Speculation: 2024-25 Roster thread

[LuGBuG]

Better to just be happily blind?

When there’s good things it’ll be pointed out. But the issue is the ALL the bad overshadows the little good.

I didn’t say anything about being happily blind. Just prefer not to be in a cyclone of negativity and hatred. Objective criticism is a perfectly fine way to go about things.

 

[branmuffin17]

I didn’t say anything about being happily blind. Just prefer not to be in a cyclone of negativity and hatred. Objective criticism is a perfectly fine way to go about things.

In that sense I would say I agree. There's definitely a lot of complaining to the extent it really sounds more whiny than functional. Some people threatening to not watch or root for the Ducks anymore, to me, seem like fair weather and not true fans if those threats are real. That might be a bit extreme, and everyone has their limits, and maybe sometimes there's acceptable following for players over the franchise. It's cut and dry for me though...I'm a Ducks fan and a hockey fan, and both won't be changing.

Doesn't mean I don't think things need to change though. Definitely haven't particularly liked how Verbeek has communicated and handled things thus far. Probably could be worse though. Glad we didn't get a GM that decided he wanted an aging Erik Karlsson on the books. While I would appreciate his offensive prowess, I don't want a black hole on the D side. I don't know enough about the various coaches to know who would be best for the Ducks young core, but pretty sure Cronin's not the answer.

I remain very optimistic on the future of the franchise, as long as we don't make any stupid trades. I will be absolutely furious if they decide to trade Z.

 

[LuGBuG]

In that sense I would say I agree. There's definitely a lot of complaining to the extent it really sounds more whiny than functional. Some people threatening to not watch or root for the Ducks anymore, to me, seem like fair weather and not true fans if those threats are real. That might be a bit extreme, and everyone has their limits, and maybe sometimes there's acceptable following for players over the franchise. It's cut and dry for me though...I'm a Ducks fan and a hockey fan, and both won't be changing.

Doesn't mean I don't think things need to change though. Definitely haven't particularly liked how Verbeek has communicated and handled things thus far. Probably could be worse though. Glad we didn't get a GM that decided he wanted an aging Erik Karlsson on the books. While I would appreciate his offensive prowess, I don't want a black hole on the D side. I don't know enough about the various coaches to know who would be best for the Ducks young core, but pretty sure Cronin's not the answer.

I remain very optimistic on the future of the franchise, as long as we don't make any stupid trades. I will be absolutely furious if they decide to trade Z.

Agreed on absolutely 100% of this post.

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

Am I crazy? Like sure the comments that Mac is the new Ritchie are too far but what has Mac done this year to make him immune from criticism? He routinely makes poor decisions with the puck on his stick and looks worse at that aspect than he did last year. From what he showed last season, this was a year he should have taken a meaningful step forward with his play but instead he looks like he's regressed.

It's not hate to want a high draft pick with promise to live up to his potential and have serious concerns that he may not have the hockey IQ to do it. Or maybe he's languishing under Cronin. Point is he's a cornerstone piece of what is supposed to be a future core that lifts this team out of the rebuild and he hasn't shown that he's on the right track this year. Concern about that is not the same thing as hate and equating fan concern to fan hate isn't productive.

Nobody is immune to criticism of course, but "criticizing" McTavish stopped weeks ago. We're very clearly at the "dog piling" stage, and a bunch of 30+ yo dudes dog piling on a 21-year-old, even if he hasn't lived up to expectations, makes for a really weird vibe here.

90% of comments about him lately have been either a) making fun of him b) assuming the worst will happen with him when he's on the ice or c) suggesting that he's close to becoming a lost cause.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

In that sense I would say I agree. There's definitely a lot of complaining to the extent it really sounds more whiny than functional. Some people threatening to not watch or root for the Ducks anymore, to me, seem like fair weather and not true fans if those threats are real. That might be a bit extreme, and everyone has their limits, and maybe sometimes there's acceptable following for players over the franchise. It's cut and dry for me though...I'm a Ducks fan and a hockey fan, and both won't be changing.

Doesn't mean I don't think things need to change though. Definitely haven't particularly liked how Verbeek has communicated and handled things thus far. Probably could be worse though. Glad we didn't get a GM that decided he wanted an aging Erik Karlsson on the books. While I would appreciate his offensive prowess, I don't want a black hole on the D side. I don't know enough about the various coaches to know who would be best for the Ducks young core, but pretty sure Cronin's not the answer.

I remain very optimistic on the future of the franchise, as long as we don't make any stupid trades. I will be absolutely furious if they decide to trade Z.

We almost had RD Klingberg on a multi-year deal, but he told Verbeek no early in the FA process. Then Klingberg came back and bet on himself for a one-year, $7 mil deal, believing he would cash in the following off-season. We were spared b/c of Klingberg's greed.

 

[ohcomeonref]

It’s frustrating to have to vocal majority on this board constantly complain about Ownership, Verbeek, Cronin all the f***ing time. We are on pace for 78 pts this year. After failing to crack 60 the past 2 years. If I told you the same exact roster as last year 59 pt season was coming back basically exactly the same, and we were on pace for 78 pts thru 1/4 of the season most people would be happy.

Especially since it took us 12 games to even find anything close to an identity.

Here are the fans here: We win ugly, yeah but we looked like shit, goalies can’t save you forever, gotta fire Verbeek and Cronin before they ruin player development.

We lose but look like the better team, yup Verbeek and Cronin sucks, these guys would win if those 2
Weren’t around, but our cheap owners won’t fire them because they are cheap.

We are on pace to add 19 total pts to our season total from last year, this is what we call improvement (granted I said we were so injured last year this jump was all but guaranteed, but apparently injuries aren’t an excuse for why your team played bad all year).

It’s just all doom and gloom here, and it is in my opinion because our fan base is a bunch of whiny entitled, impatient cry babies, who suffer from the Dunning-Kruger Effect.

We praise the team when it's warranted, we criticize the team when warranted. We are all, ultimately, just passionate fans who want to see the team and the players succeed. Putting lipstick on a pig serves no one.

Nobody is immune to criticism of course, but "criticizing" McTavish stopped weeks ago. We're very clearly at the "dog piling" stage, and a bunch of 30+ yo dudes dog piling on a 21-year-old, even if he hasn't lived up to expectations, makes for a really weird vibe here.

90% of comments about him lately have been either a) making fun of him b) assuming the worst will happen with him when he's on the ice or c) suggesting that he's close to becoming a lost cause.

90% of the dog piling you describe is people just joking around.

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

90% of the dog piling you describe is people just joking around.

 

[JonathnTaylorTavares]

Talking about negative talk is so far 100x more annoying than the original negative talk

 

[ohcomeonref]

I can't speak for everyone but I get extremely hyperbolic with my remarks about the team/players hoping to elicit a chuckle out of someone on the boards. "If we're not laughing, we're crying" energy.

Edit: even my profile pic is meant to elicit a laugh.

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

I can't speak for everyone but I get extremely hyperbolic with my remarks about the team/players hoping to elicit a chuckle out of someone on the boards. "If we're not laughing, we're crying" energy.

Edit: even my profile pic is meant to elicit a laugh.

I honestly don't think there is a better representation for how it's felt to be a Ducks fan than your profile pic.

 

[branmuffin17]

We almost had RD Klingberg on a multi-year deal, but he told Verbeek no early in the FA process. Then Klingberg came back and bet on himself for a one-year, $7 mil deal, believing he would cash in the following off-season. We were spared b/c of Klingberg's greed.

Oh crap, I either forgot about that or didn't get the full story.

I knew Klingberg almost signed a multi-year deal, but I thought that was with the Stars. Didn't know that was also something he was exploring with the Ducks.

Yeek, if Verbeek had succeeded in that one, that would have haunted us for years.

 

[ohcomeonref]

Klingberg long term is nightmare fuel.

 

[LuGBuG]

Klingberg long term is nightmare fuel.

It’s a scary thought lol. Even how bad I wanted Stamkos it’s like well…. Probably for the best.

 

[Anaheim4ever]

But maybe they wouldn't have signed Killorn if they had been stuck with Klingonberg.

 

[Hey234]

Stephens wrote an article grouping each player on their stock value so far this season. Here's his list:

Stock Way Up: Dostal, Zellweger, Helleson, Leason
Stock Up: Gibson, Carlsson, McGinn, Dumoulin, Johnston
Stock Flat: Gauthier, Killorn, LaCombe, Stome, Terry, Lundestrom, Harkins
Stock Down: Zegras, Gudas, Vatrano, Mintyukov
Stock Way Down: McTavish, Fowler, Fabbri

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/59...l-players-analysis?source=user-shared-article

 

[Hey234]

Stephens wrote an article grouping each player on their stock value so far this season. Here's his list:

Stock Way Up: Dostal, Zellweger, Helleson, Leason
Stock Up: Gibson, Carlsson, McGinn, Dumoulin, Johnston
Stock Flat: Gauthier, Killorn, LaCombe, Stome, Terry, Lundestrom, Harkins
Stock Down: Zegras, Gudas, Vatrano, Mintyukov
Stock Way Down: McTavish, Fowler, Fabbri

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/59...l-players-analysis?source=user-shared-article

Personally, I disagree with a lot of this list. Zegras and Minty are way too low. Killorn and Johnston too high. Helleson hasn't played enough to earn that top ranking. For me:

Stock Way Up: Dostal, Gibson, Zellweger, Leason
Stock Up: Carlsson, Helleson, Zegras, Mintyukov, Lundestrom, Gauthier
Stock Flat: Dumoulin, McGinn, LaCombe, Terry, Harkins
Stock Down: Johnston, Killorn, Vatrano, Fabbri, Storme
Stock Way Down: McTavish, Fowler, Gudas

 

[AngelDuck]

I think Terry has been pretty good. His stock is up to me. He leads the team in scoring. What more do you want?

Killorn and Strome are a disaster. Killorn moreso than Strome. But having both under contract for 2.5 more seasons is a stain on Verbeek

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

I think Terry has been pretty good. His stock is up to me. He leads the team in scoring. What more do you want?

Killorn and Strome are a disaster. Killorn moreso than Strome. But having both under contract for 2.5 more seasons is a stain on Verbeek

Killhorn is finding his game. Somewhat lol..stroke is a disaster for sure

 

[MCB]

Killhorn is finding his game. Somewhat lol..stroke is a disaster for sure

I think zegras is finding killorn's game

 

[Sean Garrity]

I think zegras is finding killorn's game

We’ve complained for so long that no one finishes Z’s passes, now we found someone who has somewhat consistently recently and still complain lol.

 

[All Mighty]

 

[Ducks DVM]

I think Terry has been pretty good. His stock is up to me. He leads the team in scoring. What more do you want?

Killorn and Strome are a disaster. Killorn moreso than Strome. But having both under contract for 2.5 more seasons is a stain on Verbeek

Agreed on Terry, he’s been the only consistent forward on the roster. Only a couple of truly off games.

I think Killorn has been two players though. He was horrible until whatever the system change was, then he’s got 7 points in the last 7 games. He also leads the team at +7. He still makes too many mistakes, but his points and goals have been of the useful and intentional, rather than the more pointless and random nature of say McTavish.

Strome is to me what he’s paid to be. A responsible middle 6 player, who comes with middle 6 flaws. If Vatrano had been even typical Vatrano his points totals would be fine.

 

[MCB]

We’ve complained for so long that no one finishes Z’s passes, now we found someone who has somewhat consistently recently and still complain lol.

No complaints, I'm just pointing out that killorn is benefiting from zegras.

 

[Ducks DVM]

No complaints, I'm just pointing out that killorn is benefiting from zegras.

That’s who he’s always been though. Killorn is a complementary wing, not a line driver.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

I think Terry has been pretty good. His stock is up to me. He leads the team in scoring. What more do you want?

More than one goal in his last 12, maybe.