Speculation: 2024-25 Coaching/Management/Ownership

[HanSolo]

Every day with Cronin is a day of development lost for the young guys, and a black mark on Verbeeks tenure.

Every day is a failure by this organization from the owners to the GM.

 

[2faded]

What the players are saying matches what I'm seeing. They seem lost.

This is just my own speculation. But last game, there was a play where I think it was Killorn tried to pass the puck back to the point without looking first and no one was there. I'm pretty sure he raised his arm in frustration like 'where tf is the man on the point?'.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

It's baffling how Pat doesn't see this or isn't taking some drastic measures.

It is not baffling if you recall how Pat felt about the end of last year compared to the end of Eakins' last year. There was no time about review on Eakins to let him go as the team earned 58 points with a shit roster. There was a glowing review about Cronin, the culture, the compete, etc... while having a more talented roster, fewer goals scored at ES, and earned 59 points.

Many on here also bought into the copium by making excuses for Cronin and none for Eakins such as injuries affected Cronin, but injuries under Eakins were inconsequential or that Cronin is still a much better coach because of blah, blah, blah reasons.

We now agree the problems from last year still persist this year, but Verbeek isn't dissuaded because the culture is correct, the compete is where he wants it to be, and just needs more time to gel. Verbeek had to tell the owners that a reset rebuild would take five years and that has bought Verbeek time to be full of himself.

The only thing good about Verbeek's tenure are the draft picks, but Verbeek is riding off the coattails of the scouting team that was here long before he became the Ducks' GM.

 

[ohcomeonref]

It is not baffling if you recall how Pat felt about the end of last year compared to the end of Eakins' last year. There was no time about review on Eakins to let him go as the team earned 58 points with a shit roster. There was a glowing review about Cronin, the culture, the compete, etc... while having a more talented roster, fewer goals scored at ES, and earned 59 points.

Many on here also bought into the copium by making excuses for Cronin and none for Eakins such as injuries affected Cronin, but injuries under Eakins were inconsequential or that Cronin is still a much better coach because of blah, blah, blah reasons.

We now agree the problems from last year still persist this year, but Verbeek isn't dissuaded because the culture is correct, the compete is where he wants it to be, and just needs more time to gel. Verbeek had to tell the owners that a reset rebuild would take five years and that has bought Verbeek time to be full of himself.

The only thing good about Verbeek's tenure are the draft picks, but Verbeek is riding off the coattails of the scouting team that was here long before he became the Ducks' GM.

Even this is somewhat in the air. He hasn't made any slam-dunk picks unless I'm forgetting someone.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Even this is somewhat in the air. He hasn't made any slam-dunk picks unless I'm forgetting someone.

The high-end potential exists with our prospects, but the development process at the pro level has stunted them, including the youths from the previous regime such as Zegras scoring 60+ points for two consecutive seasons and then the offense dropped off under HC Cronin.

Minty (2022), Luneau (2022), and Carlsson (2023) have looked amazing prior to coming to the pro side. Minty and Luneau won defensive player of the year in their respective leagues. Sennecke (2024) looks amazing in juniors and several 2024 draft class are popping off offensively.

 

[robbieboy3686]

I have to be honest, I have lost pretty much all optimism until Cronin is gone. Everything we have read about team chemistry and moral is that it is f***ed.

I dont even care if Cronin is to blame. SOMETHING has to change, and a coaching change is by far the easiest way to get that change. Not to mention Cronin hasnt shown he can be an effective NHL coach anyways.

+1

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

I don't expect Cronin to get fired mid season. But if PV does not fire him by the end of the season I fear we are in for a very disappointing future until Henry has the guts to fire Pat. And that may not be for a long time.

 

[ohcomeonref]

The high-end potential exists with our prospects, but the development process at the pro level has stunted them, including the youths from the previous regime such as Zegras scoring 60+ points for two consecutive seasons and then the offense dropped off under HC Cronin.

Minty (2022), Luneau (2022), and Carlsson (2023) have looked amazing prior to coming to the pro side. Minty and Luneau won defensive player of the year in their respective leagues. Sennecke (2024) looks amazing in juniors and several 2024 draft class are popping off offensively.

Absolutely agreed on the development at the pro level.

 

[Reveille1984]

Man, Terry and Killorn actually putting those comments out in the open is pretty damning IMHO. Especially hockey players where 99% of soundbites and interviews are "we gotta move our legs and get the pucks deep, etc." Usually when guys start making direct criticisms you know something stinks.

The Lyubushkin comments were the first chink in the armor, but I don't think many really cared since he's a fringe guy who was already gone. Two roster players basically saying "yeah, we're all just kind of running around out there and there's no set plays or structure" is a pretty large slap in the face to Cronin.