Speculation: 2024-25 Coaching/Management/Ownership

[Hockey Duckie]

I think it's honestly the worst of both, and yes it is a mess.

We've talked ad nauseum about the roster, but it isn't that good on paper and even worse on ice. Our vets are below average to bad, the kids were probably a bit overhyped and none of them have had any sort of breakout performance (mostly the opposite), and the coaching seems to be a mess on top of it all.

The thing is, we're mostly stuck with the roster we have unless Verbeek is going to swing some massive roster overhaul via trades. That doesn't seem likely, and free agents don't want to come here either. The Samuelis like you mentioned as well have been hands-off to a fault in the past, so Verbeek isn't going to be on the hot seat anytime soon. So outside of sacking Cronin and revamping the coaching staff we don't really have many other options.

I agree it is both. We are in year 3 of the Verbeek reset rebuild and year 2 of the Cronin Complex. Verbeek is using the NHL level as his development playground instead of the AHL. Cronin isn't a very good offensive-minded coach. Our PP and PK units aren't great, but those hires are all on Verbeek.

- Our vets aren't carrying the game for our youths
- Our offensive system is killing our offensive youths
- Our youth blueliners are developing, all at their own paces

We have a lot of good, young pieces on our NHL roster, but we aren't getting the most of out of them due to coaching. None of our assistant coaches have proven they can take the reins since they aren't great at their respective charges. I don't think AHL coach McIlvane has proven much over the past two seasons.

A year and a quarter with Cronin has proven that Eakins did more with far less and helped our offensive youths to produce. That is an important fact that the youths did produce under a different coach. We need to find a different head coach to see what we truly have on our hands with our team. The big problem is that Verbeek is in charge of grabbing that new head coach. His track record with HC's at the AHL and NHL lever are bad, his assistant coaches at the NHL level are abysmal, and his veteran acquisitions are on par with all of his previous said disappointments.

Sadly, Verbeek probably gets five years for his rebuild before the owners can say much since the owners approved of going through with the reset rebuild.

 

[Gliff]

There are four days off after the next game against the blue jackets. When the ducks lose that game that seems like the logical time to fire Cronin, if PV swallows his ego and does the right thing.

Yaaaa I haven't rooted for the Ducks to lose, even when they were tanking for Bedard..... but this would be a good thing.

 

[JonathnTaylorTavares]

Phone it in to fire Cronin

 

[Hey234]

“Mack’s line has not done anything and we were all expecting Mack to take a big jump," head coach Greg Cronin said in late October. "McTavish should be a 30-goal scorer in this league. He can shoot a puck. He's strong as a bull. He gets up and down the ice pretty well. He's not a razzle-dazzle skill guy, but he should be like (Brady) Tkachuk in Ottawa. A power forward that just lives at the other team's net. "When he gets with other players, I think he tries to be a skill guy. And that doesn't mean he can't use his skill. But I think his food chain, the top of it's got to be: drive the game, get to the front of the net, win puck battles on the cycles.” “I thought he was playing well when he got hurt," Cronin said the morning of McTavish's return from injury on Nov. 25. "He was scoring goals, he was getting to the front of the net. I think when Mack plays well, you'll see him bulldogging his way to the netfront. You'll see him win puck battles in the offensive zone and make plays off of those wins. You see him winning faceoffs––it's an issue that we've had this year––and he's such a physically gifted guy in terms of his size and his thickness when he's skating and he's imposing that size into the game. He's going to be a force."“He’s a 220-pound forward that I think needs to value driving plays with his body," Cronin said. "Getting to the front of the net, being physical (and) winning one-on-one puck battles. I don't really care what line he's on, to be honest with you. To me, he should be like both the Tkachuks––the one in Ottawa and the one in Florida. Just always around the net, winning one-on-one puck battles, being tough to play against."It's an irony, those are kind of fourth line habits that move up to the third, second and first lines when you do them repeatedly. I'm not really focused on what line Mack’s on. I'm just more focused on how he's going to demonstrate that identity for 60 minutes.”

Derek Lee has an article about McTavish: Link. Lots of Cronin quotes. Derek is clearly against Cronin's line of thinking.

 

[Mr Rogers]

That comparison he made, which I agree is bad, kind of says something to me. I’m worried that he’s seeing things for what they aren’t. essentially kind of concerned that Cro has a warped view of some of his players.

 

[Reveille1984]

Can Cronin talk about anything other than grinding, battling, and being physical? Jesus Christ man.

Like Lee's article says, just typecasting McTavish into a Tkachuk brother rather than utilizing his actual strengths per usual with the roster.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

McTavish really doesn't have the personality of a Thachuk. Just isn't him. He's never been that type of player and trying to turn him into one seems counterproductive. Would rather see them work on what he's been successful with throughout his life which has often not been infront of the net battling but on the sides of the net potting goals with his wrister.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Can Cronin talk about anything other than grinding, battling, and being physical? Jesus Christ man.

Like Lee's article says, just typecasting McTavish into a Tkachuk brother rather than utilizing his actual strengths per usual with the roster.

It is kinda funny to hear that talk but when you watch his team they're getting thrown around almost every game. Zel was getting pasted all night vs an undersized Montreal team

 

[Hey234]

To me, the most frustrating part is that it confirms the belief that Cronin is forcing players into roles they are not suited for. He does not put them in positions to succeed but rather hammers them in until it fits. It's a waste of time and it's actively hurting player growth. It's depressing to watch.