Speculation: 2024-25 Coaching/Management/Ownership

[TheDarkWingThatDucks]

I have a different reason of disdain for Verbeek, it's that you can't trust his words. When Verbeek took over, he praised everything in our org from vets, to youths, to prospects being great that the next step was to become contenders. Instead, he blew up the team at the TDL and reset the rebuild. That rebuild will buy him five year's time.

Since I can't change teams, I said I'd be fine with the five year wait time then the Verbeekening happened at the 2022 TDL. Surprisingly, I was one of the few whose rebuild time was reset for a five-year wait. It's been hilarious reading for the past three years of posters wanting Verbeek do something big to make the playoffs in year 1 of the reset rebuild, year 2 of the RR, and year 3 of the RR (current season).

Since Verbeek's hiring, I have come to question his pro scouting ability. None of his veteran forward acquisitions are top-6 quality. Most of his defensive acquisitions have been third pairing playing in higher roles for us in Klingberg, Kulikov, Gudas, Lyubushkin, and Dumo. Trouba is playiing 2nd pairing. Our two best players are RW Terry (age 27) and LD LaCombe (just turned 24). We're relying on the older kids to be teaching the younger kids while our vets are placeholders. Our vets aren't talented enough carry the youths on their backs.

The exception is in net b/c Dostal has been under Ducks' coaching (Sudsie) watchful eye since COVID season, 2019-20. We have had goalies ahead of Dostal so as to not rush him to the NHL with backups Ryan Miller and Anthony Stolarz, in addition to starter Gibby. I guess Verbeek couldn't keep the tradition of having a good third goalie in tow in case of injuries. G Dansk was Verbeek's choice.

Anyhow, Cronin was hands off in the final 20 games or so of last season. That's when LaCombe's game really took off (I've shared these stats before). It didn't hurt our development without Cronin hounding the team. Though, I don't think Verbeek will fire Cronin in-season. Cronin is Verbeek's avatar on the bench. Verbeek's answer to getting to the playoffs is for our kids to get bigger physically, but that will take years to happen. That means the skills dept isn't a priority and the kids have to develop that on their own time. Cronin did say that Mac is a third liner with offensive abilities.

I dunno how, but Mac found his way on the side of the net on a PP and sniped in a bad angle shot. Mac hasn't been in that situation since Eakins was head coach. When Mac finally scored that bad angle shot, I said out loud, "Finally! We're putting Mac's big shot back to use." What a shame that under Cronin, Mac's big shot has been purposely muted.

They moved Zegras and mct to that side on the PP now btw.

Dude, sometimes I swear it’s like talking to a wall. I’ve talked about this with you multiple times. When he said it wasn’t a full rebuild “blah blah blah” he also mentioned he had some decisions to make in UFA’s because he couldn’t lose them for nothing. That plus the “franchise altering Bedard” helped us pivot.

We’d be a middling team like the islanders if we didn’t move those pcs. We won’t be winning championships, we’d be fighting for playoff spots hoping to get lucky on picks 10-15.

You can be upset he did his “verbeekening” or “reset rebuild”, honestly call it whatever you want, it was the best thing to happen to this franchise since Eaves and Kessler basically died.

You say so many things that I like, but then you throw stuff like this “Verbeek's answer to getting to the playoffs is for our kids to get bigger physically, but that will take years to happen. That means the skills dept isn't a priority and the kids have to develop that on their own time.”. Which just isn’t based on logic at all, and I wonder how someone who seems to be level headed and intelligent can make that kind of leap. No facts, no breakdown of why you believe because Verbeek wants a strong physically mature team, he isn’t going to do use on…. Skills ? He is quoted as saying “obviously, you’re going to need skill and skating ability, but deep down that’s the future I want to build : a hardworking, competitive team.

'A hardworking, competitive team': What Pat Verbeek wants to build in Anaheim

The former Whaler is taking over a team that has talent. How will he help them take the next step to Stanley Cup contention?

www.espn.com

 

[Rasp]

Feels like we are about to get raided by ICE with all these essays

 

[Hockey Duckie]

They moved Zegras and mct to that side on the PP now btw.

Dude, sometimes I swear it’s like talking to a wall. I’ve talked about this with you multiple times. When he said it wasn’t a full rebuild “blah blah blah” he also mentioned he had some decisions to make in UFA’s because he couldn’t lose them for nothing. That plus the “franchise altering Bedard” helped us pivot.

We’d be a middling team like the islanders if we didn’t move those pcs. We won’t be winning championships, we’d be fighting for playoff spots hoping to get lucky on picks 10-15.

You can be upset he did his “verbeekening” or “reset rebuild”, honestly call it whatever you want, it was the best thing to happen to this franchise since Eaves and Kessler basically died.

You say so many things that I like, but then you throw stuff like this “Verbeek's answer to getting to the playoffs is for our kids to get bigger physically, but that will take years to happen. That means the skills dept isn't a priority and the kids have to develop that on their own time.”. Which just isn’t based on logic at all, and I wonder how someone who seems to be level headed and intelligent can make that kind of leap. No facts, no breakdown of why you believe because Verbeek wants a strong physically mature team, he isn’t going to do use on…. Skills ? He is quoted as saying “obviously, you’re going to need skill and skating ability, but deep down that’s the future I want to build : a hardworking, competitive team.

'A hardworking, competitive team': What Pat Verbeek wants to build in Anaheim

The former Whaler is taking over a team that has talent. How will he help them take the next step to Stanley Cup contention?

www.espn.com

From Detroit News when Verbeek was hired:

Named general manager of the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, Verbeek is going to an organization in third place in the Pacific Division, in a wild-card spot, and past the early stages of the rebuild phase.​

​

"This team doesn't need to be rebuilt; they're in the middle of their rebuild, so this is a great opportunity to take this team forward and turn them into a contender," Verbeek said during his introductory press conference. "You don't have to come in there and look to take a long time. There's good players in the NHL, good players in the minors and there are players that have been drafted. There's a lot coming to support the growth of this team. That's truly what I'm excited about."​

From your own ESPN article, Verbeek reiterates he is taking over a team that was in the middle of a rebuild. You interpreted Verbeek's comment incorrectly. This is a March 1 article and the Verbeekening didn't happen yet. March 21st was the TDL for that season.

"It wasn't a total rebuild, and that was very attractive," Verbeek said. "And then ownership is a huge thing. [Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli] had been supportive of their managers over the years, and that stands out."​

---

Using your logic that it's not Tumor reset rebuild

Let's use your train of thought with Verbeek's thoughts: "If there is no resetting the rebuild, then the next step is to become contenders."

The rebuild started back at the 2019 TDL, which Verbeek acknowledge in the quote above. That means we are in year 6 of the rebuild and currently looking like missing the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season. We have been a bottom-3 team for the past two seasons and looks like we will be a bottom feeder once again.

You can't have it both ways of stating, "It's not resetting the rebuild," and "We were in the Bedard race." The choices go in opposite directions.

That is some significant cognitive dissonance.

---

Verbeek's ineptness at pro scouting and acquisitions

Honestly, with three years that have passed by, I'm glad that Verbeek did the Verbeekening. Verbeek's pro acquisitions have been abhorrent. In three off-season, he still hasn't found a top-6 vet forward and only found a fringe #4D in Trouba. The only thing Verbeek couldn't mess up at was in goal. These past three years have exposed Verbeek's pro scouting is a huge weakness. At the very least, we get some high end prospects because Verbeek is terrible at sheltering, supporting, and bridging the youths.

---

Cognitive Dissonance at it's best

You say so many things that I like, but then you throw stuff like this “Verbeek's answer to getting to the playoffs is for our kids to get bigger physically, but that will take years to happen. That means the skills dept isn't a priority and the kids have to develop that on their own time.”. Which just isn’t based on logic at all, and I wonder how someone who seems to be level headed and intelligent can make that kind of leap. No facts, no breakdown of why you believe because Verbeek wants a strong physically mature team, he isn’t going to do use on…. Skills ? He is quoted as saying “obviously, you’re going to need skill and skating ability, but deep down that’s the future I want to build : a hardworking, competitive team.

'A hardworking, competitive team': What Pat Verbeek wants to build in Anaheim

The former Whaler is taking over a team that has talent. How will he help them take the next step to Stanley Cup contention?

www.espn.com

You just proved me correct with Verbeek's own quote. You do realize that?.

Verbeek is happy with the culture (going to the gym), hard work, ect..., despite finishing one point better than 2022-23.
Carlsson and Luneau were on load mgmt last year (aka going to the gym). Carlsson's frustration with load mgmt: Source. Luneau didn't like it either.
Z's offensive game took a toll two years in a row.
Carlsson's offensive game took a toll this year.
Before Mac's 5-goals in three game outburst, Mac's offensive game took a toll this year.
2024 Migration event where Verbeek states, "Culture starts with training [your body strength]"

 

[TheDarkWingThatDucks]

From Detroit News when Verbeek was hired:

Named general manager of the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, Verbeek is going to an organization in third place in the Pacific Division, in a wild-card spot, and past the early stages of the rebuild phase.​

​

"This team doesn't need to be rebuilt; they're in the middle of their rebuild, so this is a great opportunity to take this team forward and turn them into a contender," Verbeek said during his introductory press conference. "You don't have to come in there and look to take a long time. There's good players in the NHL, good players in the minors and there are players that have been drafted. There's a lot coming to support the growth of this team. That's truly what I'm excited about."​

From your own ESPN article, Verbeek reiterates he is taking over a team that was in the middle of a rebuild. You interpreted Verbeek's comment incorrectly. This is a March 1 article and the Verbeekening didn't happen yet. March 21st was the TDL for that season.

"It wasn't a total rebuild, and that was very attractive," Verbeek said. "And then ownership is a huge thing. [Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli] had been supportive of their managers over the years, and that stands out."​

---

Using your logic that it's not Tumor reset rebuild

Let's use your train of thought with Verbeek's thoughts: "If there is no resetting the rebuild, then the next step is to become contenders."

The rebuild started back at the 2019 TDL, which Verbeek acknowledge in the quote above. That means we are in year 6 of the rebuild and currently looking like missing the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season. We have been a bottom-3 team for the past two seasons and looks like we will be a bottom feeder once again.

You can't have it both ways of stating, "It's not resetting the rebuild," and "We were in the Bedard race." The choices go in opposite directions.

That is some significant cognitive dissonance.

---

Verbeek's ineptness at pro scouting and acquisitions

Honestly, with three years that have passed by, I'm glad that Verbeek did the Verbeekening. Verbeek's pro acquisitions have been abhorrent. In three off-season, he still hasn't found a top-6 vet forward and only found a fringe #4D in Trouba. The only thing Verbeek couldn't mess up at was in goal. These past three years have exposed Verbeek's pro scouting is a huge weakness. At the very least, we get some high end prospects because Verbeek is terrible at sheltering, supporting, and bridging the youths.

---

Cognitive Dissonance at it's best



You just proved me correct with Verbeek's own quote. You do realize that?.

Verbeek is happy with the culture (going to the gym), hard work, ect..., despite finishing one point better than 2022-23.
Carlsson and Luneau were on load mgmt last year (aka going to the gym). Carlsson's frustration with load mgmt: Source. Luneau didn't like it either.
Z's offensive game took a toll two years in a row.
Carlsson's offensive game took a toll this year.
Before Mac's 5-goals in three game outburst, Mac's offensive game took a toll this year.
2024 Migration event where Verbeek states, "Culture starts with training [your body strength]"

If my job said culture starts with eating healthy, and I’m a professional athlete. That doesn’t mean we don’t work on other aspects of our craft. It means eating healthy is currently our main goal to get everyone on board with.

I just don’t understand how Verbeek saying he wants a physically strong mature team = don’t work on developing anything else ….. in your mind.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

I just don't see the on-ice OR off-ice product improving. This team is unfortunately stuck in a limbo.

I go back and forth with Verbeek. He FA swings seem more-so on 'character signings' than skill (that Killorn contract will kill us in the long term..). Sure, he can make a decent trade here and there, but I find him underwhelming.

Maybe I am misunderstanding the message from some people on here, but unfortunately there are a few still shilling for Cronin eyeroll:). Players aren't developing at a noticeable rate, former players speaking out, players seem confused most nights.. list goes on and on.

The thing I find most alarming is that I don't find the product that Verbeek and Cronin are presenting to us as fans is all that exciting. Perhaps it's not enough skill? Maybe it's because the players are clueless with what the coach is trying to deploy?

I will never let go of my fandom of this team, but I am getting impatient on lack of results from any means. Even barring some miracle they can grab a wildcard spot, I will never be convinced Cronin and his gang is the answer for this team

 

[MMC]

that Killorn contract will kill us in the long term

How

 

[TheDarkWingThatDucks]

I just don't see the on-ice OR off-ice product improving. This team is unfortunately stuck in a limbo.

I go back and forth with Verbeek. He FA swings seem more-so on 'character signings' than skill (that Killorn contract will kill us in the long term..). Sure, he can make a decent trade here and there, but I find him underwhelming.

Maybe I am misunderstanding the message from some people on here, but unfortunately there are a few still shilling for Cronin eyeroll:). Players aren't developing at a noticeable rate, former players speaking out, players seem confused most nights.. list goes on and on.

The thing I find most alarming is that I don't find the product that Verbeek and Cronin are presenting to us as fans is all that exciting. Perhaps it's not enough skill? Maybe it's because the players are clueless with what the coach is trying to deploy?

I will never let go of my fandom of this team, but I am getting impatient on lack of results from any means. Even barring some miracle they can grab a wildcard spot, I will never be convinced Cronin and his gang is the answer for this team

I know you may think I’m one shilling for Cronin, I am not. I’m just trying to say the off ice stuff / individual development / system Verbeek wants this team to play. We can argue whether he’s doing a good job or not, or if the system is best suited for our personnel…. And there isn’t any proof he is doing a good job.

I just don’t think Verbeek is pulling the trigger until he has his guy lined up to replace him, or is happy with the job he’s doing. I’ve stated before I personally believe Cronin had a 2-4 year shelf with McIlvane being the heir apparent. Whether or not that is the case now is .

How do you think Killorn contract will kill us long term ? It might make us lose an asset to move him, but none of the players are depending 8 @ $8 AAV currently. Seems to be a lot of bridge deals coming down the pipeline.

 

[AngelDuck]

Killorn’s contract is so far down the list of worries for this team.

And I HATED giving him the 4th year of the deal when it happened.

It was a huge overpayment but he’s just not an issue for the team at all

 

[KelVarnsen]

How

Agreed. Not sure who it kills us long term. Is he worth 6.25 mil a year? I don't think so but there are only 2 more years on the contract, so I don't think it's a big deal.

I don't like him with Leo, but I also don't think he is the worst player on the team.

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/ducks-cronin-not-worried-about-job-security

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/ducks-cronin-not-worried-about-job-security

I told you guys Cronin is letting the Veterans run the locker room.. What does that actually mean? Head coach should be the head poncho in the room.. Looks like the Players are starting to come around to Cronin.. Because Cronin maybe has changed? Read the article.. lots in there

 

[Hey234]

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/ducks-cronin-not-worried-about-job-security

As someone who is strongly in the fire Cronin camp, it's a fascinating read. Both the players and Cronin say it's the vets leading the room more often than before. There's clear statements from young players that he's helped their game. Additionally, there were many statements of the players explaining how he's evolved his communication for the better.

All that being said, IMO, the responses seemed more reserved. They didn't come across as if they would be heartbroken if he's fired. I felt like the subtext was that we've all learned a lot. That's a great message but not a positive statement of we support the coach. I'm glad things are better, but it's still time to move on. Definitely, end of season thing based on that article though.

 

[ADHB]

 

[robbieboy3686]

R

Really glad we’ve moved on from the mindless articles of that hack Stephen’s, and now have d Lee leading the charge!

 

[MMC]

Cronin comes under scrutiny and our guys put it on themselves to come through for him and respond with 2 consecutive 5 goal performances.

These guys truly love their head coach.

Thank you Gregory Cronin

3 in a row now, this is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen

 

[Rasp]

3 in a row now, this is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

 

[TheDarkWingThatDucks]

Just a little food for thought going into Calgary Thursday.

We lose to Vegas on the road and then Philly at home.

Then we had our little 4-1 stretch against oilers (twice), jets, devils, lightning.

Then we lose 3-2 to the flames in OT to before going in the road for 6. We gave up some fluke goals this game too. We were 5 points behind the flames and 6 behind the second wildcard. The loss drop us to 6 behind both.

Get absolutely dog walked on the road including a 6-0 loss in Cutter’s Philly debut.

Come back and lose our 2nd in a row to the reigning Stanley cup champs, and look outclassed.

A silver lining appears.

Zegras joined that 2nd game against the reigning champs.

Rip off 3 in a row and score 16 goals in 3 games, (we scored 16 goals the 9 games before).

Now we are “meant” to play meaningful games this year. Well well well …. That’s 3 wells. We have a road game against the flames who are the 2nd wild card (and we play them 3 more times this season, including this upcoming game) and 7 pts in front of us in the playoff race.

So after that awful stretch of hockey, we are only 1 pt worse off in the playoff standings and get to play the same team, this time on the road, that set us back.

We have a change to win 4 in a row, and move back to where we were Jan 5th, a chance to move 5 pts behind the flames with 2 more games against them.

This is a benchmark game. I don’t care pretty / ugly, this is a playoff game for us.

I’ll be super pissed if we come out and lay an egg, this is a big chance for this team to show us things may be starting to click.