Toggle sidebar

Speculation: 2023-24 Roster Thread

  • Work is still on-going to rebuild the site styling and features. Please report any issues you may experience so we can look into it. Click Here for Updates
Status
Not open for further replies.
AngelDuck said:
We definitely miss Drysdale still and will improve. I’m comfortable saying he’s our best RHD(and I really like Gudas)

Injuries are the only real concern with JD at this point
Click to expand...

No love for LaCombe? Ever since the team moved him up to the top pairing RD spot 3 1/2 games ago, we're 4-0.

With Drysdale as top RD: 1-1-0
With Luneau as top RD: 0-2-0
With Vaaks as top RD: 1-0-0
...... (Vaaks started as top RD in 2nd game, but LaCombe promoted halfway through the game)
With LaCombe as top RD: 4-0-0

It could be coincidence, but we're not missing Drysdale as much with LaCombe manning the top pairing RD.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Daz28 and robbieboy3686
Hockey Duckie said:
No love for LaCombe? Ever since the team moved him up to the top pairing RD spot 3 1/2 games ago, we're 4-0.

With Drysdale as top RD: 1-1-0
With Luneau as top RD: 0-2-0
With Vaaks as top RD: 1-0-0
...... (Vaaks started as top RD in 2nd game, but LaCombe promoted halfway through the game)
With LaCombe as top RD: 4-0-0

It could be coincidence, but we're not missing Drysdale as much with LaCombe manning the top pairing RD.
Click to expand...
I love LaCombe and have been on his bandwagon for a long time.

He’s going to be moving back to LD when Drysdale returns. It’s fairly obvious what the pairings are going to be

Fowler-Drysdale
LaCombe-Gudas
Mintyukov-Lybuschkin

I feel a bit bad for Vaakanainen. He’s played well. Just the odd man out right now
 
AngelDuck said:
I love LaCombe and have been on his bandwagon for a long time.

He’s going to be moving back to LD when Drysdale returns. It’s fairly obvious what the pairings are going to be

Fowler-Drysdale
LaCombe-Gudas
Mintyukov-Lybuschkin

I feel a bit bad for Vaakanainen. He’s played well. Just the odd man out right now
Click to expand...
Dare I say it. We actually have depth?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hockey Duckie and lwvs84
Leonardo87 said:
It’s interesting, well at least to me, with Minty, Lacombe, and even Vaak playing so well, have not even thought about Drysdale.

With Killorn and Drysdale out and are key parts of the team, it’s going to be interesting where they slot. Can only make the team better.

I do think it’s time to separate Terry and Z, even if it means one of them is on a 3rd line. Even Silf has been playing better than Terry as of late.
Click to expand...
It’s the Ducks
Guys will get dinged up by the time they come back
 
Sean Garrity said:
What does this mean lol.
Click to expand...
Basically our stats vs expected stats based on how we've played.

We're about middle of the pack offensively, which is way better than last year. 5v5 play is especially good so far.

Our goals against is way below our xGA, so we're probably due for some regression. This can be attributed to some puck luck defensively, as well as your goalies saving your ass which ours have (3rd ranked).

Our goal share is also way higher than expected based on our shot quality, so again probably due for some regression. This basically means on average we're getting less high danger chances per game than the opponent, but we're still outscoring them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sean Garrity
AngelDuck said:
I feel a bit bad for Vaakanainen. He’s played well. Just the odd man out right now
Click to expand...
Pretty much everyone on here wrote him off after last season. I felt like a buffoon for still holding out hope. It's great to see him proving people wrong. Overcoming all his injuries really speaks to his determination and it's very inspiring.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Smirnov2Chistov, anezthes, Goose of Reason and 9 others
FiveHoleTickler said:
Pretty much everyone on here wrote him off after last season. I felt like a buffoon for still holding out hope. It's great to see him proving people wrong. Overcoming all his injuries really speaks to his determination and it's very inspiring.
Click to expand...

Still hasn't played what would be considered a full season in the NHL too. I think he'll be a very serviceable bottom 4 defenseman for someone, just don't think it's going to be here.
 
From the Athletic today:

Tristan Luneau, Anaheim Ducks​

Games remaining: 8​
​
Stat line: 0-0-0, 15:28 avg TOI​
​
Luneau narrowly missed the age cutoff in order to be eligible for regular AHL assignment this season and now finds himself playing the waiting game. He last dressed for the Ducks on Oct. 21, but it doesn’t sound as though there are plans to ship him back to QMJHL Gatineau in the immediate future. There is an option for the organization to send him to San Diego on a one-time, two-week AHL conditioning loan now that he’s been scratched for five straight NHL games, which would kick the can down the road on any decisions while exposing him to more pro experience. Luneau seems like a good bet to be released to the Canadian world junior team in December by the Ducks if he hasn’t already been sent back to the QMJHL by that point.​
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rooch, cheesymc, robbieboy3686 and 1 other person
robbieboy3686 said:
The little man needs to show he can comeback and play some damn games. Some players just become injury prone and it’s a trend. I love that we bridged him 3 years. He’s always been a toss up for me as far as a guy our Gm considers a long term player for the ducks. After all, he didn’t draft JD and he’s a smaller dman. And we already have that with fowler and possibly our little man down with the gulls.
Click to expand...

But unfair on Drysdale, but I do worry about injuries stalling his development. Hasn’t been able to get a full string of games under him.
 
  • Like
Reactions: robbieboy3686
LA's #2 overall pick in 2020 Byfield is finally showing some life with 6 points in 9 games
but the Ducks have 2 rookies with more points than that. 2023 #2 Carlsson has 7 in 10, 2022 #10 Mintyukov has 7 in 10. Then you have McTavish who was drafted a year after Byfield who is having a breakout season. Byfield will be a decent player but he's not gonna be a 1C that you expect from a pick that high.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Ghetty Green and Kalv
Anaheim4ever said:
LA's #2 overall pick in 2020 Byfield is finally showing some life with 6 points in 9 games
but the Ducks have 2 rookies with more points than that. 2023 #2 Carlsson has 7 in 10, 2022 #10 Mintyukov has 7 in 10. Then you have McTavish who was drafted a year after Byfield who is having a breakout season. Byfield will be a decent player but he's not gonna be a 1C that you expect from a pick that high.
Click to expand...
Looks like Byfield might be passing Drysdale fot good in career scoring :laugh:

Drysdale is having very rough injury stretch, I hope he can have a good career
 
  • Like
Reactions: Anaheim4ever
I was thinking this was the first year we've had four impact rookies on the roster but that's wrong -- the last time we did was 05-06, Getz, Perry, Beauch, Kunitz. Penner was there too but his full or "impact" rookie year was the following year.

Does it mean anything? Probably not, since there's no late-prime HOFers on the top line and top D pair and probably no HOF defenseman to be traded for in the offseason, but hey.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kalv, Zegs2sendhelp, lwvs84 and 1 other person
5.
Click to expand...
Another player who’s played a big part: Trevor Zegras.

Before the season, the big question facing the Ducks was whether or not Zegras could be a franchise player for them. Anaheim’s defensive struggles last season had a lot to do with Zegras’ all-style, no-substance type of play. Despite another season north of 60 points, Zegras was below average in Net Rating due to some truly abhorrent defensive numbers. If he was going to be The Guy, that needed to change.

With just two points in 10 games to start the season, it may seem like Zegras’ franchise quest has sputtered out of the gate. Look closer under the hood though and you’ll see some very promising signs that he’s about to explode. Zegras has bought in completely to a more responsible game and that’s led to Zegras leading all Ducks forwards in expected goals against at just two per 60, down from 3.7 last season. That’s a massive improvement from a year prior that’s manifested into more offensive zone time and more chances.

The goals and points aren’t there yet, but they’re coming soon given how much skill Zegras has and how well he’s tilting the ice. It’s night and day from last season.
Click to expand...

theathletic.com

16 Stats: Quinn Hughes' hot start, Penguins' slow start, Trevor Zegras' quiet start

Does the Canucks' Hughes, ranked in Tier 3B, deserve an upgrade now?
theathletic.com theathletic.com
 
  • Like
Reactions: anezthes, DuckDuckGetz, Goose of Reason and 4 others
I think things will come around for Zegras. I have been super impressed with how Cronin has been able to put players, and the team, in positions to succeed.

One highlight, at least for me, was Zegras dogging Maccelli in OT and preventing him from getting any space. It was a great effort that led to an eventual turnover. I don’t think last year’s Zegras would have be able to hang with him that long.

John
 
  • Like
Reactions: robbieboy3686 and lwvs84
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom