Speculation: 2024-25 - Free Agency/Trade Thread

[GreatBear]

CapWages - NHL Salary Cap Data

CapWages provides the latest NHL salary cap data and player contracts.

capwages.com

Replacement for CapFriendly

Sure looks a lot like Cap Friendly. Or at least they borrowed the Cap Friendly format. I like it better than Puckpedia's format.

 

[Ducksforcup]

Yeah that's almost a direct copy of the GUI for Cap Friendly. Would be happy to use that once it's full developed (although I like PuckPedia as well and could def. get used to that).

 

[McDonald19]

With the smoke on Zegras I am reminded of Bobby Ryan’s time as a Duck. He was an exciting offensive player with question marks regarding the rest of his game and his desire to compete and win. He was popular with the fans, they would chant “Bobbbyy” and he was marketable. Zegras is an exciting offensive player with question marks about the rest of his game and his character. He is popular with the fans and very marketable. There was smoke on Bobby being traded for a long time before the Ottawa trade happened. We’ll see what happens with Z.

 

[robbieboy3686]

With the smoke on Zegras I am reminded of Bobby Ryan’s time as a Duck. He was an exciting offensive player with question marks regarding the rest of his game and his desire to compete and win. He was popular with the fans, they would chant “Bobbbyy” and he was marketable. Zegras is an exciting offensive player with question marks about the rest of his game and his character. He is popular with the fans and very marketable. There was smoke on Bobby being traded for a long time before the Ottawa trade happened. We’ll see what happens with Z.

The casual ducks fan will lose his shit when Zegras is actually traded. The hard core fans like us, will be happy with the return. That’s my prediction.

 

[91Fedorov]

The casual ducks fan will lose his shit when Zegras is actually traded. The hard core fans like us, will be happy with the return. That’s my prediction.

I disagree. I will not be happy if he's traded until we get a chance to see what he can become. Trading a player with his ceiling could be a horrible mistake. He has a chance to be the next Datsyuk. Datsyuk is a guy you don't trade period.

 

[nbducksfan19]

I disagree. I will not be happy if he's traded until we get a chance to see what he can become. Trading a player with his ceiling could be a horrible mistake. He has a chance to be the next Datsyuk. Datsyuk is a guy you don't trade period.

I dont really want to trade Zegras, unless we are getting a young (but NHL ready) player with a similar ceiling, preferably a RH D.

However, I think it would be hard to come up with a worse comp for Zegras then Datsyuk.

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

I didn’t think Tarasenko playing only 10 games 3 seasons prior, or Bertuzzi being a 21G 26/27A player 3 and 4 years prior would help your argument much.

Rentals are for how the players are playing right now. Neither player, due to injuries, was playing all that well. Bertuzzi has one good season is his career from a production standpoint. ‘21-22 is a statistical outlier.

This is an absolutely bizarre argument when the guy you’re trying to argue for is Frank Vatrano lol. Yeah, there’s definitely no outliers to be seen on his hockeydb page.

This all has completely ignored the point, too. The point was similar type rental wingers have not brought back first round picks all that often at recent deadlines, the two I listed were just the exceptions.

 

[Ducks DVM]

This is an absolutely bizarre argument when the guy you’re trying to argue for is Frank Vatrano lol. Yeah, there’s definitely no outliers to be seen on his hockeydb page.

This all has completely ignored the point, too. The point was similar type rental wingers have not brought back first round picks all that often at recent deadlines, the two I listed were just the exceptions.

It’s absolutely bizarre that you’re using his name as an issue. He scored 37 goals. The thesis is IF he’s on pace for high 30’s goals again this year. If you have a crystal ball, please tell me what this week’s lottery numbers will be. I’ve already said none of this matters if he goes back to where he was 3 years ago.

So, name the 30+ goals x 2 years UFA wingers with a Cap hit of 1.825M that’s prorated that have been traded and we can discuss it. I can’t think of any, and I’m not looking for you.

 

[Duckesh]

The casual ducks fan will lose his shit when Zegras is actually traded. The hard core fans like us, will be happy with the return. That’s my prediction.

I don't want to see Zegras traded. (obviously with exceptions of like someone is offering a crazy good player in return... etc etc).

But following the team and Zegras as the Ducks rebuild has been a fun story line. I'd like to see what the next season or two of Z and what he can do if the Ducks actually play better/buy into a new system/supporting cast improves.

I'd hate to see the best years of Zegras happen elsewhere. People say things like "he doesn't fit" on this team/system. But, if this team is going to be a sinking ship and finish bottom 5, then anyone can fit on this team and at least Zegras is entertaining.

 

[Ducks DVM]

I think the jury is still out on Cronin. If this season is another absolute failure, and his response at every press conference, it’s time for a new coach, and I’d rather see Zegras in a new system than trade him when there will be a new system incoming.

I’d also like to see him for several months healthy in said system regardless.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

I would guess that there will be a bunch of replacements now that people see them more as a way to get into the NHL.

Wait for it.... RogerHicksNHLFriendly.com

 

[Mr Rogers]

I think the just is still out on Cronin. If this season is another absolute failure, and his response at every press conference, it’s time for a new coach, and I’d rather see Zegras in a new system than trade him when there will be a new system incoming.

I’d also like to see him for several months healthy in said system regardless.

Although we have no hard and fast evidence, hard to believe Cronin is a coach who can get the maximum potential offense out of his forwards. obviously there's nothing documented so all i can go off of is just feel, and that's what i think.

For me it's just hard to see it all coming together for Zegs with Cronin behind the bench, i'm less worried about Leo because i think his style is less system dependent and because they are less intent on/obsessed with trying to get him to play a certain way than with Z.

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

It’s absolutely bizarre that you’re using his name as an issue. He scored 37 goals. The thesis is IF he’s on pace for high 30’s goals again this year. If you have a crystal ball, please tell me what this week’s lottery numbers will be. I’ve already said none of this matters if he goes back to where he was 3 years ago.

So, name the 30+ goals x 2 years UFA wingers with a Cap hit of 1.825M that’s prorated that have been traded and we can discuss it. I can’t think of any, and I’m not looking for you.

Lmao come on, I said multiple times that maybe if he did it again he might be able to pull a first, but I’m skeptical of that for very good reason.

And Tyler Toffoli, by far the most comparable and you’d know that if instead of blindly arguing you actually considered the point that I made and knew what you were talking about. Cap hit was marginally higher but he comes with a better track record and a good bit more prestige. A 2nd and a 3rd.

 

[JAHV]

I disagree. I will not be happy if he's traded until we get a chance to see what he can become. Trading a player with his ceiling could be a horrible mistake. He has a chance to be the next Datsyuk. Datsyuk is a guy you don't trade period.

Datsyuk had more defensive instincts in his left pinky finger than Zegras has in his whole body. Those two are not comparable.

 

[Duck Off]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1810875440778617230

Why does this account continue to be quoted. I’ve seen nothing to suggest it is remotely reliable. Say what you want about Eklund, at least he’s broken something before.

This one appears to just be some random account who claims to be an insider. There are hundreds of those on Twitter.

Am I missing something?

 

[Trojans86]

Although we have no hard and fast evidence, hard to believe Cronin is a coach who can get the maximum potential offense out of his forwards. obviously there's nothing documented so all i can go off of is just feel, and that's what i think.

For me it's just hard to see it all coming together for Zegs with Cronin behind the bench, i'm less worried about Leo because i think his style is less system dependent and because they are less intent on/obsessed with trying to get him to play a certain way than with Z.

Yeah, I’m not the least bit sold with him but realistically we were not in a position to get an elite coach anyways. Give him one more year to prove himself and then reassess

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Although we have no hard and fast evidence, hard to believe Cronin is a coach who can get the maximum potential offense out of his forwards. obviously there's nothing documented so all i can go off of is just feel, and that's what i think.

For me it's just hard to see it all coming together for Zegs with Cronin behind the bench, i'm less worried about Leo because i think his style is less system dependent and because they are less intent on/obsessed with trying to get him to play a certain way than with Z.

Welp, here is Zegras' splits last year. The splits are broken up based upon missed time due to injury.

Zegras	2023-24	Splits
Date	Game set	Games	G	A	Pts	ppg		+/-
2023 - 24	Total	31​	6​	9​	15​	0.484​		-1​
Oct to Nov	1 to 12	12​	1​	1​	2​	0.167​		-4​
Dec to Jan	13 to 20	8​	3​	2​	5​	0.625​		-1​
Mar to Apr	21 to 31	11​	2​	6​	8​	0.727​		4​

I think Z found a way to vastly improve offensively and improve defensively throughout the season. Granted, it's a small sample, but he still found a way.

• Under Eakins, here are Zegras' ppg rates:
  • 2021-22: 75 games, 23g + 38a = 61 pts (0.81 ppg)
  • 2022-23: 81 games, 23g + 42a = 65 pts (0.80 ppg)

Although, I still don't trust Cronin's offensive scheme overall b/c he was worse than Eakins' offensive scheme.

Ducks
Season	Game Set	GF	GA	GD	.	PPG	PPO	Eff	.	PPGA	TSH	PK Eff	.	SH GF	SH GA
2023-24	Season	204	295	-91	.	43	235	18.3%	.	91	330	72.4%	.	12​	5​
2022-23	Season	209	338	-129	.	36	229	15.7%	.	78	280	72.1%	.	1​	7​
	Difference	-5	-43	38	.	7	6	2.6%	.	13	50	0.3%	.	11​	-2​

Negative GF is bad b/c it means we've scored fewer. Negative GA is good b/c it means we've allowed fewer GA.

HC Cronin isn't in charge of the PP (Brown, whose contract was not renewed) and PK (Thompson, he's still around). Cronin is in charge of ES play.

Ducks
Season	Game Set	ES GF	ES GA	ES GD
2023-24	Season	149	55	94
2022-23	Season	172	102	70
	Difference	-23	-47	24

The lack of offensive production at ES is very concerning because we could not score enough goals to overcome our atrocious PP and PK as well as negate the vast improvement at ES defense (ES GA).

 

[190Octane]

Why does this account continue to be quoted. I’ve seen nothing to suggest it is remotely reliable. Say what you want about Eklund, at least he’s broken something before.

This one appears to just be some random account who claims to be an insider. There are hundreds of those on Twitter.

Am I missing something?

It says NHL insider right there in his title. No one has ever lied on the internet so it must be true.

 

[AngelDuck]

I would take Toffoli as a hockey player over Vatrano. No knock on FV but he just doesn’t hav the track record quite yet. I hope Verbeek trades him

 

[Ducks DVM]

Although we have no hard and fast evidence, hard to believe Cronin is a coach who can get the maximum potential offense out of his forwards. obviously there's nothing documented so all i can go off of is just feel, and that's what i think.

For me it's just hard to see it all coming together for Zegs with Cronin behind the bench, i'm less worried about Leo because i think his style is less system dependent and because they are less intent on/obsessed with trying to get him to play a certain way than with Z.

I think it was actually a problem for Leo as well. Telling him to dump and chase with Terry and a pre-surgery Killorn was idiotic. I don’t think his skills and physical underdevelopment will work with a dump and chase for another two years minimum.

 

[Son of Gib]

Why is Zegras automatically the odd man out? I don't get it. McTavish has also been not good defensively and not great at FOs. He's also been really inconsistent, has taken tons of penalties, and is not as popular with fans. We haven't had a fun, marketable guy since Selanne and we're tossing him away? Terry was pretty bad all around last year too.

 

[All Mighty]

Why is Zegras automatically the odd man out? I don't get it. McTavish has also been not good defensively and not great at FOs. He's also been really inconsistent, has taken tons of penalties, and is not as popular with fans. We haven't had a fun, marketable guy since Selanne and we're tossing him away? Terry was pretty bad all around last year too.

While I agree with most of this, McTavish won 51.7% of faceoffs last season. Out of our current roster, Strome was 2nd at 46%.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Why is Zegras automatically the odd man out? I don't get it. McTavish has also been not good defensively and not great at FOs. He's also been really inconsistent, has taken tons of penalties, and is not as popular with fans. We haven't had a fun, marketable guy since Selanne and we're tossing him away? Terry was pretty bad all around last year too.

Mac was our 2nd best FO specialist last year behind Rico. Rico went 52.9% and Mac went 51.7%. Last year, Zegras went 38.4%. You can find the stats at Hockey-Reference.

 

[SmokeyDuck]

Why is Zegras automatically the odd man out? I don't get it. McTavish has also been not good defensively and not great at FOs. He's also been really inconsistent, has taken tons of penalties, and is not as popular with fans. We haven't had a fun, marketable guy since Selanne and we're tossing him away? Terry was pretty bad all around last year too.

Because people will ignorantly drink up the coolaid of anything that the media pushes. The media is currently pushing that Zegras is being "shopped".

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Because people will ignorantly drink up the coolaid of anything that the media pushes. The media is currently pushing that Zegras is being "shopped".

Remember how there's smoke around Gibby for the past few seasons? Now that Gibby's smoke got exhausted, it's onto another Duck like Zegras. Dostal is safe for the time being b/c all of Canada believes he's still a "no name" goalie.