Terry Yake
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- Aug 5, 2013
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yup. he was on the coaching staff in the inaugural season up until wilson left after 97Under Ron Wilson, I think? Forever ago.
yup. he was on the coaching staff in the inaugural season up until wilson left after 97Under Ron Wilson, I think? Forever ago.
Dean Evason, just hired by the Jackets, seems like he would have been a good pick over Cronin for these in-between years IMO.
Of course he already had a job when we hired Cronin, which probably made him not even an option for us.
That really doesn't mean too much to me unless Cronin starts showing that Verbeek has an knack for hiring good coaches. For now, I'd say the jury is still out.I still believe Verbeek wants McIlvane to be his NHL coach of the future, but his plans got delayed by a year due to contract issues with McIlvane's German club. Verbeek had secured a former assistant coach under McIlvane in Kris Sparre two seasons ago for the Gulls. That's why coach Sommer was a last minute hire. We didn't see tremendous growth in San Diego this past season, but we also didn't have a great roster either.
Agreed on Pat teeing up McIlvane. Like Cronin and several of our players, this will be a big year for McIlvane.I still believe Verbeek wants McIlvane to be his NHL coach of the future, but his plans got delayed by a year due to contract issues with McIlvane's German club. Verbeek had secured a former assistant coach under McIlvane in Kris Sparre two seasons ago for the Gulls. That's why coach Sommer was a last minute hire. We didn't see tremendous growth in San Diego this past season, but we also didn't have a great roster either.
Didn't really make a ton of roster additions, so might be difficult to really tell if hes decent or not.Agreed on Pat teeing up McIlvane. Like Cronin and several of our players, this will be a big year for McIlvane.
I’m still not sure how anyone can critically and fairly judge Cronin after the injuries we had last season.
Trust me..I’ll be critical of him by mid-season if we’re still in the same spot
2023-24 | Top-6 Forward | Talents | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Forward | GP | G | A | Pts |
Zegras | 1 | 81 | 23 | 42 | 65 |
Terry | 1 | 70 | 23 | 38 | 61 |
Mac | 1 | 80 | 17 | 26 | 43 |
Vatrano | 1 | 81 | 22 | 19 | 41 |
Strome | 1 | 82 | 15 | 26 | 41 |
Rico | 1 | 62 | 22 | 16 | 38 |
Totals | 6 | 456 | 122 | 167 | 289 |
2023-24 | Top-6 Forward | Talents | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Forward | GP | G | A | Pts |
Vatrano | 1 | 82 | 37 | 23 | 60 |
Terry | 1 | 76 | 20 | 34 | 54 |
Mac | 1 | 64 | 19 | 23 | 42 |
Rico | 1 | 60 | 18 | 24 | 42 |
Strome | 1 | 79 | 11 | 30 | 41 |
Killorn | 1 | 63 | 18 | 18 | 36 |
Carlsson | 1 | 55 | 12 | 17 | 29 |
Zegras | 1 | 31 | 6 | 9 | 15 |
Totals | 8 | 510 | 141 | 178 | 319 |
Ducks | 1g Games | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | 1g Games | W | L | OTL | Pts | Pct of Games | Point Share | Win Pct | ||
2021-22 | 38 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 40 | 46.3% | 52.6% | 34.2% | ||
2022-23 | 33 | 14 | 7 | 12 | 40 | 40.2% | 60.6% | 42.4% | ||
2023-24 | 30 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 31 | 36.6% | 51.7% | 43.3% |
Every time you post this I’m going to ask, how many games did Cronin actually get to use that extra top-6 talent, and what was our record in those games? You have dodged this multiple times, but Eakins missing Grant vs Cronin missing Zegras, McTavish, Carlsson (for multiple reasons), Killorn are not equal in the slightest. Cronin did not have utilization of a better top 6 for more than what, 15 games? And I know you know what our record looked like in those.Can't really use injury as an excuse when Eakins' last roster was also hit by mass injuries, but the roster talent sucked far worse.
2022-23 Injury chart (via InjuryViz)
View attachment 896572
2023-24 Top-6 Forward Talents Player Forward GP G A Pts Zegras 1 81 23 42 65Terry 1 70 23 38 61Mac 1 80 17 26 43Vatrano 1 81 22 19 41Strome 1 82 15 26 41Rico 1 62 22 16 38Totals 6 456 122 167 289
2023-24 Injury chart (via InjuryViz)
View attachment 896573
*Note: Rico was traded away at the TDL.
2023-24 Top-6 Forward Talents Player Forward GP G A Pts Vatrano 1 82 37 23 60Terry 1 76 20 34 54Mac 1 64 19 23 42Rico 1 60 18 24 42Strome 1 79 11 30 41Killorn 1 63 18 18 36Carlsson 1 55 12 17 29Zegras 1 31 6 9 15Totals 8 510 141 178 319
Despite the injuries, Cronin's roster had more top-6F talent on it. Those talents played more games as well as scored more goals, assists, and points than the 2022-23 Eakins' top-6F grouping. Cronin was given far more talent top-6F to be able to absorb injuries. He also was gifted far more defensive talent not only to absorb injuries, but to also trade away RD Drysdale for prospect Cutter Gauthier in early January, a month before the all-star break (see report card below for ES defensive proof). Drysdale only played in 10 games out of a total 39 eligible games before being traded.
======================================
Cronin's Report Card (improvements from last season)
======================================
- Report Card
- ES Offense =
(21 fewer goals)
- ES Defense =
(improved by 53 fewer goals allowed)
- PP Goals =
(+7 PP goals)
- PK Goals Against =
(allowed 13 more PK goals against)
- PK Opp Against =
(allowed 50 more opportunities being short-handed)
- Record =
(only 1 point better than last season)
- 1-goal games =
Ducks 1g Games Season 1g Games W L OTL Pts Pct of Games Point Share Win Pct 2021-22 38 13 11 14 40 46.3% 52.6% 34.2%2022-23 33 14 7 12 40 40.2% 60.6% 42.4%2023-24 30 13 125 31 36.6% 51.7% 43.3%
Cronin was gifted with far more talent depth, but relied a lot on that talent to produce. Whereas with Eakins, his less talented team clawed up ways to find points. If Cronin's team didn't beat Vegas in the last game of the season, then Cronin would have produced one less point than Eakins' club. ::: shuddering :::
One injury-plagued year is not enough to judge him as a whole, but we can fairly look at how he reacted to the adversity of the season and judge him on that. The repeated "I just don't know what to do" postgame whining. The ridiculous "let's have a full practice on the same day of a game" training camp, which looks like an even worse idea after seeing how injuries derailed the season (obviously I'm not saying they're definitely related, but it's kind of hard not to wonder). The team's penalty and discipline issues that never seemed to improve even a little bit, the seeming double standards... there was a lot to dislike beyond the record.I’m still not sure how anyone can critically and fairly judge Cronin after the injuries we had last season.
Trust me..I’ll be critical of him by mid-season if we’re still in the same spot
Are you seriously running back the 'Eakins was affected just as badly by injuries' thing again? He was absolutely not, and no amount of repeating 'look, I added two more guys to the top six and the numbers went up, therefore the injuries didn't matter!' will make it so.Can't really use injury as an excuse when Eakins' last roster was also hit by mass injuries, but the roster talent sucked far worse.
2022-23 Injury chart (via InjuryViz)
View attachment 896572
2023-24 Top-6 Forward Talents Player Forward GP G A Pts Zegras 1 81 23 42 65Terry 1 70 23 38 61Mac 1 80 17 26 43Vatrano 1 81 22 19 41Strome 1 82 15 26 41Rico 1 62 22 16 38Totals 6 456 122 167 289
2023-24 Injury chart (via InjuryViz)
View attachment 896573
*Note: Rico was traded away at the TDL.
2023-24 Top-6 Forward Talents Player Forward GP G A Pts Vatrano 1 82 37 23 60Terry 1 76 20 34 54Mac 1 64 19 23 42Rico 1 60 18 24 42Strome 1 79 11 30 41Killorn 1 63 18 18 36Carlsson 1 55 12 17 29Zegras 1 31 6 9 15Totals 8 510 141 178 319
Despite the injuries, Cronin's roster had more top-6F talent on it. Those talents played more games as well as scored more goals, assists, and points than the 2022-23 Eakins' top-6F grouping. Cronin was given far more talent top-6F to be able to absorb injuries. He also was gifted far more defensive talent not only to absorb injuries, but to also trade away RD Drysdale for prospect Cutter Gauthier in early January, a month before the all-star break (see report card below for ES defensive proof). Drysdale only played in 10 games out of a total 39 eligible games before being traded.
======================================
Cronin's Report Card (improvements from last season)
======================================
- Report Card
- ES Offense =
(21 fewer goals)- ES Defense =
(improved by 53 fewer goals allowed)- PP Goals =
(+7 PP goals)- PK Goals Against =
(allowed 13 more PK goals against)- PK Opp Against =
(allowed 50 more opportunities being short-handed)- Record =
(only 1 point better than last season)- 1-goal games =
Ducks 1g Games Season 1g Games W L OTL Pts Pct of Games Point Share Win Pct 2021-22 38 13 11 14 40 46.3% 52.6% 34.2%2022-23 33 14 7 12 40 40.2% 60.6% 42.4%2023-24 30 13 125 31 36.6% 51.7% 43.3%
Cronin was gifted with far more talent depth, but relied a lot on that talent to produce. Whereas with Eakins, his less talented team clawed up ways to find points. If Cronin's team didn't beat Vegas in the last game of the season, then Cronin would have produced one less point than Eakins' club. ::: shuddering :::
I feel like I've seen us sign a handful of Gulls players, they are just all announced under one tweet.Didn't really make a ton of roster additions, so might be difficult to really tell if hes decent or not.
The only players listed here are the players signed to AHL contracts, everyone else won't be until they're assigned there over the course of campI feel like I've seen us sign a handful of Gulls players, they are just all announced under one tweet.
Right now the Gulls' site lists a total of 7 players on the roster (kind of strange) but four of them are new players, including veteran D-men in Heatherington and McKeown, which I think is something the Gulls sorely needed.
Some optics did not look promising. Way too often he said he had no clue of what the team was doing or similar phrases.I’m still not sure how anyone can critically and fairly judge Cronin after the injuries we had last season.
Trust me..I’ll be critical of him by mid-season if we’re still in the same spot
This is one of my biggest issues with him. He appeared clueless to me towards the end of the year during interviews.Some optics did not look promising. Way too often he said he had no clue of what the team was doing or similar phrases.
But I'm willing go give him another go, hopefully for a full and healthy season
People are far too concerned with words over action in my experience. They just want to be sweet talked.Judging a coach on the way he gives postgame interviews is like judging an astronaut based on the way he poops in space. Sure, it's technically part of the job, but not at all important. Some people just don't do well at extemporaneous speaking. Maybe Cronin could be better at spouting meaningless cliches, since that's what 98% of coaches do, or he could make everyone chuckle by dropping f-bombs, but it wouldn't change anything.
I do think it's fair to judge the seeming lack of progression from the team throughout the season. Like others, though, I'd like to see what Cronin will do with a roster that's both a little bit healthier and older, and knows what to expect from training camp. If the same problems are plaguing the team by New Year's (lack of discipline, inability to break the puck out, squelching of offensive talent), then I think it will be clearer that Cronin isn't the answer.
Every time you post this I’m going to ask, how many games did Cronin actually get to use that extra top-6 talent, and what was our record in those games? You have dodged this multiple times, but Eakins missing Grant vs Cronin missing Zegras, McTavish, Carlsson (for multiple reasons), Killorn are not equal in the slightest. Cronin did not have utilization of a better top 6 for more than what, 15 games? And I know you know what our record looked like in those.
Eakins got a healthy Zegras and a pre-baby Terry, that’s more than Cronin got to work with this year. Whether that is self inflicted because his practices are too intense remains to be seen, but you keep trying to spin this narrative that Eakins did equal with less, which is flat out wrong.
Ducks | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Coach | Games | W | L | OTL | Pts | Pts Pct | GF | GA | GD | |
2022-23 | Eakins | 82 | 23 | 47 | 12 | 58 | 35.4% | 206 | 335 | -129 | |
2023-24 | Cronin | 82 | 27 | 50 | 5 | 59 | 36.0% | 203 | 293 | -90 | |
Difference | Cronin - | Eakins | 4 | 3 | -7 | 1 | 0.0061 | | -3 | -42 | 39 |
Ducks | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | 1g Games | W | L | OTL | Pts | Pct of Games | Point Share | ||
2022-23 | 33 | 14 | 7 | 12 | 40 | 40.2% | 60.6% | ||
2023-24 | 30 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 31 | 36.6% | 51.7% |
"Where we're failing, is our bottom-six production," Verbeek expressed at the "Ducks Migration" event on March 9. "When you start to look at those one-goal games that we keep losing, that's the difference for me."
Cronin seems very slow to adapt to what doesn't work. That, and how he self-admitted to treating zegras different than any other player are not hallmarks of a great coach. Even a good one.I’m still not sure how anyone can critically and fairly judge Cronin after the injuries we had last season.
Trust me..I’ll be critical of him by mid-season if we’re still in the same spot
Improving defense doesn’t result in wins if you don’t have the forward talent to outscore your still shit defense. And Cronin didn’t have access to the forward talent to overcome it. When he had access to an improved top 6, we did outscore it, as you can see looking at our record, and when those guys were injured we didn’t. Our abysmal bottom 6 didn’t help, which you acknowledged, and Verbeek has also planned to address.
Ducks Season Coach Games W L OTL Pts Pts Pct GF GA GD 2022-23 Eakins 82 23 47 12 58 35.4% 206 335 -1292023-24 Cronin 82 27 50 5 59 36.0% 203 293 -90Difference Cronin - Eakins 4 3 -7 1 0.0061 -3 -42 39
Ducks Season 1g Games W L OTL Pts Pct of Games Point Share 2022-23 33 14 7 12 40 40.2% 60.6%2023-24 30 13 125 31 36.6% 51.7%
Who's doing the lifting, the coach/system or the players? That's the question you are willingly avoiding to answer.
Cronin's group dipped in scoring by a little, but massively improved the defense (GA). So why is the Cronin team only 1 point better? Both teams incurred mass injuries. Despite thinking Grant's talent is nothing, adding Grant back into the lineup would actually improve Eakins' record.
Cronin's top-6 (which was actually was 8 players in depth) still produced more games played, goals, assists, and points than Eakins' top-6. A better top-6F production and vastly better defensive output could only net 1 more team point from the previous season. Which prompted GM Verbeek to say he needed a better bottom-6 to produce more offense.
From The Hockey News (Patrick Present), Mar 14, 2024:
Grant isn't a top-6F, but he does help out in the bottom-6 to make a difference. The fact Eakins' top-6F and defense roster was worse, but Cronin could only do 1 team point better in spite of a +39 goal differential, points to Cronin's system isn't great and/or relies a lot on talent available.
I dunno how you constantly omit how the defense vastly improved for Cronin, but that defensive effort was wasted in these conversation. We were more involved in 1-goal games under Eakins than Cronin and generated more points in those 1-goal games. Eakins did more with far less. Cronin did less with more. My hopes are that Cronin can become more flexible offensively by matching offensive strategy to personnel talent as well as put more of the blame on himself than throw his players under the bus often.
Improving defense doesn’t result in wins if you don’t have the forward talent to outscore your still shit defense. And Cronin didn’t have access to the forward talent to overcome it. When he had access to an improved top 6, we did outscore it, as you can see looking at our record, and when those guys were injured we didn’t. Our abysmal bottom 6 didn’t help, which you acknowledged, and Verbeek has also planned to address.
Eakins benefited from loser points in OT, as well as more OT wins. Eakins had 1 less OT win than Cronin had OT games total. Is it really far fetched to think that with Zegras in the lineup, and a bottom 6 that isn’t full of literal plugs other than Leason and Silf, that maybe we make it to a few more OT’s? Even those guys I’m mentioning as positives in the bottom 6 weren’t really helping in the offensive end other than Leason marginally.
I’m not here to ball-wash Cronin, I think he has major flaws, but I also want to see how he can do with a healthier lineup, and a bottom 6 that has a 4th line that can score more than a combined 17 points.
Ducks | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Game set | Games | W | L | OTL | Pts | Pts Pct | GF | GA | GD | |
2022-23 | season | 82 | 23 | 47 | 12 | 58 | 35.4% | 206 | 335 | -129 | |
2023-24 | season | 82 | 27 | 50 | 5 | 59 | 36.0% | 203 | 293 | -90 | |
Difference | Cronin - | Eakins | 4 | 3 | -7 | 1 | 0.0061 | 0 | -3 | -42 | 39 |