Speculation: 2024-25 Roster thread

Jan 21, 2011
5,263
3,912
Massachusetts
Are we sure Stamkos is a player we'd want? At his age I keep hearing that he's a slower PP specialist these days. That's only going to get worse in the next few years.

Our special teams has sucked over the past years. Whether it’s a talent issue or deployment/tactical issue his shot is something none of our roster currently has
 

CrazyDuck4u

Registered User
Oct 14, 2006
6,323
3,347
Our special teams has sucked over the past years. Whether it’s a talent issue or deployment/tactical issue his shot is something none of our roster currently has
Bring in Stamkos. Have him and Gauthier on the wings on the pp bombing one timers.. Put Vatrano in the front.. Zell as a QB and Carlson feeding the slots for the shots.. Win Win..
 

Hockey Duckie

Registered User
Jul 25, 2003
17,695
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southern cal
Our special teams has sucked over the past years. Whether it’s a talent issue or deployment/tactical issue his shot is something none of our roster currently has


2021-22
PP coaches: Ward & Brown
PK coach: Stothers

Everything went to hell at the TDL when Verbeek blew the team up.

2021-22Special Teams
Game SetGamesPPGPPOPP Eff.PK GATSHPK Eff
Total824821921.9%4322480.8%
1 to 3333239025.6%128585.9%
34 to 6229198522.4%178980.9%
63 to 82 (TDL)2064413.6%145072.0%

2022-23
PP coaches: Brown
PK coach: Stothers

2022-23SpecialTeams
Game SetGamesPPGPPOPP Eff.PK GATSHPK Eff
Total823622915.7%7828072.1%
1 to 2525127216.7%318965.2%
26 to 4924116915.9%178179.0%
50 to 611253613.9%104477.3%
62 to 822185215.4%206669.7%

The PP remained mediocre all season, but the PK improved from a rough start. It's impressive considering it didn't have any true top-4 shutdown d-men.

2023-24
PP coaches: Brown
PK coach: Thompson

2023-24SpecialTeams
Game SetGamesPPGPPOPP Eff.PK GATSHPK Eff
Total824223517.9%9133072.4%
1 to 2525188122.2%2211080.0%
26 to 4924107114.1%229175.8%
50 to 621383522.9%164766.0%
63 to 822064812.5%318262.2%

The PP is highly erratic and dependent on players being hot. Our PK started off hot and then just deteriorated as the season went.

======
Conclusion

We can identify that coaching matters because in 2021-22 the PP flew sky high until the TDL. Similarly for the PK, it looked amazing in 2021-22 until the TDL, but it also improved itself from a rough start in 2022-23. For the 2023-24 season, the defense got a massive influx of better talent, but our new PK coach couldn't sustain the hot start and tanked - Thompson was worse before the TDL than Stothers was after in both of Stother's previous seasons!
 

Rybread86

To the DOME
Mar 24, 2022
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I just can't really see TB letting Stamkos walk. I really think Marchessault is our best realistic option.

I agree, but at the same time I can see them not being able to come to terms.

You could see from their early exit (even if they did look good), that they have work to do to be back to a contender. Stamkos would have to accept a Getzlaf-esque team friendly deal to allow them to make Championship use out of the savings.

Tampa could also pay Stamkos like $1mil less than us and he would earn the same.

It will come down to what he wants most; Legacy, money, championship.

We have a good recruiter in house, but unless he just wants to get paid, Id have to imagine he either stays in Tampa or picks a team thats a front runner. I could be wrong though, maybe mentorship is something he relishes too.
 

robbieboy3686

Registered User
Jan 17, 2016
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I think Marchessault is my top choice, too. I’m a bit worried about how much term he could want, though.
This is the year to go for it and add a winger that’s the right age that we attach at the hip to one of our young centers. Just because he said the obvious “ free agency is where it’s easier to add this player” doesn’t mean he won’t trade for this young buck i mention ie necas
 

Zegs2sendhelp

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Jul 25, 2012
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I just can't really see TB letting Stamkos walk. I really think Marchessault is our best realistic option.
I mean there’s also the part about it not being TB option

Maybe Stamkos wants to expierence ufa or try something new…. He’s got the cups in tampa, can get more money in free agency than tampa can afford

But if we get Stamkos I think there has to be a move on defense, and i think you to find depth help like a pageau/Henrique type
 

HanSolo

DJ Crazy Times
Apr 7, 2008
97,654
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Las Vegas
I've thought about it a fair bit and I think Marchessault could work. He might want to keep his family in Vegas but Anaheim is a four hour drive and even shorter flight away.

Only thing is he has a really competitive personality so I'd imagine it'll take some believable convincing from Verbeek that this youth core will be ready to compete in the playoffs soon. I can't imagine that he's the type to want to spend his remaining years on a rebuilding team if Vegas has no room for him going forward. But if Verbeek can make a good enough case, I can see him excited to be a part of a core like ours.

That said i think, conceptually, he'd be a good fit with Zegras, playstyle and personality wise. That line would just need a big body on the wings to free up space.
 
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Zegs2sendhelp

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I've thought about it a fair bit and I think Marchessault could work. He might want to keep his family in Vegas but Anaheim is a four hour drive and even shorter flight away.

Only thing is he has a really competitive personality so I'd imagine it'll take some believable convincing from Verbeek that this youth core will be ready to compete in the playoffs soon. I can't imagine that he's the type to want to spend his remaining years on a rebuilding team if Vegas has no room for him going forward. But if Verbeek can make a good enough case, I can see him excited to be a part of a core like ours.

That said i think, conceptually, he'd be a good fit with Zegras, playstyle and personality wise. That line would just need a big body on the wings to free up space.
Ya it makes sense...

Like i said above if were making a move for a guy like Marchessault/Stamkos/Reinhardt etc... then you need to make follow ups to address the defense and the roster depth... not saying give out a bunch of long term contracts, but find trades for guys with 1-2 years left to fill up the roster while the prospects continue to develop.

Take advantage of the fact that dostal/zegras/carlsson/mctavish/zellweger/mintyukov/gauthier are taking up a small portion of the cap.
 

Hockey Duckie

Registered User
Jul 25, 2003
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southern cal
=======
Forward
=======

We're going to be replacing vet Rico with a vet RW.

  • Rico: 60 gp, 18g + 24a = 42 pts (0.70 ppg), and a +3.
    ES Corsi For = 48.2% (50.0% is shot neutral).
    ES OZone Start = 42.3%.
    Added bonus: 52.9% FO Wins on 911 attempts.

That's Rico producing on a rebuild team. Whatever vet RW we grab needs to produce similarly to Rico or better if we're gonna start to creep out of the cellar.

Granted, we'll be adding LW Cutter into the mix as well and that should boost our productions or cover some production in case of injuries. A healthy Z, a healthy Mac, and Carlsson's second season in the NHL should give the Ducks a significant boost... unless Cronin is too rigid in his game plans.

=======
Defense
=======

We're going to be replacing vet RD Lyubushkin with a vet RD.

  • Lyubushkin: 55 gp, 0g + 4a = 4 pts, and a -13.
    ES Corsi For % = 44.0% (50.0% is shot neutral).
    OZone Starts = 48%.
    Added bonus: 2nd in blocks with 138 (in only 55 games) and 6th in hits with 112.

Lybushkin is your shutdown D and plays on the PK (goes without saying with the descriptor of shutdown D). I hope we land someone better than Lybushkin, otherwise it's just a lateral move and we're banking our defensive improvement upon our youths Minty, Zell, maybe LaCombe, and maybe Luneau.

Grabbing a talent better than Lyubushkin is probably going to tell us how much our blue line and PK can improve. I think a RD summer acquisition might carry more weight in team improvement than a RW.

=================

If the Ducks are going to creep out of the cellar, then it really needs its youths at forward and defense to step up as well as it's goaltenders to take it to another level. A big surprised could be landing a top-4 shutdown RD still in their prime.
 
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lwvs84

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Jan 25, 2003
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If we win the #1 pick, would you guys want to go for it the next 2 years or wait for more development? 2 year $12 mil per contracts to Roy and Pesce (or $10 mil or whatever it would take), get new assistant coaches, etc...
Gauthier Carlsson Killorn
Celebrini McTavish Strome
Vatrano Zegras Terry

Fowler Roy
Mintyukov Pesce
Zellweger Gudas

Dostal/Gibson

Could mix and match, if Celebrini is a better C, can move Mac to RW to shoot on his off wing. If we get a RW (Marchessault or Stamkos) Move Stromr to 4C/RW. Take advantage of the rookie contracts while we can.

I'm bored, just something fun to think about... it probably wouldn't work because the kids won't all improve by enough to win a Cup even with those additions this year.
 

Hockey Duckie

Registered User
Jul 25, 2003
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southern cal
If we win the #1 pick, would you guys want to go for it the next 2 years or wait for more development? 2 year $12 mil per contracts to Roy and Pesce (or $10 mil or whatever it would take), get new assistant coaches, etc...
Gauthier Carlsson Killorn
Celebrini McTavish Strome
Vatrano Zegras Terry

Fowler Roy
Mintyukov Pesce
Zellweger Gudas

Dostal/Gibson

Could mix and match, if Celebrini is a better C, can move Mac to RW to shoot on his off wing. If we get a RW (Marchessault or Stamkos) Move Stromr to 4C/RW. Take advantage of the rookie contracts while we can.

I'm bored, just something fun to think about... it probably wouldn't work because the kids won't all improve by enough to win a Cup even with those additions this year.

If we do win the #1 pick, then we have to hard at a top-4RD b/c there isn't any high-end potential top-4RD coming into the system since we're not drafting Lev.

BTW, I love the youth forward pairings!

Cutter - Carlsson - xxx
Celebrini - Mac - xxx
xxx - Zegras - Terry

I do feel bad for LaCombe. When doing the splits (first 20 games vs afterward with LaCombe and Minty as well as first 3 games vs 2nd call-up for Zell), LaCombe looked like the more competent defenseman. I'd rather Zell spend another half-year in the AHL to improve his defense, tbh.
 
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lwvs84

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Jan 25, 2003
4,138
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Los Angeles, CA
If we do win the #1 pick, then we have to hard at a top-4RD b/c there isn't any high-end potential top-4RD coming into the system since we're not drafting Lev.

BTW, I love the youth forward pairings!

Cutter - Carlsson - xxx
Celebrini - Mac - xxx
xxx - Zegras - Terry

I do feel bad for LaCombe. When doing the splits (first 20 games vs afterward with LaCombe and Minty as well as first 3 games vs 2nd call-up for Zell), LaCombe looked like the more competent defenseman. I'd rather Zell spend another half-year in the AHL to improve his defense, tbh.
Yeah, LaCombe can slot in and you get more talent in SD... having Zellweger, Luneau, and Colangelo in SD plus the versatility of the forwards in Anaheim (so many guys that can play C, both Vatrano and Gauthier said they can play their off wing, LaCombe and Zellweger can play their off side) makes it easier to absorb an injury or two. In the fantasy that we land Celebrini, that's potentially 4-5 top 6 centers. Too bad we're one of the unlucky franchises and will never win one where there's a clear #1.
 

Dr Johnny Fever

Eggplant and Teal
Apr 11, 2012
21,514
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Winning the lottery should not change whatever plan we are on. Celebrini is not McDavid level. I'm not sure he's Bedard level either. He'd be a great piece to have, but not one that changes the course of the rebuild.
 
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