Speculation: 2024-25 Coaching/Management/Ownership

[TheGoodShepard1]

I’m not necessarily directing this towards you, but I’m not really sure what reason people have for thinking Cronin was signed to a 2 year deal + option year? Most NHL coaches are signed to at least 3 year deals, Lebrun reported that Cronin has one year left on his contract, the only people I’ve seen suggest that his contract less than that are HF posters who see the idea that we gave Cronin a 3 year deal unfathomable (despite the fact that nearly every NHL HC is hired to a contract of that length). If anyone can provide a source that indicates otherwise then I’ll take their word for it but from everything I’ve seen so far the idea that Cronin isn’t under contract for next season seems to be nothing more than cope

Just asking. LeBrun seemed rather definitive though.

Either way, it's irrelevant, as I've been of the opinion that Cronin's coming back for about 6 weeks now.

 

[MMC]

Just asking. LeBrun seemed rather definitive though.

Either way, it's irrelevant, as I've been of the opinion that Cronin's coming back for about 6 weeks now.

People have to remember PV didn’t do that much this past offseason. So a 20 point improvement with that in mind is probably something he’s happy with. That being said I don’t think he’ll have any interest in any regression from this season so if that happens I think everyone will get what they want and Cronin will be gone. And if the team continues to improve and be in the playoff picture then I can’t imagine anyone will be upset about Cronin being here. So either way I wouldn’t worry about it I guess

 

[JAHV]

If they could convince David Carle to come, I'd love to see it. But given how much Verbeek talked up McIlvane when he was hired, I'm guessing that's the succession plan. Which can wait until next year.

 

[Leonardo87]

As me and my good buddy @Leonardo87 were discussing in person at the game the other day the kids are playing well and Cronin has a year left on his contract, who exactly is PV bringing in as HC to justify moving on from Cronin? I mean if he has a legit NHL head coach ready to come in here and run a program sure, go ahead and make the switch but if not? Might as well see if Cronin can build on this season and if there’s any sign of regression go ahead and pull the trigger on him and make a switch. But if the best you can do is bring in another perennial assistant, you might as well just see if Cronin can build on this season or not

I don’t see him going anywhere this summer. Mac, Leo, Cutter, and LaCombe have made some very good progress. They have more points in the standings this season even if there are still a lot of issues. Especially since he still has one more year on his contract.

With that said, need to change the special teams coaches. That is almost a given. Need some fresh ideas in that locker room.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

In terms of making the playoffs, we don't have the roster and we don't have the coaches. PV tried and failed to upgrade the team over the summer so any improvement had to come from the kids getting better, which it did, but largely Dostal and LaCombe. The one significant area of improvement over last year is that our opponents convert on fewer high danger chances, that's what's let us creep up to .500. But that's the ceiling - the last third of the year we've seen steps taken by Carlsson/Mac/Cutter but it hasn't really gotten us over the hump. Like, not even close. So I think this roster is more or less at its limit in terms of what it can achieve under this coach.

And adding more doodz isn't really going to help with our record unless it's a serious upgrade on D or multiple offensive guys needed to get us consistently, permanently over the 3 GPG mark. Maybe the kids take even bigger steps next year and that does the trick, we get to 10+ games over 500 and true wildcard contention. But even then, we're a team that claims to be a defense-first, grinding, possession team that can't retrieve pucks, play defense, or maintain possession. That kind of a mismatch will always be fatal to us becoming an actual good team (even if we make the playoffs), and it can only be fixed by changing the roster or changing the system.

The roster is deliberate - PV made this roster on purpose. So it's not going to be rebooted. Maybe Z goes for some middling grinder. Maybe we get another Trouba type. Some churn. But, more or less, this is the roster. And I think the system is deliberate too, it's a statement of philosophy by both PV and Cronin. This (imagined) type of play is how good manly teams ought to play. This is the mindset that leads to turning Z into a grinding winger who spends all his time back checking poorly, or thinking of Mac as a middle six power forward instead of the high end sniper/net-driver that he is, or keeping Cutter off the PP. Because they play "wrong."

I dunno, it's been a weird season. I'm happy they've improved and you can see a core coming together. It isn't fair to not credit Cronin for that because at least you can say he didn't prevent it from happening. But I believe 100% that he'll be back next year and also 100% that he's a bad coach and is probably detrimental to the success of at least some of our best young players. Hard to get excited about the future while that's true, at least for me.

 

[FlyingV09]

I do think the team has looked better for stretches this season. Some of the younger guys are starting to figure it out which is nice to see.

How much of the improvement can simply be attributed to a healthier lineup this year? Last year the team was ravaged by injuries which almost certainly cost them 10-15 points.

The special teams still suck. Defensive play is still not good.

I do think the coaching staff should get some credit for some improvement in the overall play, but I just don’t see how you continue with this coaching group if you want to take that next step into a contender. There’s not enough substance to lean on in their defense.

 

[anezthes]

In terms of making the playoffs, we don't have the roster and we don't have the coaches. PV tried and failed to upgrade the team over the summer so any improvement had to come from the kids getting better, which it did, but largely Dostal and LaCombe. The one significant area of improvement over last year is that our opponents convert on fewer high danger chances, that's what's let us creep up to .500. But that's the ceiling - the last third of the year we've seen steps taken by Carlsson/Mac/Cutter but it hasn't really gotten us over the hump. Like, not even close. So I think this roster is more or less at its limit in terms of what it can achieve under this coach.

And adding more doodz isn't really going to help with our record unless it's a serious upgrade on D or multiple offensive guys needed to get us consistently, permanently over the 3 GPG mark. Maybe the kids take even bigger steps next year and that does the trick, we get to 10+ games over 500 and true wildcard contention. But even then, we're a team that claims to be a defense-first, grinding, possession team that can't retrieve pucks, play defense, or maintain possession. That kind of a mismatch will always be fatal to us becoming an actual good team (even if we make the playoffs), and it can only be fixed by changing the roster or changing the system.

The roster is deliberate - PV made this roster on purpose. So it's not going to be rebooted. Maybe Z goes for some middling grinder. Maybe we get another Trouba type. Some churn. But, more or less, this is the roster. And I think the system is deliberate too, it's a statement of philosophy by both PV and Cronin. This (imagined) type of play is how good manly teams ought to play. This is the mindset that leads to turning Z into a grinding winger who spends all his time back checking poorly, or thinking of Mac as a middle six power forward instead of the high end sniper/net-driver that he is, or keeping Cutter off the PP. Because they play "wrong."

I dunno, it's been a weird season. I'm happy they've improved and you can see a core coming together. It isn't fair to not credit Cronin for that because at least you can say he didn't prevent it from happening. But I believe 100% that he'll be back next year and also 100% that he's a bad coach and is probably detrimental to the success of at least some of our best young players. Hard to get excited about the future while that's true, at least for me.

Word.

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

ranger fan from the east coast distant second, hockey fan mainly first here.

i've been watching quite a few ducks games sine last season. i like the way the roster is constructed. all 4 lines potentially are a threat. there's speed and some grit. decent goalie. defense is an issue. but damn-all this talent-looks like it's being wasted.

there's a coach out there that's available. he's been out of the league for a year. maybe he's recharged and possibly may want to be a head coach again. he's a guy i wish the rangers would take back but that appears unlikely. however he could be a real good fit for your team - alain vigneault. some of you might say hell no. but just check out his past credentials - they're not too shabby.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I dunno, it's been a weird season. I'm happy they've improved and you can see a core coming together. It isn't fair to not credit Cronin for that because at least you can say he didn't prevent it from happening. But I believe 100% that he'll be back next year and also 100% that he's a bad coach and is probably detrimental to the success of at least some of our best young players. Hard to get excited about the future while that's true, at least for me.

If Verbeek was happy with last year's results of being one point better in the standings with a vastly improved roster, then it is more obvious to acknowledge Cronin is 100% returning as head coach for this team next season.

It's essentially the same season as last year with the exception of vastly improved goaltending and greatly reduced penalties. Last year, we had four players that have played 10 games or more with 50.0% or higher CF% (possession difference, where 50% is even and higher than 50% means more shots for the team). This year, we currently have only one player on the team with 50.0% or higher CF% in Killorn at 50.4%. This proves we don't have a great roster nor a coach that can elevate the team's play despite the mass upgrade in defense for the past two seasons. And because we have only one player with over 50% CF%, then that means the team is getting shelled regularly and our goalies need far more love.

Let's look at our youth skaters progress. We have one standout in LaCombe. Gauthier had a good. rookie season that was similar to Mac's rookie season where he scored 43 points in 80 games, but Mac was on a worse roster. The only youth tilting the ice this season is LaCombe (CF% > OZ Start%). Our youths aren't great offensively nor defensively for the past two seasons under Cronin.

Zegras was a 61 point, 23 goal scorer in his official rookie season and repeated the performance the following season with 67 points and 23 goals. We need a coach that can elevate the youth's game much faster because the veteran acquisitions are not doing enough to carry the team.

 

[Rybread86]

Strome has the most FO attempts on the team. And he sucks across the board. Aside from Harkins, the PK unit gets run roughshod. We could use some true 4C, PK specialist. Also, there has got to be a way we send Mac to NHL FO officials for a week in the summer to know "how not to get kicked out of the FO circle".

I think I know why Cronin puts out the 4th line out there after a TV timeout, Lundy and Harkins have the best Even Strength FOW% (EV FOW%). Excluding Mac, everyone else is abysmal.

If we're set at top-9C's with Strome, Carlsson, and Mac, then we need a winger who is very good at FO's. Personally, I'd rather boot Strome to wing and find a middle-6C who can win FO's.

View attachment 1011879

Man I miss Vermette

 

[TheGoodShepard1]

Not being able to beat your former AHL players, at home, on fan appreciation night, when they played yesterday afternoon (actually blowing a 2-0 lead with 10 minutes to go) should be the nail in the coffin. It WONT be but it SHOULD be

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

Man I miss Vermette

I miss f***ing pahlsson. I thought Lundy would be that. But Lundy is a useless player

 

[Hey234]

Not being able to beat your former AHL players, at home, on fan appreciation night, when they played yesterday afternoon (actually blowing a 2-0 lead with 10 minutes to go) should be the nail in the coffin. It WONT be but it SHOULD be

It's so many confusing decisions. Why move Zegras when he's developing chemistry with McTavish? Why put him with Strome whose a black hole offensively right now, and who has stopped playing hard? Why 5 forwards on the PP? The defenseman on this team have been scoring recently so it would make sense to utilize that.

 

[Son of Gib]

It's so many confusing decisions. Why move Zegras when he's developing chemistry with McTavish? Why put him with Strome whose a black hole offensively right now, and who has stopped playing hard? Why 5 forwards on the PP? The defenseman on this team have been scoring recently so it would make sense to utilize that.

My mom, who cares a moderate amount about hockey, casually pointed out all of these things tonight, and more. Some decisions just are really not hard.