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

 

[wesott11]

It’s times like this I wish we had more impulsive management. The team looks like their feet are tied down by a terrible system. Theres no creativity, everyone seems more interested in finding their “correct” position on the ice instead of reading plays.

Also, this power play is so damn easy to predict it’s a wonder they’re even able to get shots on it.

Cronin is an absolute joke of an NHL coach and is hindering the growth of our young players.

 

[Mr Rogers]

I’m pretty skeptical about Cronin’s temperament to be an NHL coach to begin with and if the poor performances and losses pile up, even more so

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

These first 5 games have sent me from moderately supporting Cronin to moderately opposing him.

I really wish we had a clearer picture of the flu situation in the room because that would be hugely problematic, but the problem is that they seem to keep rolling out the same thing every night.

Cronin got hired by a committee that included Kariya and Neids - I really think his whole “mental toughness” approach wowed them and I think that is fine but there has to be some tactical adjustments deployed ASAP or this is going to get really ugly really quickly.

 

[ADHB]

These first 5 games have sent me from moderately supporting Cronin to moderately opposing him.

I really wish we had a clearer picture of the flu situation in the room because that would be hugely problematic, but the problem is that they seem to keep rolling out the same thing every night.

Cronin got hired by a committee that included Kariya and Neids - I really think his whole “mental toughness” approach wowed them and I think that is fine but there has to be some tactical adjustments deployed ASAP or this is going to get really ugly really quickly.

Verbeek got hired by the committee, not Cronin.

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

Verbeek got hired by the committee, not Cronin.

Ah you’re right.

It was that Kariya and Cronin have a history that I was remembering.

 

[KelVarnsen]

Give me Bruce B again over this clown. At least BB’s teams played hard, offensive hockey.

 

[robbieboy3686]

These first 5 games have sent me from moderately supporting Cronin to moderately opposing him.

I really wish we had a clearer picture of the flu situation in the room because that would be hugely problematic, but the problem is that they seem to keep rolling out the same thing every night.

Cronin got hired by a committee that included Kariya and Neids - I really think his whole “mental toughness” approach wowed them and I think that is fine but there has to be some tactical adjustments deployed ASAP or this is going to get really ugly really quickly.

The flu problem, let’s not assume all the players have it, just because Beavis lacombe Took so long to play his first game.

 

[Quack Shot]

I’m starting to lose patience with the coaching staff.

The entire point of the new PP coach was to have a coach that worked well with the young players and get through to them. Not only has he sucked at his job, but the players have looked worse all around minus Dostal.

Overall, we’re 2-2-1, not bad. But we look terrible. Last season we started out terrible record wise, but there was hope because we played better and then had that win streak. Instead, we’re primed for a losing streak and Cronin’s not going to have a job at the end of it.

 

[KelVarnsen]

I don’t PV will fire him even after a long losing streak. Someone else said it but he seems too proud to admit he f‘ed up with this hire. I think the team is stuck with Cronin absent losing some ungodly amount of games in a row (like NHL record number).

 

[Pebble live]

These systems are just so hard to watch. The defensive structure is awful and the offence has a hard time getting going because of it.

I've loved watching this Ducks team over the past few years because of the kids and the potential. But this is the first time I've been frustrated even with the understanding that the kids are still growing. The younger guys are not going to meet or even show their potential if this continues. Management is going to end up making bonehead decisions on these assets because the youngsters are floundering under this coaching staff.

Hopefully this isn't allowed to continue for much longer.

 

[TheGoodShepard1]

I appreciate that PV tried to take an inventive approach instead of going with a retread (though in retrospect, a veteran head coach might have been a better direction) and I do think Cronin is a smart guy capable of introspection (as I’ve said before in here), but at this point, he looks like an overmatched coach and there might have had a reason why he didn’t get considered for a NHL head coaching job until his 60s