Speculation: 2024-25 - Free Agency/Trade Thread

[JAHV]

I don't

Z was playing #1 center first for the worst team in the league who just sold everything off. Do you think him being slightly better at defense and scoring 40 points would have been an improvement? I honestly don't even get what your point is here

Of course that wasn't the intent. Zegras put up back to back 60+ point seasons, but he was giving much of that back defensively. Certainly that second season was atrocious. The points were shiny, but they distracted from the glaring issue, which was that teams were just as likely to score when he was on the ice as he was (if not more so).

Hence the idea that the next coach had to instill some sort of defensive skill or structure that would help make him a more complete and more valuable player. The idea, I'm sure, was that the offense would still develop further but that sacrificing a little of it to improve on defense would be worthwhile. To this point, it hasn't been, although the sample size is still small due to his injury issues.

No one thought, "We're going to make Zegras into a mediocre third line winger!" They were trying to get his defense to a level where he could be relied on to play in more situations and thus would be more valuable.

 

[ohcomeonref]

I don't

Of course that wasn't the intent. Zegras put up back to back 60+ point seasons, but he was giving much of that back defensively. Certainly that second season was atrocious. The points were shiny, but they distracted from the glaring issue, which was that teams were just as likely to score when he was on the ice as he was (if not more so).

Hence the idea that the next coach had to instill some sort of defensive skill or structure that would help make him a more complete and more valuable player. The idea, I'm sure, was that the offense would still develop further but that sacrificing a little of it to improve on defense would be worthwhile. To this point, it hasn't been, although the sample size is still small due to his injury issues.

No one thought, "We're going to make Zegras into a mediocre third line winger!" They were trying to get his defense to a level where he could be relied on to play in more situations and thus would be more valuable.

I'm fine with trying to make him better. I just think, based off of Cro's coaching style, that they were too ham-fisted with their approach. Hopefully I'm absolutely completely wrong and Z figures it out this year and brings decent defense with 60+ points. I have no agenda against Z, or Cro, or Verbeek, I just want the Ducks to be the best team possible as fast as possible.

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

I'm fine with trying to make him better. I just think, based off of Cro's coaching style, that they were too ham-fisted with their approach. Hopefully I'm absolutely completely wrong and Z figures it out this year and brings decent defense with 60+ points. I have no agenda against Z, or Cro, or Verbeek, I just want the Ducks to be the best team possible as fast as possible.

Based off his interviews, I actually think Cronin would agree with you that he was too ham-fisted last year.

I find it hard to believe that somebody could recognize that and make 0 changes, so we’ll have to see what happens.

 

[ohcomeonref]

Based off his interviews, I actually think Cronin would agree with you that he was too ham-fisted last year.

I find it hard to believe that somebody could recognize that and make 0 changes, so we’ll have to see what happens.

I've been encouraged by almost everything Cro has said frankly, if he is able to put into practice what he's talked about we'll be alright.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

My point is that trying to improve the defensive effort of a key forward shouldn’t be seen as a negative.

Idk that anyone sees it as a negative... he def needed to make improvements in his game.

Im more worried about his confidence now, the style that they are trying to get him to play (dump and chase, which he isnt and wont ever be that type of player)

I think defensively hes taken huge strides in the right direction, but i do wonder whats the bench marks in term of offense lost that is acceptable.

If hes now a 40 point winger that has a solid 2 way game... does he even really fit here anymore? If were going that route why not try to make him into a 3c.

 

[ohcomeonref]

Idk that anyone sees it as a negative... he def needed to make improvements in his game.

Im more worried about his confidence now, the style that they are trying to get him to play (dump and chase, which he isnt and wont ever be that type of player)

I think defensively hes taken huge strides in the right direction, but i do wonder whats the bench marks in term of offense lost that is acceptable.

If hes now a 40 point winger that has a solid 2 way game... does he even really fit here anymore? If were going that route why not try to make him into a 3c.

I don't remember who said it but someone said something like: "Z will never be successful in a dump-and-chase system" and I think that's bang on.

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

I've been encouraged by almost everything Cro has said frankly, if he is able to put into practice what he's talked about we'll be alright.

I think it actually sums up how I feel about Cronin. I don't fault a first time coach for having a bad year.

But if he can recognize that it was bad, point out specific things that he did that were bad, and not make any significant changes - that would be a bad coach.

 

[Gliff]

Drysdale is getting tore apart in the Flyers board. Poor guy.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I don't remember who said it but someone said something like: "Z will never be successful in a dump-and-chase system" and I think that's bang on.

I want to say it was @Static and they were dead on

I’m more worried about mctavish defensively…. As I thought his floor was higher…. But he’s pretty bad defensively

 

[SmokeyDuck]

Drysdale is getting tore apart in the Flyers board. Poor guy.

Why? Didn't he have a couple assists the other night?

 

[All Mighty]

Why? Didn't he have a couple assists the other night?

2 secondary PP assists. Still no points at even strength.

 

[MMC]

Why? Didn't he have a couple assists the other night?

Completely lost defensively by the sounds of it and the offense isn't coming at a consistent enough rate to make up for it

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Why? Didn't he have a couple assists the other night?

He did have a couple of PP assists and wasn't a negative rating until the team gave up two EN's. That kinda points out the rest of the team was bad. I think Drysdale is slowly improving.

 

[SmokeyDuck]

We need to pick up a faceoff ace. I think it would help us a fair bit.

 

[DavidBL]

We need to pick up a faceoff ace. I think it would help us a fair bit.

An ace wouldn't help much if he's only playing 4th line minutes. I think it's more important for the kids to just figure it out.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

An ace wouldn't help much if he's only playing 4th line minutes. I think it's more important for the kids to just figure it out.

But the kids need some sort of veteran guidance.

What's really worrying is that Leo seems inept at taking faceoffs.

 

[The Duck Knight]

But the kids need some sort of veteran guidance.

What's really worrying is that Leo seems inept at taking faceoffs.

Leo isn't going to get better at faceoffs in practice where everything is controlled. You don't think Getzlaf and others have already given him plenty of tips in the past 18 months? The only way he's going to get better is game experience and learning the tendencies off his counterparts. And then in time hopefully he'll be strong enough to just start overpowering people like Getzlaf/Thornton.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

And then in time hopefully he'll be strong enough to just start overpowering people like Getzlaf/Thornton.

That’s quite the reach.

He’s not physical or even tenacious enough to be making a sort of comparison to those two

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

If Z can defend in own end as well and put up 50 points. Season. Than he would be a great player

 

[The Duck Knight]

That’s quite the reach.

He’s not physical or even tenacious enough to be making a sort of comparison to those two

We're talking about faceoffs not hitting and fighting.