Speculation: 2024-25 Coaching/Management/Ownership

[Dr Johnny Fever]

Could you expand with this?

Not in any detail. Only in that Bob made a lot of emotional decisions including ones people never saw and not always well thought out. It was in the context of how much do the Ducks spend/invest in off ice things that help the team get better. Skating coaches, fitness coaches, fitness equipment, etc.

It was a small part of a larger conversation.

 

[All Mighty]

Not in any detail. Only in that Bob made a lot of emotional decisions including ones people never saw and not always well thought out. It was in the context of how much do the Ducks spend/invest in off ice things that help the team get better. Skating coaches, fitness coaches, fitness equipment, etc.

It was a small part of a larger conversation.

I’ve also had a conversation with someone in the organization who said similar things. They said that Murray was essentially forced to start an analytics department, but he never paid any attention to it. They did say that Madden actually utilized the department to help with the draft (don’t know in what context).

It honestly sounded like Verbeek (and the rest of hockey ops) had to bring the organization into the 21st century after he was hired. I would be super interested to hear Verbeek’s honest thoughts on what the organization’s resources were like when he first got here compared to Detroit and Tampa.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

I’ve also had a conversation with someone in the organization who said similar things. They said that Murray was essentially forced to start an analytics department, but he never paid any attention to it. They did say that Madden actually utilized the department to help with the draft (don’t know in what context).

It honestly sounded like Verbeek (and the rest of hockey ops) had to bring the organization into the 21st century after he was hired. I would be super interested to hear Verbeek’s honest thoughts on what the organization’s resources were like when he first got here compared to Detroit and Tampa.

That shouldn't be too surprising to most I would think. It does make you wonder what could have been with someone more open minded.

It also does make one wonder just how far ownership was willing to let Bob continue on until their hand was finally forced.

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

I had an interesting conversation the other day with someone well connected to the team. Seems Bob's demons impacted the team behind the scenes in many ways the public will never know about. And not in a good way.

Working under competent, respectful management can be a headache sometimes. I have no doubt that everyone was walking on eggshells at points, and that's a terrible way to spend 40 hours a week.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I’ve also had a conversation with someone in the organization who said similar things. They said that Murray was essentially forced to start an analytics department, but he never paid any attention to it. They did say that Madden actually utilized the department to help with the draft (don’t know in what context).

It honestly sounded like Verbeek (and the rest of hockey ops) had to bring the organization into the 21st century after he was hired. I would be super interested to hear Verbeek’s honest thoughts on what the organization’s resources were like when he first got here compared to Detroit and Tampa.

Bob admitted that he had an analytics dept, but was lost about it. Then he hired Jeff Solomon away from the Kings to head the analytics b/c Jeff could interpret what the fancy stats mean to a lay person. Verbeek added to the analytics as well as added more physicians in Anaheim and San Diego. As for skating coaches, I dunno if we had a dedicated one back then, but I do know we had Barb Underhill on speed dial in some capacity.