Speculation: 2024-25 Coaching/Management/Ownership

[Dr Johnny Fever]

Short of self imploding like Bob did, Cronin won't be fired until his contract expires, and conveniently for the Ducks, that time frame has never been made public.

The issue isn't how many points can we salvage out of a crappy game, it's whether or not the team looks and plays more cohesively and whether all these talented young players start showing real improvement and not just flashes of brilliance here and there. It's early in the season but there's nothing yet that makes this team look like an improvement over last year. Regardless of game results, this team needs to look a lot better than it has. The sooner, the better.

 

[JAHV]

With a team this young, I don’t see the exuberance that I would expect, especially on the bench. They just don’t look like they have any enjoyment.

There is a fine line between accountability and encouragement.

I also think accountability goes both ways. Players want to be successful and if they have no confidence in the coach, it is tough to execute on the ice.

All professional sports have changed since the time when players were captives of the teams that owned them, so to speak. When they are doing something they think is stupid it is tough to blindly follow it.

No different than a job and a boss. There was a time when a stupid manager would tell employees to do something and they would just do it. People are now more inclined to consider how constantly doing something stupid will affect them and their career. If a better opportunity opens up, they’re gone. At the very least they have already tuned out the boss.

John

Edit Added: The Ducks are 2-1-1 after 4 games, which is a good start. But they sure don’t act like it.

I don't know what you're seeing, but I would say the exact opposite. They seem excited to play, and while I certainly have significant questions about coaching strategy, I think the players seem more upbeat than they have.

 

[70sSanO]

I don't know what you're seeing, but I would say the exact opposite. They seem excited to play, and while I certainly have significant questions about coaching strategy, I think the players seem more upbeat than they have.

Maybe a mirror.

John

 

[ohcomeonref]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1847742410392301695

I love what he's saying here

 

[TheGoodShepard1]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1847742410392301695

I love what he's saying here

Once again, another example of him saying the right things publicly. But can he actually make the adjustments? Find out next episode!

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

Once again, another example of him saying the right things publicly. But can he actually make the adjustments? Find out next episode!

Spoiler alert: he can’t!

*cue Seinfeld music*

 

[Mr Rogers]

In fairness to Cro, he is kind of putting the onus on them to I guess figure it out. So tough to blame him haha

 

[anezthes]

"Right f***ing now!
Not f***ing ideal but this happens so many f***ing times.
But that's not f***ing good enough.
Dig the f*** in.
Right f***ing now!
Whatever the f*** you have!
That is not f***ing good enough.
Let's go get one f***ing PPG at home.
One PPG.
And we'll see what f***ing happens.
But dig the f*** in."
- McCronin

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

Once again, another example of him saying the right things publicly. But can he actually make the adjustments? Find out next episode!

To keep this metaphor going, I think coaching adjustments are more of a season-long arc and not an episode arc. I remain unconvinced that Cronin is the answer or the problem but I don't think you can find convincing evidence in either direction based on a game or even a handful of games.

As a side note, was thinking about the "Zegras is having the creativity coached out of him" idea last night. His assist against Utah was peak Z, IMO. On second glance of his stats it doesn't surprise me that he has points against teams where there is more space (SJ and Utah) and not against teams that have big bodies and oppressive forechecks like Vegas and Colorado.

We'll see how it plays out over the next couple of weeks but right now my conclusion is that Zegras is still Zegras against weaker (or at least more passive) teams, but to get to the next level he's going to have to learn how to succeed against tougher teams. My guess is that the latter is going to look a lot less "creative" than some on these boards would like, but I just don't think you can get away with no-look spin passing against elite teams.

 

[Lord Flashheart]

I think we have more of a personnel problem at PP rather than coaching problem. Poor and slow decision making.

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

I think we have more of a personnel problem at PP rather than coaching problem. Poor and slow decision making.

I don’t like the lines we are running on the PP, forcing us to have McTavish as the net front presence on the PP1 when he has one of our strongest one-timers.

With their current level of playing I’d have McT move to Cutter’s spot on the PP1, have somebody like Killorn in front of the net, then let Strome be the net-front guy on the PP2 and Cutter and Frank battle it out for the one-time option on the second line.

 

[ADHB]

It doesn't matter who's where if all they ever do is go stationary diamond formation, and then pass it around the outside and eventually take a one timer from the wing.

 

[Mr Rogers]

To keep this metaphor going, I think coaching adjustments are more of a season-long arc and not an episode arc. I remain unconvinced that Cronin is the answer or the problem but I don't think you can find convincing evidence in either direction based on a game or even a handful of games.

As a side note, was thinking about the "Zegras is having the creativity coached out of him" idea last night. His assist against Utah was peak Z, IMO. On second glance of his stats it doesn't surprise me that he has points against teams where there is more space (SJ and Utah) and not against teams that have big bodies and oppressive forechecks like Vegas and Colorado.

We'll see how it plays out over the next couple of weeks but right now my conclusion is that Zegras is still Zegras against weaker (or at least more passive) teams, but to get to the next level he's going to have to learn how to succeed against tougher teams. My guess is that the latter is going to look a lot less "creative" than some on these boards would like, but I just don't think you can get away with no-look spin passing against elite teams.

I agree and I was worried that them forcing defense on him would take away all his offense.

I don’t think that’s been happening at least in the early going. It’s been a mixture of not executing, being stripped of the puck (hasn’t done well against tighter defensive play), losing battles, it hasn’t been a matter of him having to play deep in the D zone and never getting a chance to be involved offensively.

 

[AngelDuck]

Zegras needs to be watching video of Panarin. That’s what he needs to learn to do if he wants to be a high end player