Speculation: 2024-25 Roster thread

[Dr Johnny Fever]

Because hanging out a large number of youth to continuously fail has never been a proven recipe for success, and can instead ruin them.

I have a hard time believing we’re going to ruin multiple young players if we trade Fowler before next summer. And I don’t say that as a shot at Fowler, I just think all successful players go through some adversity in their careers. Lots of ups and downs on the way. Many times people learn more from their failures than their successes.

 

[Ducks DVM]

I have a hard time believing we’re going to ruin multiple young players if we trade Fowler before next summer. And I don’t say that as a shot at Fowler, I just think all successful players go through some adversity in their careers. Lots of ups and downs on the way. Many times people learn more from their failures than their successes.

I didn’t say not to trade Fowler. I also didn’t say “will”. I said “can”, and that’s pretty well borne out by history.

The term “sophomore slump” exists for a reason, and they didn’t manage Leo’s minutes last year because first year players generally do great playing a full season. This aren’t controversial takes on my part. The more young players you have, the greater the chance it’s going to happen.

 

[Hey234]

The main problem isn't depth. The main problem is expectations. This is year 3 of the reset rebuild. It is a development season. This is year 2 of Minty in the NHL. This is also year 2 of Carlsson, LaCombe, Zell, and Dostal full time. This is Cutter's rookie season. This is Colangelo and Helleson's longer, extended look into the NHL still classified as rookies. Minty is learning how to play more defensively this year compared to last year as well as increased minutes in a top-pairing role. Year 3 for Minty is where I hope to expect he can carry his partner.

My original post doesn't necessarily disagree with what you are saying. There's no question that all the young players need more time to actualize. I too hope/expect Minty to takes another step and I think he's doing well overall considering the circumstances.

My overall take is that way he's been utilized and his current partner are affecting some of his success. Additionally, the Ducks need a long-term solution to play on right with him and I personally don't see any prospects becoming that within the next few years if ever. To me, that means they'll need to look somewhere else to aquire that. It doesn't have to be right now, but I would ideally like someone before next season starts.

 

[Ducks DVM]

My original post doesn't necessarily disagree with what you are saying. There's no question that all the young players need more time to actualize. I too hope/expect Minty to takes another step and I think he's doing well overall considering the circumstances.

My overall take is that way he's been utilized and his current partner are affecting some of his success. Additionally, the Ducks need a long-term solution to play on right with him and I personally don't see any prospects becoming that within the next few years if ever. To me, that means they'll need to look somewhere else to aquire that. It doesn't have to be right now, but I would ideally like someone before next season starts.

It’s right behind a 1C as the hardest unicorn to find though.

 

[JAHV]

If so, another reason Fowler should be traded. Ducks have been clearly better without him and scratching your best young D to bring him back isn’t what a rebuilding team should be doing.

I'm as big a Mintyukov supporter as there is, but no 20-year-old defenseman had his career ruined by sitting for a game or two. If it's a long-term thing, that's not great, but one or two games isn't the end of the world.

 

[Boo Boo]

I wonder who will have a better career zellweger or vatanen

Zellweger should surpass vatanen relatively easily unless he gets injured imo.

It’s too bad that vatanen was out of the league so early in part due to injury. I also just think that Zellweger projects as a higher calibre player in most aspects

 

[Deuce22]

I'm as big a Mintyukov supporter as there is, but no 20-year-old defenseman had his career ruined by sitting for a game or two. If it's a long-term thing, that's not great, but one or two games isn't the end of the world.

Don’t think that either. Just think the young guys need to be playing, unless injured. This is a development year.

 

[JAHV]

Don’t think that either. Just think the young guys need to be playing, unless injured. This is a development year.

For the most part, yes, but if a kid is struggling, it can be a good thing to let them watch a couple games and reset. It's got to be communicated well and temporary, but it's not the end of the world.

 

[MMC]

I’m going to say this through February-March unless we are the one team it never happens to, but 1st and 2nd year NHL players almost always have a significant falloff in play in the second half of the season. It happened to McTavish and Carlsson last year, zero reason to think all 4 youngsters are going to look this good at that time. There’s nothing left in San Diego to bring up if they do.

This isn't a good enough reason to keep Fowler for me. Guys on the waiver wire can serve as bodies for injuries or spotting young players who need to sit for a few games if we want to do load management

 

[MMC]

 

[Anaheim4ever]

View attachment 939938

I saw the full list on NY Times, those Nashville Predators......I wonder if Stamkos has buyers remorse lol. Pittsburgh I suspect will implode and Crosby is already preparing his speech when the Penguins announce the #1 pick McKenna in 2026.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

 

[Hockey Duckie]

View attachment 939938

We've improved our rate by +7 points since Nov 4th. Here's there chart from Nov 4th.

 

[MMC]

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

That’s convenient.

 

[lwvs84]

It'll be interesting to see what the forward lines will be like when/if everyone it's healthy.

Not in order of line number, but it would be interesting to see:
Vatrano Strome Terry (that line is working, don't break what works)
McTavish/Zegras Carlsson Killorn (maybe Killorn is actually getting going, though Fabbri is another option here)
Gauthier Zegras/McTavish Leason (prefer Z here but Cronin refuses to use Mac on the wing. Also, Leason could be upgraded to Killorn/Fabbri but he seems to work with Cutter)
McGinn Lundestrom Fabbri (could just be an annoying 4th line to play against)

Fowler is probably eventually getting moved. Unless he's packaged with another D, it doesn't make sense to get another back. Maybe they look to upgrade a forward? Getting a goal scoring RW for Fowler really solidifies the lines.

 

[Leonardo87]

If Z is out long term and Leo out longer then they are likely done. Terry as good as he is cannot run the offense and put it on his back. He is a 60-70 point player and that is more than fine .

The inconsistency of the vets showed again last night. Mac has not looked very good and cutter is still a rookie.

They need to get Leo back and attached cutter and Terry to him in the hopes they can finally get a legit Top line going .

 

[Mr Rogers]

Ducks have a tough schedule throughout the rest of December. Wild are tough tomorrow and this road trip is going to be tough. Then the rest of the month it's like Jets, Avs, Vegas, Oilers, Devils just to name a few. I feel like things could start to get out of hand especially with these injuries.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

If Z is out long term and Leo out longer then they are likely done. Terry as good as he is cannot run the offense and put it on his back. He is a 60-70 point player and that is more than fine .

The inconsistency of the vets showed again last night. Mac has not looked very good and cutter is still a rookie.

They need to get Leo back and attached cutter and Terry to him in the hopes they can finally get a legit Top line going .

The Crash the Pond guys had a theory that the way Mac was playing last year is different from this year. Last year, he was more dangerous in transition. This year, he's really gung ho on "dump & chase". Maybe Mac is implementing exactly what Cronin wants him to do and that change in his game has been detrimental this season?

We still see high level plays from Mac from passing and often crashing the net. It's everywhere that's a problem. Cronin said he sees Mac like Tkachuk, but Mac's game isn't built that way to be both physical and offensive simultaneously. Mac can be physical, but away goes some offense. At least that's what I've noticed from him from his junior days to the present. We aren't using Mac's big shot on the PP, which feels like a terrible disservice to his scoring talent.

 

[Mr Rogers]

I gotta say, it irks me how Cronin’s eyes light up when Lee or Knoll or Cavanaugh throw him a bone in the postgame and ask him about the play of the 4th line. Always goes on about how they play the right way and sort of implies that if everyone else played like that, the team would be doing better. I’m worried he’s pushing a style on a lot of guys that just doesn’t suit them at all.

 

[anezthes]

Ducks hockey without Z and Leo is just... boring.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

Ducks have a tough schedule throughout the rest of December. Wild are tough tomorrow and this road trip is going to be tough. Then the rest of the month it's like Jets, Avs, Vegas, Oilers, Devils just to name a few. I feel like things could start to get out of hand especially with these injuries.

I hate using cliches but perhaps this will be a good test of their character. Can they play respectably while getting beat by a better team(s) or will they go back to looking like the Keystone Cops of last year and early this year? I guess we will find out.

 

[gunnergunther]

Ducks have a tough schedule throughout the rest of December. Wild are tough tomorrow and this road trip is going to be tough. Then the rest of the month it's like Jets, Avs, Vegas, Oilers, Devils just to name a few. I feel like things could start to get out of hand especially with these injuries.

We have the toughest remaining schedule according to tankathon, and that’s just based on percentage points. Not only has our schedule been fairly easy opponents wise, but magically this year we’ve been getting teams on the 2nd end of the LA/SJ/ANH back to backs. So we’ve also been getting tired teams.
With Zegras out and the schedule getting harder, I expect a plummet in the standings as well.

 

[Frosted Tips]

So what happened with Vaakanainen again? If I remember right, he got high sticked in a game and haven't seen him since? Feel bad for this guy.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

So what happened with Vaakanainen again? If I remember right, he got high sticked in a game and haven't seen him since? Feel bad for this guy.

I didn't realize Vaak was hurt, thought they just had him in a bit of a lame Ducks seventh role where he gets passed over by call ups when there's ice time available.