Speculation: 2024-25 - Free Agency/Trade Thread
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2faded
Registered User
If everyone hits their potential, and that's a big if, I like the looks of that D. Seems a little soft though. So not only do you need to find a top pair RHD, but a tough, physical one as well. Even more of a unicorn.
Anyone like that in upcoming drafts?
FiveTacos
Registered User
We're years away from making those kind of decisions, at least in any semi-permanent way. And I've never been one to feel like we HAVE to have 3 RHD. If you have two, plus a LHD who can play on the right, you're ahead of 95% of the teams in the league, some of whom are lucky to have one RHD who's even 2nd pairing caliber.
And I never see pairings as fixed ... if long term all these guys stay (a big if), there's still going to be mixing and matching and shuffling around at times. And who knows .... maybe a few of these guys get traded for a big name player, and one of the other dmen prospects explodes onto the scene.
mightyquack
eggplant and jade or bust
- Apr 28, 2010
- 26,954
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People shouldn't discount Warren as the big physical top 4 RHD (granted he's probably at least 2 years out before being an NHL regular). Dude skates ridiculously well for someone his size and is good at using his frame defensively. Only just turned 20 and certainly hasn't looked out of place so far at the AHL level.
Can see him being a great partner for a Zellweger or Mintyukov.
Can see him being a great partner for a Zellweger or Mintyukov.
Mainly left from when I've watched San Diego this year, Luneau/Warren/McKeown typically play the right with Lucas drawing in on occasion.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
This season, Hinds has been exclusively playing LD. Last year, he was playing both sides, but a majority of RD.
The trio of LaCombe, Zell, and Hinds all played exclusively RD prior to going pro. LaCombe had 4 years in the NCAA, Zell had 4 years in juniors, and Hinds also had four years in juniors.
LaCombe has played both sides last year. Although some believed that he isn't good on the right side, Cronin stated it was more adapted to the NHL level as well as being thrusted into a top pairing situation as a first time rookie for the season. Later in the season last year, LaCombe looked good on both sides, including playing RD next to Minty for seven games. This year being paired with Zell, I've seen them switch sides interchangeably during gameplay. That duo has been fun to watch.
If we're talking about a potential RD into the future, I'm still hoping that we sign Ian Moore after his college season is over. He was known more for being a shutdown D with offense due to his size and skating. Verbeek wanted Moore to be more offensive for the past two seasons with Harvard, but Harvard is in a rebuild themselves for the past two seasons that has forced Moore to be more shutdown role than offensive.
Deuce22
Registered User
LaCombe and Zellweger are good together not only because they are comfortable on either side, but because they can both skate well. If one attacks, the other skates well enough to get back. Really hope Ducks can sign Moore. I think he has more in his tool box than Warren.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
LaCombe fits well with both Zell and Minty is because LaCombe is the defensive-minded player between the youths. The recent offensive upsurge for LaCombe is due to the change in the system. He is slowly gaining confidence and believing he belongs in the NHL.
Though, if either one attacks, the non-attacking d-man doesn't pinch and it's F3 that assumes the defensive role. If the non-attacking d-man is furiously skating to backcheck, then he misread the play or assignment.
I'm happy to see LaCombe getting credit for skating well like Zell. People forget one of LaCombe's best traits is his skating, both speed and movement. Even Verbeek denoted LaCombe's speed was like it was effortless. Speaking of speed and movement, Moore also showcased his skating at Dev camp. It is crazy that accolades for college d-men LaCombe, Thrun, and Moore dates back to the summer of 2021. Moore is a better skater than Warren, but aside from that, I won't say much since both are long term projects.
Deuce22
Registered User
I think LaCombe is actually being miscast as a defensive minded player. His gifts are on the offensive end. Cronin is willing to suppress offense in order to enphasize "responsibility." He is attempting to do the same thing with Mintyukov.
robbieboy3686
Registered User
- Jan 17, 2016
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Even I have to say, I’m the biggest beevis lacombe hater. He’s been better for sure .
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
You have it wrong. Cronin has been trying to get LaCombe to play more aggressive offensively since last season. It's part of the reason why LaCombe was our PP1 QB to start the season. Cronin has praised LaCombe being for being the most improved last year. The table below shows that both LaCombe's offense and defense came to life to close out the season. Minty and Zell's defense was a struggle.
| Ducks | 2023-24 | End of | Season | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Game set | Games | G | A | Pts | PPG | +/- | Hits | Blocks | Comments | |
| LaCombe | 49 to 71 | 23 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 0.35 | 1 | 12 | 44 | From Feb 19 to Apr 18 | |
| Minty | 41 to 63 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 0.39 | -9 | 29 | 22 | from Feb 13 to Mar 30 | |
| Zell | 5 to 26 | 22 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0.36 | -8 | 10 | 33 | From Mar 1 to Apr 18 |
LaCombe's offense usually takes half the season to wake up, after the WJC, in his first two seasons in college. His last two seasons, he bumped up his offense even more. The reason why LaCombe's offense looked pedestrian early in college was because he was focused on learning to play defense, since he was a converted from forward to defense in high school. His college coach commented how how his skating has helped him adapt defensively. Staying four years in college helped cement good habits to being a two-way D.
As for Minty, I don't think Cronin has been trying to suppress his offensive game. Our defensive youths have been given a green light to be aggressive with the recent system change. This year, Minty is trying to adapt to the new role of playing top-4/top-pairing minutes and competition. It is wearing on Minty taking on that premium load. We can witness this struggle from Minty's splits from last season.
| Mintyukov | 2023-24 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Set | Games | G | A | Pts | PPG | +/- | Hits | Blocks | Pair | |
| 1 to 63 | 63 | 4 | 24 | 28 | 0.44 | -20 | 85 | 65 | . | |
| 1 to 20 | 20 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 0.55 | -1 | 30 | 24 | Lybush 3rd pair | |
| 21 to 40 | 20 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 0.40 | -10 | 26 | 19 | Lyubush, 2nd P, injury | |
| 41 to 47 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.57 | -2 | 10 | 2 | Lyubush, 3rd Pair/2nd pair | |
| 48 to 55 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.25 | -5 | 6 | 13 | Gudas, top pair | |
| 56 to 62 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.43 | 0 | 11 | 7 | LaCombe, top-4 | |
| 63 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | -2 | 2 | 0 | Lindstrom, top-4 |
It may take a season or more for Minty to adapt playing in a top-4/top-pairing role. I'm fine with that because we are trying to develop Minty into 1LD.
Deuce22
Registered User
Again, I tend to base my opinions on what I see on the ice. Not on what GM and coach tell the media. If you wanted Mintyukov to be aggressive offensively, you wouldn’t pair him with Gudas and have him starting most of his shifts in the defensive zone.
The Midnight Burrito
True Fan
All Mighty
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Rooch
Registered User
- Jul 22, 2021
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Don't even think about, Verbeek.
WhatTheDuck
9 - 20 - 8
dracom
Registered User
Im not a fan of Trouba but imagine for a second, Trouba and Gudas just wrecking people on a nightly basis.
If we trade for Trouba I'm going to elbow myself in the head in order to be out cold for as long as his contract lasts here.
jiggsawpuzzle35
Registered User
OK, but did you even CONSIDER his charts?!?!
Re: Trouba
Wouldn’t be the worst thing for the Ducks to have a physical douchebag on D
Pass pass pass. He's just another Gudas (this year's version, warts and all) only all that elbowing he'd get away with in New York, he'd be crucified for as a Duck.
There's nothing on our roster I'd want to trade for this guy and assuming we don't trade any D-men, we don't need to make the logjam worse.
There's nothing on our roster I'd want to trade for this guy and assuming we don't trade any D-men, we don't need to make the logjam worse.
Deuce22
Registered User
Charts are redundant. Also, a lot of his “evidence” is based on +/-, which I don’t take seriously.
