Speculation: 2024-25 Coaching/Management/Ownership

[Ducks]

Z should be centering a scoring line. We've seen him make magic happen there plenty of times. Playing wing limits his playmaking ability.

 

[KelVarnsen]

Z should be centering a scoring line. We've seen him make magic happen there plenty of times. Playing wing limits his playmaking ability.

At this point it’s Mctavish who should be a wing cause he sucks defensively anyways and has not been effective at all at center this year. Not sure Cronin has the balls to bench or change Mctavish though.

 

[Boo Boo]

At this point it’s Mactavish who should be a wing cause he sucks defensively anyways and has not been effective at all at center this year. Not sure Cronin has the balls to bench or change Mactavish though.

Defensive deficiencies aside he also just has a skill set that in theory should rock along the boards/ shooting / and in front of the net

 

[dracom]

Z should be centering a scoring line. We've seen him make magic happen there plenty of times. Playing wing limits his playmaking ability.

Z will never be center here because he doesn't fit the right stereotype of what a center should be according to cronin. mctavish is bigger and mean so he's obviously the better option despite doing nothing but committing penalties. Cronin won't do what's best for his players instead he's forcing them to play in a way that doesn't best suit them.

 

[TheGoodShepard1]

They're not going to make a coaching change mid-season, but as it stands right now, I will have serious questions about Verbeek if Cronin is behind the bench in 25-26.

 

[KelVarnsen]

I love the TV show The West Wing. In the season where Bartlett meets his election foe from Florida, there’s a scene at a theater where Bartlett tells his opponent a secret service agent was just killed in a robbery. The response is, “Crime. Boy, I don’t know” in a thick Florida accent.

I always imagine this scene at Cronin’s interviews.

“How do you get the team to play better?”

“Hockey. Boy, I don’t know” in a think Boston accent.

Nincompoop.

 

[DavidBL]

At this point I have 0 faith in the organizations ability to turn this team around. From coaches to GM.

 

[70sSanO]

The problem I see is Verbeek and Cronin both want a team built for the playoffs. Right now we are so removed from any chance of a playoff spot and our players first need to be successful in the NHL.

In this league putting up points is rewarded. Granted, there are great 2-way players out there, but without the offensive numbers, they have little value.

These kids need to find their offensive game first. Without an offensive threat we will always be pressured as there are no consequences.

We either have the wrong Mgmt or the wrong players. Either way it is not working and there is little to suggest it will.

John

 

[AngelDuck]

we’re hopeless. I’ve kinda given up on this year which sucks to say in October but it’s the reality of how lousy we look offensively. I’m willing to give Verbeek another year or 2 to figure it out but his next head coach pick will be critical for his Ducks career.

Also if we’re going to be real bad again, we better find another elite talent(someone close to as good as Carlsson)

So far we’ve drafted some pretty good players in the top 10 but only one elite guy. Sennecke could maybe be a 2nd but that’s a big maybe

 

[snowave]

The problem I see is Verbeek and Cronin both want a team built for the playoffs. Right now we are so removed from any chance of a playoff spot and our players first need to be successful in the NHL.

In this league putting up points is rewarded. Granted, there are great 2-way players out there, but without the offensive numbers, they have little value.

These kids need to find their offensive game first. Without an offensive threat we will always be pressured as there are no consequences.

We either have the wrong Mgmt or the wrong players. Either way it is not working and there is little to suggest it will.

John

More likely, both.

 

[Mr Rogers]

Z is the most frustrating case for me. No reason for him to have 2 points so far this year. Just hard to not look at Cronin because he's focused on Zegs a lot in his not even 1.5 years with the team. A good offensive coach would find solutions to help make him productive.

I think i've said this a few times but Cronin very likely isn't remotely capable of getting elite offensive production out of even the most talented. I worry he's getting like 50% of what they could bring and that goes for the dmen too.

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

I think its time fans either dont go to the games or go with paper bags.. Its f***ing shamfull.. Weve been rebuilding for how long now? Its f***ing ridiculous

 

[AngelDuck]

I don’t think Verbeek has done a terrible job so far but it sure would be nice if he could make a Devon Toews or Casey Mittlestadt type trade. Not holding my breath though

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

Z should be centering a scoring line. We've seen him make magic happen there plenty of times. Playing wing limits his playmaking ability.

Z should first simplify his game..

 

[70sSanO]

The only hope we have is Verbeek making a change because of how bad it makes him look.

It is funny how Yzerman was considered a top GM because of his time in Tampa Bay. And Verbeek basically followed him from Tampa to Detroit.

Now Yzerman’s aura has lost a lot of its shine. Whether he was lucky in Tampa Bay, or the game has moved on, he is not doing a good job in Detroit.

Hopefully PV will do some real soul searching about what is going on, and not think it is a normal part of a maturation process. Detroit should be a perfect example of a failed rebuild.

I read an article that Patrick Kane thinks they are too defensive oriented. If that doesn’t sound like the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree, I don’t know what does.

John

 

[Reveille1984]

Even though most would consider Detroit's rebuild to be stalled, at least they were able to finish 18th last year with 90+ points. That would be a dream result for the Ducks. We don't even look like we're playing the same sport as the rest of the league most of the time.

Verbeek's biggest problem has been not insulating the extremely young core with any actual good veterans IMHO. We have a bunch of 19-22 year olds getting worked every night, interspersed with a bunch of 30+ dudes mostly on the downswing of their careers.

This is likely why GMPV's big plan was to grab a couple impact guys in the offseason to take a little pressure off the kids, but he completely whiffed and also failed to make any impactful roster improvements by trade. Now we're expecting a top line of Carlsson/Gauthier and a defensive group of children (Luneau/Zellweger/Minty/LaCombe) to not be a bottom five NHL team?

Sure Cronin doesn't seem to be doing much to help the situation, and likely isn't the long term guy for this club. But the Ducks have maybe one player in their NHL prime on the entire roster (Terry), along with the supposed "due for a breakout" duo of Zegras/McTavish combining for one goal in eight games (and an empty netter at that) which has crushed any potential offensive momentum.

It's seeming more and more like our best option is going to be using some of our prospects/draft capital to swing a trade a or two for some solid NHL players at some point. I'm sure Verbeek is aware of this. Higher tier FAs aren't going to sign here, and continuing to be 30th or lower every year with zero upward trajectory is going to destroy any confidence and morale this group has.