Speculation: 2024-25 Coaching/Management/Ownership

[TheDarkWingThatDucks]

You're angry with the fans base than the product on the ice. You are angry with the fan base if they don't agree with the org's decisions. You're just angry at anyone who disagrees to tow the line.

hmmm...

You think Cooper as our coach last season makes us a Stanley cup contender ? No? … Then yes, I see where the team is headed and okay with how it’s playing out, the next coach will be the make or break one.

 

[Bleak]

Wouldn’t this be the same logic as.

Blaming him for the horrible advanced stats is fine. But we are one of the youngest teams in the league, it’s natural they can’t compete against grown men. It shouldn’t be some fireable offense because his hands are tied by the GM in minute allotment for the young elite-pedigree players he has.

And please once again I’m not saying Cronin is a good coach. I just don’t understand how this entire sub …. Goes …. Hey the vets suck, Cronin is playing them….. waaaahhhhhh Cronin is the worst coach ever. Like we alllllll see the vets suck. No one is willing to be like … hmmm cutter played 14 minutes …. Leo 16 ….. hmmmm our future 1C and 1LW ….. why aren’t they playing more ? Stupid Cronin doesn’t understand these guys are already our best players !!!!!!

Or maybe Verbeek is like hey…. Leo was on the Leo plan last year and we cut his games but let him play more minutes, this year he didn’t hit our weight goals for strength training so we need to limit his minutes but not games played.

Cutter’s first full season playing 82 games, let’s make sure he’s not overmatched and ease him into his first season by playing 13-14 minutes a game.

Like does no one see this as not only a possibility but very likely the plan all along ?

I like that line of logic. Even though I am in the fire Cronin boat, I can see the agency that Cronin took. I think we knew that Cronin has been brought in to instill a developmental culture. I do think that he scratched that itch, but there is a feeling of wanting more. I don't believe he held the vets accountable enough all season. I do like the man to man system as it teaches our players a systematic approach to counter a wide array of players with varying skill sets one on one.

I think as a fan I want a different type of game played with this lineup. Cro has admitted to not being able to adjust based off of our roster. I think Cronin might be a decent coach if his roster fit his philosophy. I can see what he is trying to do but the execution isn't theren

 

[Deuce22]

I agree the coaching staff needs to be improved, I just don’t think it’s make or break this upcoming season as we are not ready to be truly competitive. Barring a playoff run, (which I don’t see as possible barring major moves this offseason) we have one more punt year, and Cronin will be gone after (or during) next year.

I think we’re farther along in the rebuild than you do. The playoffs are a possibility next year IMO with competent coaching and competitive special teams. I wouldn’t waste another year with Cronin holding the young talent back.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

You think Cooper as our coach last season makes us a Stanley cup contender ? No? … Then yes, I see where the team is headed and okay with how it’s playing out, the next coach will be the make or break one.

Wow. You go from getting angry at a fan base for criticizing the org, but then use a far extreme example as counter - which is a false dilemma logical fallacy. Thus, reinforcing why you have disdain for any who don't tow the line and there are no other arguments that can be valid.

 

[Reveille1984]

So basically our goalies earned us 23 extra points, we're a trash-tier team, and we're going to do it all again next year.

I've generally liked Verbeek but assuming he's rolling with Cronin again, I'm done with him. Genuinely terrible management decision.

Yeah, I have the sinking feeling we're going to run it back with Cronin and pretty much the same roster minus a few middling additions, and then regress by a heap of points when the goaltending falls back closer to the expected norm. The jump in points this year was largely a mirage unfortunately.

Our potential under Cronin and this staff just isn't very high IMO, and it's going to suck if it takes Verbeek another year of development and frustration to figure it out.

 

[TheDarkWingThatDucks]

I think we’re farther along in the rebuild than you do. The playoffs are a possibility next year IMO with competent coaching and competitive special teams. I wouldn’t waste another year with Cronin holding the young talent back.

That’s fair I just am shocked people think we are close …. When 2 years ago we were far and away the worst team in the league and last year we were bottom 3. And this year still bottom 3 analytically. I think it’s youth and poor utilization. I think we could make the playoffs, I don’t think we have a 50/50 shot to make it with a great coach.

 

[TheDarkWingThatDucks]

Wow. You go from getting angry at a fan base for criticizing the org, but then use a far extreme example as counter - which is a false dilemma logical fallacy. Thus, reinforcing why you have disdain for any who don't toe the line and there are no other arguments that can be valid.

Sorry didn’t understand your first post, but i don’t think most people “toe the line” as you say. I think there is disdain with some of these people. Just because you toe the line and we talk some shit doesn’t mean everyone is like you. I actually appreciate a lot of your takes besides Cronin better lineup not taking account injuries and 3rd in the pacific with 6 more games played than everyone else.

 

[Firequacker]

I mean you make a lot of fair points, but I “trust the process” and please go back to the cutter trade thread …. Leo drafted thread. And you’ll see my frustration with this fan base that may make me an insufferable “you don’t see the plan” guy. Because you disliked the fact we gave up a 2nd in the cutter trade, Adamo was 63% picked by this fanbase to have the better career than Leo decently after the draft.

I think we are on the right track, I don’t like how our fan base is acting like right now. It’s been a frustrating 7 ish years, I get that. I just don’t like the negativity surrounding this fan base when the future seems so bright to me. So I apologize if I am annoying but I feel annoyed by a lot of this same fanbase too.

It seems I happen to be on like the 5% of this fanbase who is happy with where we are at currently.

Oh. We're doing this now? Sure.
I stand by everything I personally said about the Gauthier trade. We gave up a second and an NHL player who'd been talked up as a key piece of the future core, for a prospect who'd already forced his way out of one organization he said he wanted to play for. No, I was not going to be happy about it until he actually signed, at the very least. There was nothing irrational about that, unless you think blind faith is the only way to be rational. I've had way dumber takes.

It was a great trade in retrospect. Cutter is awesome, f*** the haters. But people have the right to have immediate reactions to things and change their mind about it when they get more information. You're just determined to be mad that people are sometimes wrong on the internet. Which, fine, that's plenty of my posts here too, but you take it a step further and get mad that people might be proven wrong in the future on the internet. Then you say you're the not-miserable one?

Also, if you think this board was bad about Leo over Fantilli, ohh boy. This place was downright calm compared to certain other boards I hope for your sanity's sake you will never, ever visit. ("Did Gretzky have hockey IQ?" is forever burned into my mind. But I digress.)
That said, this point is pretty weak anyway. You just come across as offended that at some point after the draft, 63% of the fanbase had a different opinion from yours. Which kind of goes along with how, broadly speaking, your posts often seem more interested in portraying your contempt for 95% of the fanbase than actually hyping up the bright future.

Again I would ask what you think the purpose of a discussion board is. I'm sorry we don't all march in lockstep optimism beneath sunshine and rainbows while the product currently on the ice is a tire fire. I've agreed with you in the past (and still do) about some of the negativity being over the top, but you've just turned into a mirror image of it where you're relentlessly negative about how stupid the fanbase is instead of how poor the coaching is. Which is a shame because an actual positive outlook is a valuable thing that this place could use more of.

And again, I do think the long term track looks bright. But I don't understand why being optimistic about the strategic picture should mean criticism of tactical decisions is invalid.

 

[All Mighty]

Friedman talked about every eliminated team today. This is what he said about the Ducks:
-Goal is to make the playoffs next year
-Verbeek liked that Cronin made players fight for spots in the lineup
-Verbeek’s default position is to keep Cronin, but exit interviews could potentially change that (made some changes after last year’s interviews)
-Bukauskas mentioned a player said the locker room was a little quiet, so he speculated that maybe they try to add some volume/chatter to the locker room

Ducks part starts at 55:09:

 

[AngelDuck]

I think we can pretty much gather at this point that if we miss the playoffs in 2025-2026, Cronin will for sure be gone. At least there’s that

 

[slippingsloth]

I think we can pretty much gather at this point that if we miss the playoffs in 2025-2026, Cronin will for sure be gone. At least there’s that

I think Friedman was thankfully wrong and that if the Ducks missed in 2024-5 Cronin’d be gone

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

Interesting that a locker room with Zegras in it would be a "quiet" locker room. I wonder if there is something to be gleaned there?

 

[Hey234]

Interesting that a locker room with Zegras in it would be a "quiet" locker room. I wonder if there is something to be gleaned there?

A lot of players seemed happier when Zegras returned from injury and many players have commented on how they love Zegras. This tells me that the room missed having someone who makes noise and just talks. One guy primarily doing that is tough though. I doubt it's an issue as more of something they could benefit from.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

A lot of players seemed happier when Zegras returned from injury and many players have commented on how they love Zegras. This tells me that the room missed having someone who makes noise and just talks. One guy primarily doing that is tough though. I doubt it's an issue as more of something they could benefit from.

I just wondered if maybe he quieted down during the season. His public persona seemed quieter to me but I don't follow him around on social media like some probably do.

 

[All Mighty]

Interesting that a locker room with Zegras in it would be a "quiet" locker room. I wonder if there is something to be gleaned there?

I’ll add a bit more context to that comment. Bukauskas said a player told him this when the Ducks were in Ottawa (that’s where Bukauskas is based). Could be a coincidence, but Zegras was injured at that time.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

I’ll add a bit more context to that comment. Bukauskas said a player told him this when the Ducks were in Ottawa (that’s where Bukauskas is based). Could be a coincidence, but Zegras was injured at that time.

Either way, it would seem to point to the fact that management really needs to get Z back on track for more reasons than just scoring. Hopefully Verbeek recognizes that and does something about it.

 

[Anaheim4ever]

Either way, it would seem to point to the fact that management really needs to get Z back on track for more reasons than just scoring. Hopefully Verbeek recognizes that and does something about it.

Cronin tanking Z trade value didn't help cronins case either as a new coach might work and they don't need to trade him after all.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

Cronin tanking Z trade value didn't help cronins case either as a new coach might work and they don't need to trade him after all.

I didn't even see Cronin had been fired before I posted that. I've just been catching up on alerts this morning before hitting the main Ducks page.

 

[All Mighty]

I didn't even see Cronin had been fired before I posted that. I've just been catching up on alerts this morning before hitting the main Dick page.

The main what page??? Does the "H" in HFBoards stand for Horny?!

 

[Unholy]

You can’t say you want to be playing meaningful games this year and have your staff show this much incompetence. Again, this year. The team looked like they made it this far in spite of his coaching deficiencies. Could have easily been another bottom 3 finish if it weren’t for the goalies and come from behind finishes.

I just dont have the confidence his system and tendencies will be any better next season.

It’s like he heard me.. taking a shot for you Verbeek!

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

The main what page??? Does the "H" in HFBoards stand for Horny?!

Oops. I fixed it. Sorry about that.

Spelling was never my strength in school.

 

[TheDarkWingThatDucks]

Oh. We're doing this now? Sure.
I stand by everything I personally said about the Gauthier trade. We gave up a second and an NHL player who'd been talked up as a key piece of the future core, for a prospect who'd already forced his way out of one organization he said he wanted to play for. No, I was not going to be happy about it until he actually signed, at the very least. There was nothing irrational about that, unless you think blind faith is the only way to be rational. I've had way dumber takes.

It was a great trade in retrospect. Cutter is awesome, f*** the haters. But people have the right to have immediate reactions to things and change their mind about it when they get more information. You're just determined to be mad that people are sometimes wrong on the internet. Which, fine, that's plenty of my posts here too, but you take it a step further and get mad that people might be proven wrong in the future on the internet. Then you say you're the not-miserable one?

Also, if you think this board was bad about Leo over Fantilli, ohh boy. This place was downright calm compared to certain other boards I hope for your sanity's sake you will never, ever visit. ("Did Gretzky have hockey IQ?" is forever burned into my mind. But I digress.)
That said, this point is pretty weak anyway. You just come across as offended that at some point after the draft, 63% of the fanbase had a different opinion from yours. Which kind of goes along with how, broadly speaking, your posts often seem more interested in portraying your contempt for 95% of the fanbase than actually hyping up the bright future.

Again I would ask what you think the purpose of a discussion board is. I'm sorry we don't all march in lockstep optimism beneath sunshine and rainbows while the product currently on the ice is a tire fire. I've agreed with you in the past (and still do) about some of the negativity being over the top, but you've just turned into a mirror image of it where you're relentlessly negative about how stupid the fanbase is instead of how poor the coaching is. Which is a shame because an actual positive outlook is a valuable thing that this place could use more of.

And again, I do think the long term track looks bright. But I don't understand why being optimistic about the strategic picture should mean criticism of tactical decisions is invalid.

I’m just pointing out that people don’t “trust the plan”.

Oh. We're doing this now? Sure.
I stand by everything I personally said about the Gauthier trade. We gave up a second and an NHL player who'd been talked up as a key piece of the future core, for a prospect who'd already forced his way out of one organization he said he wanted to play for. No, I was not going to be happy about it until he actually signed, at the very least. There was nothing irrational about that, unless you think blind faith is the only way to be rational. I've had way dumber takes.

It was a great trade in retrospect. Cutter is awesome, f*** the haters. But people have the right to have immediate reactions to things and change their mind about it when they get more information. You're just determined to be mad that people are sometimes wrong on the internet. Which, fine, that's plenty of my posts here too, but you take it a step further and get mad that people might be proven wrong in the future on the internet. Then you say you're the not-miserable one?

Also, if you think this board was bad about Leo over Fantilli, ohh boy. This place was downright calm compared to certain other boards I hope for your sanity's sake you will never, ever visit. ("Did Gretzky have hockey IQ?" is forever burned into my mind. But I digress.)
That said, this point is pretty weak anyway. You just come across as offended that at some point after the draft, 63% of the fanbase had a different opinion from yours. Which kind of goes along with how, broadly speaking, your posts often seem more interested in portraying your contempt for 95% of the fanbase than actually hyping up the bright future.

Again I would ask what you think the purpose of a discussion board is. I'm sorry we don't all march in lockstep optimism beneath sunshine and rainbows while the product currently on the ice is a tire fire. I've agreed with you in the past (and still do) about some of the negativity being over the top, but you've just turned into a mirror image of it where you're relentlessly negative about how stupid the fanbase is instead of how poor the coaching is. Which is a shame because an actual positive outlook is a valuable thing that this place could use more of.

And again, I do think the long term track looks bright. But I don't understand why being optimistic about the strategic picture should mean criticism of tactical decisions is invalid.

All I’m saying is, you are mad at me for saying Verbeek has a plan, then I show you proof that people question his plan.

I just got lucky this morning, people call him stubborn, and he actually fires Cronin with a year left on his contract.

And hey thought we were drafting Adamo, so I feel in love with the kid, I was f***ing making sales calls and listening to the draft on the radio and legit was shocked we picked him. Confused even. But then I when I got home I did some actual research and fell in love with Leo.

Discussion is fine also, I think we are having a healthy discussion, you do seem a tad irritated at me, and I’m not upset with you. I just think discussion about made up things is kinda weird, like oh Zegras scored and didn’t smile, he’s not having fun. The armchair psychoanalysis shit is what throws me off, Zelly missed 5 games in a row he lacks confidence. That’s the stuff like, is that really inspiring talking points.

Like I said, I wish it was more (and you said you’ve learned a lot, I sadly haven’t yet but maybe with a new coach that will change), we want to dump pucks and forecheck the ever living shit out of teams, the kings run a 1-3-1 neutral zone trap, here is how teams counter that, here’s what I see works, here’s why dump and chase won’t work. Blah blah blah. That’s insightful to me, and like I said, I am not smart enough or knowledgeable enough to start those conversations, but I wished they existed over people trying to read minds.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

damnit... LoL I didn't see the thread about Cronin.

 

[Bender66]

I’ll add a bit more context to that comment. Bukauskas said a player told him this when the Ducks were in Ottawa (that’s where Bukauskas is based). Could be a coincidence, but Zegras was injured at that time.

I think i had mentioned this in one of the gdt when he first came back, but from my admittedly colored lenses, the vibes/energy on the bench during games just looks different when Z came back. To me the biggest difference is how happy Z is when his linemates score, vs when he scores a goal himself. When he scores himself, he's just kinda of "meh, i expect better from myself", vs when he sets up Mac, he's always the first one to bear hug Mac and seems to be happier for his teammates than himself.

 

[Firequacker]

I’m just pointing out that people don’t “trust the plan”.

All I’m saying is, you are mad at me for saying Verbeek has a plan, then I show you proof that people question his plan.

I just got lucky this morning, people call him stubborn, and he actually fires Cronin with a year left on his contract.

And hey thought we were drafting Adamo, so I feel in love with the kid, I was f***ing making sales calls and listening to the draft on the radio and legit was shocked we picked him. Confused even. But then I when I got home I did some actual research and fell in love with Leo.

Discussion is fine also, I think we are having a healthy discussion, you do seem a tad irritated at me, and I’m not upset with you. I just think discussion about made up things is kinda weird, like oh Zegras scored and didn’t smile, he’s not having fun. The armchair psychoanalysis shit is what throws me off, Zelly missed 5 games in a row he lacks confidence. That’s the stuff like, is that really inspiring talking points.

Like I said, I wish it was more (and you said you’ve learned a lot, I sadly haven’t yet but maybe with a new coach that will change), we want to dump pucks and forecheck the ever living shit out of teams, the kings run a 1-3-1 neutral zone trap, here is how teams counter that, here’s what I see works, here’s why dump and chase won’t work. Blah blah blah. That’s insightful to me, and like I said, I am not smart enough or knowledgeable enough to start those conversations, but I wished they existed over people trying to read minds.

I really don't want to belabor this any further, especially under the new circumstances, but I've got to push back on the bolded thing because I'm... confused? I don't get why you think I needed proof that people question the plan. I was objecting to you acting like people not blindly trusting the plan is a flaw with the boards that needs to be fixed, and that the only reason anyone would question the plan is that they believe Verbeek is too stupid to have one at all, and you're like "but look, people don't trust the plan!"
I mean, yeah? I acknowledged that. And sometimes the questions are over the top irrational ones and sometimes they're perfectly rational ones, and lumping them together as always dumb and invalid is just frustrating. Which is the main thing I was actually getting irritated about. (Which yeah, I did get a bit irritated there, sorry.)

I'm any case I'm delighted Verbeek's blind spots, whatever they may turn out to be (since again, everyone has them), did not include keeping Cronin around. Considering he reportedly thought about firing him after last season, I hoped there was at least a decent chance of him pulling the trigger.
My own brand of trust in the plan is more of a "trust but verify" approach, and today brought a whole lot of verification.