DavidBL
Registered User
I think Z is better as a center. 3 lines could make some real match up issues for other teams.
Speculation: 2023-24 Roster Thread
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McTavish and Terry unfortunately don't seem to have any chemistry. I think Hockey Duckie is right that Henrique could take draws for Carlsson and he's had past success with Terry. Zegras has been pretty good at draws and it's hard to break up the McTavish line. The team loves Silf, as he's on the PP for some odd reason, and he'll play if healthy. Based on all of that, I think it will be:
Henrique-Carlsson-Terry
Vatrano--McTavish-Strome
Killorn-Zegras-Silf
Johnston-Carrick-Leason
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
I think Mac does better when there's at least one power forward on his line to help him do the banging around. Last year, the Jones-Mac-Leason line looked good. When we did experiment with a xxx-Mac-Strome line against the first St. Louis b2b, only the Mac line was doing damage and the rest of our lines were dominated. Eakins split up the Mac-Strome combo into Strome 2C and Mac 3C to give the team better balance down the middle.
With big Carl onboard and Killorn injured, Strome got another shot with Mac this year.
When Mac was with the Petes in his D+1 season, he had PF Ryan Winterton with him and they played well together.
With big Carl onboard and Killorn injured, Strome got another shot with Mac this year.
When Mac was with the Petes in his D+1 season, he had PF Ryan Winterton with him and they played well together.
Hockey Duckie
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Ohhh... maybe Z can reinvigorate Silf's sniping skills again?! Potentially many "ooh ahh Silf!"
KaseMeOutside
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It's a waste of Zegras talent to put him with Silf, put him in the Strome spot and try to get chemistry with McTavish, they're gonna have to learn to play together
SmokeyDuck
Registered User
Killorn-Carlsson-Terry
Vatrano-McTavish-Strome
Henrique-Zegras-Leason
Johnston-Carrick-Silf
Vatrano-McTavish-Strome
Henrique-Zegras-Leason
Johnston-Carrick-Silf
FlyingV09
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All Mighty
Registered User
According to AHL Transactions, Luneau has been sent to the Gulls, who play in Charlotte today and tomorrow.
Wow, I guess management thinks going back to juniors wouldn't help him.
Arthuros
Registered Snoozer
Think that holds for both him and Zell (and Minty obviously). When you've won the award for top defenceman, you kinda don't have much to do down there.
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This seems strategic all the way around. They think Luneau is too good for juniors, but he's not good enough for consistent NHL playing time and he's ineligible for the AHL. Luneau's junior team is terrible (or at least, it was - I haven't kept up with them recently), so that's another strike. They can sneak in a bit of AHL time with this conditioning stint, plus he can practice with the NHL squad and then get released to juniors for the WJC.
I was going to say that this also allows Noah Warren to be the man on that team, but apparently Warren is on a different team now.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
Except Zell and Minchy are eligible to play in the AHL. Zell is 20 years old now and Minchy turns 20 on Nov 25th. The age deadline to qualify to play in the AHL is be 20 years old before Jan 1st, iirc. Luneau turns 20 years old on Jan 12th.
Zell was sent back to juniors after winning D-man of the year in the WHL. All he did was win a 2nd WHL d-man of the year and d-man of the CHL.
Olen Zellweger wins CHL Defenceman of the Year Award — O2K Sports Management
THE WHL, JUNE 3, 2023
www.o2kmanagement.com
70sSanO
Registered User
It was not that many years ago when the Ducks rarely got an odd man rush, and even rarer when they didn’t blow a 2 on 1 or even a 3 on 1, and at times a 3 on 0.
The puck always went back first and then out off the D zone. And the team would set up.
While the team has been working to become more of a north-south team , even under Eakins, Cronin has ratcheted it up to a new level. It obviously helps to have the blue line we have now.
The issue is, Zegras has always seemed, at least to me, like an east-west guy. Most of his damage happens when he gets defenses twisted in knots and he takes advantage of an opening. As much as I can’t believe I’m writing this, when he and Milano were both engaged, defenses were befuddled.
It can be a major advantage to have a very creative line that can move the puck in the o-zone, but the team needs to surround Zegras with players who fit with his style. I’m not sure who those line mates should be.
John
The puck always went back first and then out off the D zone. And the team would set up.
While the team has been working to become more of a north-south team , even under Eakins, Cronin has ratcheted it up to a new level. It obviously helps to have the blue line we have now.
The issue is, Zegras has always seemed, at least to me, like an east-west guy. Most of his damage happens when he gets defenses twisted in knots and he takes advantage of an opening. As much as I can’t believe I’m writing this, when he and Milano were both engaged, defenses were befuddled.
It can be a major advantage to have a very creative line that can move the puck in the o-zone, but the team needs to surround Zegras with players who fit with his style. I’m not sure who those line mates should be.
John
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
Does Luneau have to get released to his junior team to play at the WJC-20? Shane Wright didn't have to be sent back to his junior team to participate with his WJC-20 team.
Kraken send No. 4 overall pick Wright to juniors
Shane Wright, who went fourth in last summer's NHL draft, was sent to juniors by the Seattle Kraken on Friday.
Arthuros
Registered Snoozer
Yeah, I wasn't saying there were any limitations on Zell or Minchy to get sent to the A. Moreso agreeing that Luneau hasn't got a whole lot more to learn in juniors unless he wants the CHL-wide award.Except Zell and Minchy are eligible to play in the AHL. Zell is 20 years old now and Minchy turns 20 on Nov 25th. The age deadline to qualify to play in the AHL is be 20 years old before Jan 1st, iirc. Luneau turns 20 years old on Jan 12th.
Zell was sent back to juniors after winning D-man of the year in the WHL. All he did was win a 2nd WHL d-man of the year and d-man of the CHL.
Olen Zellweger wins CHL Defenceman of the Year Award — O2K Sports Management
THE WHL, JUNE 3, 2023
robbieboy3686
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Luneau is learning how pros workout and eat and practice etc. it’s all super valuable
MMC
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Hockey Duckie
Registered User
Kinda odd. Break up a line that's working and then force chemistry.
Anyhow, Vatrano and Strome were originally going to be part of our third line before injuries hit Carlsson and Killorn. Yet, Mac made it work. Maybe if Z is as good as we say he is, that he can also do what Mac's doing, which is to elevate his teammate's play. Z with Rico and Silf means he's got wingers who know how to play defense and both vets know how where to score as well as how to score.
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Reveille1984
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I'm guessing it will be a 50/50 split with Gibson and Dostal for the most part, which is fine.
Gibson gets more time to rest all of the nagging injuries he gets, and Dostal gets some good NHL experience in a year where we don't really have any expectations.
Gibson gets more time to rest all of the nagging injuries he gets, and Dostal gets some good NHL experience in a year where we don't really have any expectations.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
It all depends on perspective. I think all the knowledge Luneau gained at the rookie tourney and training camp, especially when playing with LaCombe, that he can apply that knowledge at the junior level. Most CHL defensemen don't play sharp defense and that could have been Luneau's role.
It's obvious that Luneau isn't ready for the NHL. In Cronin's last interview where Terry scored a hat trick, Cronin identified that Luneau holds the puck too long in the NHL and is still trying to adapt. Whereas Minchy has adapted already to pushing the puck than carrying the puck, which was probably how Michy played when he was younger in Russia as well as how European soccer is played. NA soccer loves to hold the ball far too long.
Luneau carried the offensive load last year for his team. This year, it could have been his goal to improve the team's overall defense while maintaining his high scoring. And then carry that onto the WJC.
Luneau sticking in the NHL this long with limited play fits into plan of moving up the rebuild by a year. Verbeek threw so many rookies up to see what sticks. Minchy didn't look good at the rookie tourney nor the start of pre-season games. Yet, he adapted quickly. Carlsson started off with a bang and looks as though he hit a wall early this season. Carlsson is on a "strength mgmt" plan. Luneau is also probably on that similar plan of "strength mgmt".
If Luneau plays in the CHL, there isn't a lot of down time to rest period for the body to rebuild the muscles. Staying with the NHL club, the Ducks are trying to save a year of muscle building by doing it this year during the season, as opposed to waiting for the summer months. Also, in that muscle building, specifically legs, Luneau could regain that burst he lost after knee surgery.
I also think Gibson would benefit from a challenge from within. After years of hopelessness you start to sink to that level.
Gibby at roughly 50% time and dostwall the other 50 makes most sense to me.
If gibson plays well, lets say 915 save percentage, he is not a hindrance and could have trade value if goalie starved team wanted to make a deal. At worst he then is tandem or a trade piece of some value assuming he still wants out in the aetting of a team that gives up 10 fewer shots per night and gets 4 goals for actual wins.
Gibson playing hurt, being a 900 or lower goalie at 6 mill is the worst case cause we cant move that contract
If gibson plays well, lets say 915 save percentage, he is not a hindrance and could have trade value if goalie starved team wanted to make a deal. At worst he then is tandem or a trade piece of some value assuming he still wants out in the aetting of a team that gives up 10 fewer shots per night and gets 4 goals for actual wins.
Gibson playing hurt, being a 900 or lower goalie at 6 mill is the worst case cause we cant move that contract
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That seems to have been the plan so far, but Gibson's minor injury sort of opened the door for Dostal and he delivered. There's a real possibility he gets more starts based on his play and I'd be ok with that.
If Dostal starts on Sunday, that tells me Cronin is leaning toward the hot hand and isn't necessarily tied to a legacy player.
Deuce22
Registered User
I am hopeful that Cronin will make part of the new culture a departure from the "legacy mindset." If Dostal is a better goaltender than Gibson it shouldn't be 50/50.
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