Speculation: 2024-25 Coaching/Management/Ownership

[snowave]

From the recent Silverberg interview where he commented on Cronin, here's bit about Silf unable to turn the offensive switch on (for the World Championships) b/c he was trained to play defense:

Jakob smiles as he tells the story.​

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– That was a real wake-up call for me. I had one year left with Anaheim and we had decided to go home. I thought: if I’m going home to Sweden, it will be with expectations, I have to make a real push and show some f***ing embrace to turn this around.”​

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But how could it turn out like it did in the World Cup?​

​

– I know damn well, actually. I think I was a little mentally broken. We had missed the playoffs several years in a row. I had had a defensive role in Anaheim, where I just played simply: one touch, edge out – not offensive. I couldn’t switch to the WC. I wanted to contribute more offensively, but had a hard time getting into situations and the puck wasn’t bouncing my way.​

Silf's +4 rating was one of four players with + rating who played double digit games for the Ducks last year. He only played for Cronin for one season and it affected his ability to tap into an offensive mindset for the WC.

Not saying he wasn't forced to play more defensive minded by Cronin, but I think he largely put himself in that position because the last couple-ish years before, his offense/hands really went downhill. Sure, he didn't have the best line mates, etc... but his defense was really the only thing he seemed to still have an impact on.

 

[Mr Rogers]

Winning 3 games in a row with 5+ goals for usually results in zero roster changes. Can’t fault a coach for not allowing the team to get familiar and comfortable with their line mates, then also fault them when they won’t make a roster change when the team is clicking.

I am not a Cronin fan, but this isn’t the type of thing that deserves criticism.

Side note, I feel like the last stretch of wins was also with Zelleweger in the press box, because I recall I was joking about it.

I guess I don’t really see it as a significant change to the lineup. Helleson(?) out, Zell in. Dumo and Minty have struggled lately too. It’s different than bringing forwards in and out. I think what’s annoying too is his commentary today, send him down if you’re not going to play him.

Edit: I’m coming from the perspective of he needs to play somewhere, and he’s sat a lot this year. It could be both Pat and Cronin influencing this too. I just feel like OZ has gotten shafted a bit this year relative to other players.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Not saying he wasn't forced to play more defensive minded by Cronin, but I think he largely put himself in that position because the last couple-ish years before, his offense/hands really went downhill. Sure, he didn't have the best line mates, etc... but his defense was really the only thing he seemed to still have an impact on.

I think you underestimate Cronin's effect on the offensive side.

2021-22 Eakins had a more complete team, but that was when he was out due to COVID and a blood clot. 2022-23 Eakins had a crap blueline. Cronin got more offensive and defensive weapons in 2023-24, but Silf's offensive production dropped.

 

[Ducks DVM]

I guess I don’t really see it as a significant change to the lineup. Helleson(?) out, Zell in. Dumo and Minty have struggled lately too. It’s different than bringing forwards in and out. I think what’s annoying too is his commentary today, send him down if you’re not going to play him.

Edit: I’m coming from the perspective of he needs to play somewhere, and he’s sat a lot this year. It could be both Pat and Cronin influencing this too. I just feel like OZ has gotten shafted a bit this year relative to other players.

Any change is a change.

Helleson had 2 points and was +1 in those 3 games. You don’t bench players who are earning their ice time on a winning streak.

 

[TopShelfWaterBottle]

Jeeze look what a new coach can possibly do IE Detroit Red wings and even Anaheim when Bruce originally took over for Carlyle

Next year better be fresh

 

[MMC]

Jeeze look what a new coach can possibly do IE Detroit Red wings and even Anaheim when Bruce originally took over for Carlyle

Next year better be fresh

Cronin has won 5 of his last 6

 

[Deuce22]

Cronin has won 5 of his last 6

Heretic

 

[Leonardo87]

Cronin has won 5 of his last 6

uh oh. Better start planning that meet and greet for me next month.

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

Cronin has won 5 of his last 6

After losing 8 of the 10 before that.

One stretch (good or bad) isn't indicative of a coach, the entire season is. And the entire season has been bad to awful.

 

[mightyquack]

After losing 8 of the 10 before that.

One stretch (good or bad) isn't indicative of a coach, the entire season is. And the entire season has been bad to awful.

I think it's a stretch to say this season has been awful, and I'm no fan of Cronin. We've been pretty competitive more often then not and a fringe chance to make the playoffs. Heck, we've been pretty boring and hopefully we get a new coach at the end of the season, but I wouldn't even really say this season is bad tbh. Now that could change depending on the last 30 games of course.

Our last two seasons before that were the two worst seasons in Ducks history and our season was over after the first month just about, that's what I would call awful.

 

[All Mighty]

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

I think it's a stretch to say this season has been awful, and I'm no fan of Cronin. We've been pretty competitive more often then not and a fringe chance to make the playoffs. Heck, we've been pretty boring and hopefully we get a new coach at the end of the season, but I wouldn't even really say this season is bad tbh. Now that could change depending on the last 30 games of course.

Our last two seasons before that were the two worst seasons in Ducks history and our season was over after the first month just about, that's what I would call awful.

Results-wise, it's been better than previous seasons.

Performance-wise, it's been pretty awful. We spend less time in the offensive zone than any other team in the league, even worse than garbage teams further behind in their rebuild (theoretically) than we are like SJS and Chicago. It shows because we have the fewest goals in the league and the second worst xGA. We would absolutely have the most GA as well if it weren't for our incredible goalie performances.

Make no mistake, we are not playing like a good team plays.

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Absolutely insane that he's been in the league for less than 2 years and has as bad of a reputation as a guy who was fired for being a psychopath.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

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I can't tell if I'm crying tears of sadness or tears of laughter. But make no mistake, I am crying.

 

[KelVarnsen]

Already has Same rep as Babcock? Yikes. Ole Cro sure has make an impression.

 

[FlyingV09]

I’m starting to wonder if Cronin stays as coach next year.

We finished with 27 wins and 59 points last year. We already have 23 wins and 53 points this year and are on pace for a 20 point improvement.

I still don’t think Cronin is getting the most out of this lineup but Verbeek could easily point to that progression as a reason to keep him around.

The reality is the improvement mostly comes from staying much healthier this year and our goalies playing well. I do believe the team has had better structure for stretches as well.

If the PP were to become even remotely average, we would be a playoff team right now, IMO.

 

[anezthes]

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0.0769 * 93 = 7.1517 votes. Did they explain how the voting system worked?

 

[Mortal Wombat]

0.0769 * 93 = 7.1517 votes. Did they explain how the voting system worked?

Yeah, those percentages are all over the place. You would get 7.69 % from 7 out of 91 responses, but 91 answers does not work for the other percentages. For example, if 1.54 % is supposed to be one vote, that would mean 65 responses. The math just doesn't add up. At all.

 

[Ducks DVM]

I think it's a stretch to say this season has been awful, and I'm no fan of Cronin. We've been pretty competitive more often then not and a fringe chance to make the playoffs. Heck, we've been pretty boring and hopefully we get a new coach at the end of the season, but I wouldn't even really say this season is bad tbh. Now that could change depending on the last 30 games of course.

Our last two seasons before that were the two worst seasons in Ducks history and our season was over after the first month just about, that's what I would call awful.

This is the same as Eakins when Verbeek burned the team to the ground. The team looked borderline playoffs because goalie play was propping it up. When the goalie play went south, so did the record. That’s the main difference between this year and last year is the goalie play. The year before, Verbeek assembled what would be charitable to refer to as a mid-level AHL defense for Bedard purposes. We are still recovering from that.

100% of the people saying that the Eakins team was no good are precluded from saying this is a good team. They’ve had a run against worse teams, and Dallas is missing some very important pieces, but they’re not good.

I enjoy the wins, but you can still see the clueless defensive coverages and pure luck of shots being whiffed on. And they’re instant we play a large team, or a team that’s playing a structured defensive system, the naked emperor is pretty easy to see.

 

[Terry Yake]

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yikes. you know it's bad when the only guys in front of him are two well known hard asses and babcock who is an actual psychopath

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I’m starting to wonder if Cronin stays as coach next year.

We finished with 27 wins and 59 points last year. We already have 23 wins and 53 points this year and are on pace for a 20 point improvement.

I still don’t think Cronin is getting the most out of this lineup but Verbeek could easily point to that progression as a reason to keep him around.

The reality is the improvement mostly comes from staying much healthier this year and our goalies playing well. I do believe the team has had better structure for stretches as well.

If the PP were to become even remotely average, we would be a playoff team right now, IMO.

Our PP (18.30% and 12.24%) and PK (72.42% and 74.32%) efficiencies suck equally for the past two seasons. Nothing has really changed there. Let's look at our 5v5 play.

Source: Natural Stat Trick

We see a slight improvement. The 16 goals in three games kinda skewed the average a bunch. But these slight improvements do not equate to a huge jump in points improvement. So what is or are the causes for the huge improvement?

Fewer times short-handed (TSH) and superior netminding.

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Fewer TSH

Our PK eff isn't vastly improved, which means we should be giving up the same amount of goals if we remained undisciplined. This year, we have cut down our TSH by over a penalty per game (1.23 fewer goals per game allowed)! Because we aren't on the PK as much, then we have reduced our goals against significantly.

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Superior netminding

Gibson found his groove back and Dostal continues to ascend!

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Lack of Goal Support

Anaheim still has a difficult time scoring goals as over half of the games are under the league average of 2.94 GF per games played (as per Hockey-Reference of 159 GF avg and 54 games played avg).