Evander Kane would be perfect for this team. He hits, hes skilled and most importantly he wants to win.

I can see why the above would be looked down upon by people who are addicted to the tank.

It has nothing to do with his on ice ability. It's the person that it's attached to.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

It has nothing to do with his on ice ability. It's the person that it's attached to.

Are we running a church or playing hockey? Can he help the ducks win?

He’s also a noted locker room problem and not producing to his cap hit. He is looked down upon by anyone who wants to see this team build towards something successful and maintain cap flexibility

Hes playing third line mins. Put him on the first line and hes a steal. He hasn't shown to be a locker room problem in Edmonton and maybe hes changed in that regard. If he has, the ducks should be all over it.

 

[JAHV]

Are we running a church or playing hockey? Can he help the ducks win?

Hes playing third line mins. Put him on the first line and hes a steal. He hasn't shown to be a locker room problem in Edmonton and maybe hes changed in that regard. If he has, the ducks should be all over it.

I'm betting he hasn't, especially given his quote from this weekend. A guy taking passive aggressive shots at his coach about playing time isn't what the team needs. No thanks on Kane.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Since Gudas is getting penalized more and more, Cronin made a shift in D pairings. Here's how we changed it up in-game:

LaCombe-Fowler (don't know who was assigned RD b/c they kept flip-flopping often on the ice)
Minchy-Gumby
Vaaks-Gudas

If Drysdale is still out and Luneau needs a longer break, then I'd prefer to use this lineup instead when Vaaks is inserted.