Speculation: 2024-25 Roster Thread
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MMC
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CrazyDuck4u
Registered User
- Oct 14, 2006
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If the ducks have a worst record next year. You gotta can PV.. enough is enough. You start with Cronin gone.
All Mighty
Registered User
Some positives from the end of the season:
McTavish - 16G and 17A in his last 36 games
Gauthier - 11G and 10A in his last 29 games
Carlsson - 11G and 14A in his last 28 games
Colangelo - 9G and 2A in his last 18 games
Zegras - 5G and 11A in his last 23 games
McTavish - 16G and 17A in his last 36 games
Gauthier - 11G and 10A in his last 29 games
Carlsson - 11G and 14A in his last 28 games
Colangelo - 9G and 2A in his last 18 games
Zegras - 5G and 11A in his last 23 games
My report card
Terry: B-
Leading scorer, but no question he faded away after the Four Nations. Doesn't help that Vatrano and Strome tanked as hard as they did the last third of the season. Hopefully a new coach can help unlock his potential.
Vatrano: D
Top 5 point producer for the team but he barely escaped a tie with a rookie. His defense, discipline and puck management issues the last and first third of the season made him a liability more often than not.
Strome: D+
Very whatever as a center. Not exactly an ace in the dots. Had some very good moments here and there for the most part his puck management is below third liner level if you're talking about expectations for a playoff team. Honestly, unless Vatrano and Strome get their acts together, they're replacement level players if we want to compete in the playoffs. Maybe a better coach would help them but they're part of a vet core that collapsed in the last third.
Carlsson: B
As great as his post Four Nations surge was, we can't ignore the extended slump he went through. His game against Minnesota was outstanding and gives me hope that with more bulk and strength, he can be an imposing two way 1c with high production. I'll give Cronin credit. Leo's defensive improvement has been substantial this season.
Gauthier: B+
It might seem weird to give him a higher grade than Leo but I think he showed more overall improvement. His production relative to minutes played and at even strength (since our powerplay was league worst), Cutter's production is right up there with the other top rookies. He's really coming into his own and appears destined to be a top line goal scorer. Great value pick up.
Killorn: B-
I'll keep it simple. As an offensive weapon, he's inconsistent and his jumpy puck management decisions in offensive zone set ups really holds him back. That said he is one of our best forwards defensively, one of our best penalty killers and the only vet I can say didn't mail it in the last few weeks or more of the season. The puck management issue, in my view, cost his line offense too often for me to give him an equivalent grade to Leo but anything above a C is positive for me.
McTavish: B
I teetered between B and B+. His second half of the season was outstanding and he looks poised for a statistical improvement next year. But that first half, his play was pretty rough. Excessively poor puck management on a team that struggled with that all around, poor defense, poor effort. I can't just ignore that half his season was subpar. Looking forward to seeing what he can do next year.
Zegras: C
Given that his production has rebounded, I wanted to say C+ but the reality his he's just not back. Not really. His game is lacking confidence. He still commits a lot of puck handling and defensive errors for a guy with his natural talent. I think he needs to pack on some muscle and get messaging from a different coach. Yeah the team had a stretch playing better when he returned from injury but that effect didn't last. He's shown flashes of the old Zegras but they're too infrequent.
Fabbri: C-
Predictably, missed most of the season due to injury. His speed was exciting but in practice he didn't seem to have the best hockey IQ and he wasn't great defensively. I feel he's completely replaceable.
Colangelo: B-
It's still a small sample but he seems like a very solid middle 6 guy. He has a tendency to disappear on some shifts but he showed a good amount of improvement and honestly, this last stretch of hockey, he's looked better than Zegras overall. Grade is based more on expectation for next year but ten goals in 31 games from the third line is nothing to sneeze at.
Leason: D
Had a four game stretch at some point where he looked like he could be what Colangelo actually is. He's such a nothing player at this point. Completely replaceable and I doubt he finds another team short of another two team expansion.
Lundestrom: D+
He gets the plus for being decent on the penalty kill but 5 on 5 he's mistake prone at the best of times, utterly useless most of the rest. Not sure we can say for sure Washe makes him replaceable but he wouldn't have a spot on any of the teams currently in the playoffs. Maybe the Habs.
Harkins: D-
He's a decent hard working forechecker. In all other respects he's a waste of a roster spot. Entirely replaceable.
Johnston: F+
The plus is because he throws hits and by some stroke of cosmic irony he managed to get 4 points. He's not good as an enforcer as he only gets in staged fights and never fights to retaliate when opponents step out of line against our guys. His hits are never to make a useful play or send a message. They're just hits to say he did something. Awful hockey player. May legitimately not be good enough for the AHL.
Nesterensko: sample size too small
He looked good in his most recent call up. Could be a solid third line depth scorer or better but he has a ways to go to get to second line quality.
McGinn: C-
He was a hard worker before his extended injury but I don't think he was as effective as others seemed to. If he isn't here next year I don't think it would bother anyone.
Washe: Sample too small.
He looked good in the season finale for the role he's expected to play. Not much to say. Strong kid, active defensively, active forechecker, didn't handle the puck a lot so jury still out on his puck management.
Lacombe: A+
What is there to say? Dude had a huge improvement from last season and played like a legit number 1 defenseman. 23rd in scoring by defensemen on an awful team and pretty solid defense. One of the most likely guys in the youth core to reach elite heights.
Gudas: D
What is there to say? I don't know if he's playing through injury or if the captain role is more than he can handle but he was bad this year. Throughout the season he just wasn't good enough. I'm not sure cutting his minutes and giving him easier matchups is going to help all that much.
Trouba: D
Same story. Verbeek drank the Kool aid because Trouba is physical and an RHD. But outside of his first 5-6 games, he was as bad as advertised. Limp offensively and terribly inconsistent defensively for a defensive defenseman. Dude was my favorite prospect at the time of the 2012 draft. Some part of me fantasized about Trouba being successful as an Anaheim Duck. Nothing but wishful thinking.
Zellweger: C
Hes fine in the role he plays but he's so easily knocked off the puck and his innate offensive talents haven't translated to better possession, puck movement flow or chance generation. The fight to keep a spot with this team isn't over for him by a longshot.
Mintyukov: D+
This pains me but this is very similar to the Zegras situation. The upside is visible. He shows flashes of potential greatness but for the most part he plays the game too timidly. It really seems like his confidence is fully shot. Hopefully the summer off and hopefully a new coach will help him reset.
Kylington: F+
By some freak of nature he managed to score a goal for us but he is not NHL quality. Not even as a #7 defenseman and that's just talking this team alone, with the worst defense in the league. A playoff team would probably have him as the third-fifth injury call up option from the AHL. With our logjam of young defensemen there is no reason this guy should still be in the organization come October.
Moore: sample too small.
Judging his two games alone I'd probably give him a B but the sample is too small. He seems confident and steady
Helleson: D
I think we all drank the kool-aid a little too much with this guy. We were looking at him like he probably had little chance to hang in the NHL. He comes in and played solid enough for all of us to think "oh shit, no, we have something here." in reality his defensive metrics are exceedingly poor (probably doesn't help being paired with Gudas) and he doesn't bring enough offense to really stave off the young guys that are coming in. He had plenty of time to improve this season and honestly didn't. I think he's replaceable.
Dostal/Gibson: why overcomplicate this? They made the Ducks the second best goals saved above expected team in the lesgue and probably, as a tandem, saved Cronin's job. The team as a whole improved very little where they did, and got worse defensively. The goalies are the biggest reason we weren't a lottery team again.
Cronin: F-
Clune: F-
Thompson: D-
Terry: B-
Leading scorer, but no question he faded away after the Four Nations. Doesn't help that Vatrano and Strome tanked as hard as they did the last third of the season. Hopefully a new coach can help unlock his potential.
Vatrano: D
Top 5 point producer for the team but he barely escaped a tie with a rookie. His defense, discipline and puck management issues the last and first third of the season made him a liability more often than not.
Strome: D+
Very whatever as a center. Not exactly an ace in the dots. Had some very good moments here and there for the most part his puck management is below third liner level if you're talking about expectations for a playoff team. Honestly, unless Vatrano and Strome get their acts together, they're replacement level players if we want to compete in the playoffs. Maybe a better coach would help them but they're part of a vet core that collapsed in the last third.
Carlsson: B
As great as his post Four Nations surge was, we can't ignore the extended slump he went through. His game against Minnesota was outstanding and gives me hope that with more bulk and strength, he can be an imposing two way 1c with high production. I'll give Cronin credit. Leo's defensive improvement has been substantial this season.
Gauthier: B+
It might seem weird to give him a higher grade than Leo but I think he showed more overall improvement. His production relative to minutes played and at even strength (since our powerplay was league worst), Cutter's production is right up there with the other top rookies. He's really coming into his own and appears destined to be a top line goal scorer. Great value pick up.
Killorn: B-
I'll keep it simple. As an offensive weapon, he's inconsistent and his jumpy puck management decisions in offensive zone set ups really holds him back. That said he is one of our best forwards defensively, one of our best penalty killers and the only vet I can say didn't mail it in the last few weeks or more of the season. The puck management issue, in my view, cost his line offense too often for me to give him an equivalent grade to Leo but anything above a C is positive for me.
McTavish: B
I teetered between B and B+. His second half of the season was outstanding and he looks poised for a statistical improvement next year. But that first half, his play was pretty rough. Excessively poor puck management on a team that struggled with that all around, poor defense, poor effort. I can't just ignore that half his season was subpar. Looking forward to seeing what he can do next year.
Zegras: C
Given that his production has rebounded, I wanted to say C+ but the reality his he's just not back. Not really. His game is lacking confidence. He still commits a lot of puck handling and defensive errors for a guy with his natural talent. I think he needs to pack on some muscle and get messaging from a different coach. Yeah the team had a stretch playing better when he returned from injury but that effect didn't last. He's shown flashes of the old Zegras but they're too infrequent.
Fabbri: C-
Predictably, missed most of the season due to injury. His speed was exciting but in practice he didn't seem to have the best hockey IQ and he wasn't great defensively. I feel he's completely replaceable.
Colangelo: B-
It's still a small sample but he seems like a very solid middle 6 guy. He has a tendency to disappear on some shifts but he showed a good amount of improvement and honestly, this last stretch of hockey, he's looked better than Zegras overall. Grade is based more on expectation for next year but ten goals in 31 games from the third line is nothing to sneeze at.
Leason: D
Had a four game stretch at some point where he looked like he could be what Colangelo actually is. He's such a nothing player at this point. Completely replaceable and I doubt he finds another team short of another two team expansion.
Lundestrom: D+
He gets the plus for being decent on the penalty kill but 5 on 5 he's mistake prone at the best of times, utterly useless most of the rest. Not sure we can say for sure Washe makes him replaceable but he wouldn't have a spot on any of the teams currently in the playoffs. Maybe the Habs.
Harkins: D-
He's a decent hard working forechecker. In all other respects he's a waste of a roster spot. Entirely replaceable.
Johnston: F+
The plus is because he throws hits and by some stroke of cosmic irony he managed to get 4 points. He's not good as an enforcer as he only gets in staged fights and never fights to retaliate when opponents step out of line against our guys. His hits are never to make a useful play or send a message. They're just hits to say he did something. Awful hockey player. May legitimately not be good enough for the AHL.
Nesterensko: sample size too small
He looked good in his most recent call up. Could be a solid third line depth scorer or better but he has a ways to go to get to second line quality.
McGinn: C-
He was a hard worker before his extended injury but I don't think he was as effective as others seemed to. If he isn't here next year I don't think it would bother anyone.
Washe: Sample too small.
He looked good in the season finale for the role he's expected to play. Not much to say. Strong kid, active defensively, active forechecker, didn't handle the puck a lot so jury still out on his puck management.
Lacombe: A+
What is there to say? Dude had a huge improvement from last season and played like a legit number 1 defenseman. 23rd in scoring by defensemen on an awful team and pretty solid defense. One of the most likely guys in the youth core to reach elite heights.
Gudas: D
What is there to say? I don't know if he's playing through injury or if the captain role is more than he can handle but he was bad this year. Throughout the season he just wasn't good enough. I'm not sure cutting his minutes and giving him easier matchups is going to help all that much.
Trouba: D
Same story. Verbeek drank the Kool aid because Trouba is physical and an RHD. But outside of his first 5-6 games, he was as bad as advertised. Limp offensively and terribly inconsistent defensively for a defensive defenseman. Dude was my favorite prospect at the time of the 2012 draft. Some part of me fantasized about Trouba being successful as an Anaheim Duck. Nothing but wishful thinking.
Zellweger: C
Hes fine in the role he plays but he's so easily knocked off the puck and his innate offensive talents haven't translated to better possession, puck movement flow or chance generation. The fight to keep a spot with this team isn't over for him by a longshot.
Mintyukov: D+
This pains me but this is very similar to the Zegras situation. The upside is visible. He shows flashes of potential greatness but for the most part he plays the game too timidly. It really seems like his confidence is fully shot. Hopefully the summer off and hopefully a new coach will help him reset.
Kylington: F+
By some freak of nature he managed to score a goal for us but he is not NHL quality. Not even as a #7 defenseman and that's just talking this team alone, with the worst defense in the league. A playoff team would probably have him as the third-fifth injury call up option from the AHL. With our logjam of young defensemen there is no reason this guy should still be in the organization come October.
Moore: sample too small.
Judging his two games alone I'd probably give him a B but the sample is too small. He seems confident and steady
Helleson: D
I think we all drank the kool-aid a little too much with this guy. We were looking at him like he probably had little chance to hang in the NHL. He comes in and played solid enough for all of us to think "oh shit, no, we have something here." in reality his defensive metrics are exceedingly poor (probably doesn't help being paired with Gudas) and he doesn't bring enough offense to really stave off the young guys that are coming in. He had plenty of time to improve this season and honestly didn't. I think he's replaceable.
Dostal/Gibson: why overcomplicate this? They made the Ducks the second best goals saved above expected team in the lesgue and probably, as a tandem, saved Cronin's job. The team as a whole improved very little where they did, and got worse defensively. The goalies are the biggest reason we weren't a lottery team again.
Cronin: F-
Clune: F-
Thompson: D-
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I don’t think Zegras ever had a moment where I could honestly say he was “ back” or even close to it. There was a relatively short period over which he played some good games, but I don’t feel like he finished strong at all. The way he closed out the season actually makes me question whether he truly found anything.
The Midnight Burrito
True Fan
He's busted. Time was he could make something happen on every shift. Now you don't notice him, even when he produces it's a tip to start a play that other guys finish or something. Total tragedy.
I still have some hope but it’s getting dark out, at least with Anaheim
Unholy
kesbae
Okay seeing this just pisses me off more.
Carlsson - 16:12
Gauthier - 14:07
Just so much wrong looking at some of these times. A few were not deserving of having as much time as they got. These two specifically need to be well higher next season, as should Colangelo after getting his feet wet this year
Carlsson - 16:12
Gauthier - 14:07
Just so much wrong looking at some of these times. A few were not deserving of having as much time as they got. These two specifically need to be well higher next season, as should Colangelo after getting his feet wet this year
AngelDuck
MacT
- Jun 16, 2012
- 23,327
- 20,214
Vatrano
Strome
Gudas
Trouba
These players will be among our ice time leaders for as long as Cronin is coach
Strome
Gudas
Trouba
These players will be among our ice time leaders for as long as Cronin is coach
Agree in large part with everything.
I probably would give McTavish a B+ based on his improvement defensively and overall discipline. He really struggled with penalties before this year and he made big strides. I also felt like he was carrying his line a lot of the time which is great to see at well. A better PP will benefit him a lot like Leo.
Zegras gets a C- from me, could be a little harsh but i thought he was just careless and laissez-faire at times with the puck and overall tenacity so that kind of pushed him down a half-step for me.
Cutter gets an A- or potentially A for me. I really thought he was great especially given the circumstances. to produce like he did as a rookie with this coach, and with other young guys struggling was impressive. He's a very resilient player
Might give Minty a C- just given the injury and stuff but similar vibes, it was a disappointing year interspersed with flashes of high-end skill.
I agree with Terry at a B-, i thought he was really good for a while but he kind of got sort of caught up in what his flaws are. Overthinking, overplaying the puck, sort of doing things on his own although his linemates totally went into a nosedive. There is something a little disappointing about his year but i can't really pinpoint it. He was better than last year, but i'm not sure it's by a ton tbh, but then again I didn't think he was as bad last year as some did.
Leo is an interesting one too. I've always thought certain players have had like two careers like Teemu and Patrick Marleau, etc. Leo for me had two seasons this year. I'd say C- for like call it half and A or A- for the 2nd half. Very encouraging signs headed into next year.
Goalies were great. I thought Zell wasn't necessarily disappointing or concerning, but i thought he'd take a bit more of a step. I think he's one like Minty and several forwards who need a better offensive system to work within or else we might get in trouble with their development. I do think guys like Leo and Cutter will figure it out either way, but it'll take longer with poor coaching. I don't really pay attention to lower-end forwards and dmen, but i agree with everything you put. Vatrano and Strome were obviously disappointing especially in the latter couple months of the year.
CrazyDuck4u
Registered User
- Oct 14, 2006
- 6,136
- 5,270
Im 100 percent sure Gudas has been playing through an injury. There is no way he just sucked all of a sudden. Dude couldn't even move at times
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
Colangelo had three call-ups. Remember, Colangelo said he needed to learn how to play the 4th line role in order to play in the NHL as per Cronin's direction. This is how oblivious Cronin is to judging talent and where to play that talent.
The first two call-ups were fourth pairing roles with the exception of one game where Terry couldn't make the game. In that game, Colangelo scored a goal. With the third call-up, he was finally put into a third line role with Mac b/c when Colangelo was sent back down to SD, he went back to scoring goals again. In fact, Colangelo is still tied for most goals with the goals (with 19 goals) in only 38 games played down there.
1st Call-up: 4th line role, 8 games, 0g + 0a = 0 pts, and -3 rating.
2nd Call-up:
First game: top-6 role with Vatrano and Strome. 1g + 0a = 1 pt and -2 rating.
2-4 games: 4th line role, 0g + 0a = 0 pts and -2 rating
3rd Call-up: 3rd line role, 20 games, 9g + 2a = 11 pts, and +3 rating
Fair evaluations. I'd agree Leo gets...I'll say an A- for his play following the four nations. A or A+ I'd want to see better faceoff numbers, fewer passing mistakes, and more confidence in holding the puck in the offensive zone to dictate the flow of offense. Only thing I'd slightly disagree with is Mac's defensive improvement. I agree there was improvement but it's improvement from bad to flitting between below adequate and adequate. We need this team to play with better defensive structure as a 5 man unit but also as individuals. I don't think Mac is quite at a solid level yet.
Yeah Colangelo is not a fourth liner. I think he projects to be the kind of guy that you can play up and down the top 9. By that I mean his regular role would be third line depth scorer but a guy that comfortably slot in one a second or first line in the event of injuries and he wouldn't be too out of place.
mightyquack
eggplant and jade or bust
- Apr 28, 2010
- 26,605
- 7,740
It might just be me, but Zegras putting up 0.7ppg pace is not much of a positive for me. Sort of solidifies my thinking that his ceiling is a solid 2nd line player, he's just too invisible too often and doesn't make an impact on the game for me to think of him as part of the core.
Coaching hasn't helped, but when you see multiple younger players kick on and Zegras just sort of is 'there'.....not a good sign.
Fully expect him to be traded well before training camp.
Improved: Gauthier, Carlsson, Colangelo, McTavish, LaCombe, Helleson, Dostal
Average: Terry, Killorn, Zegras, Nesterenko, Trouba, Mintyukov, Zellweger, Gibson, Husso
Underperformed: Strome, Fabbri, Vatrano, Lundestrom, Johnston, Leason, Harkins, Gudas, Coaching Staff
Injured/Prospect: McGinn, Washe, Moore
Average: Terry, Killorn, Zegras, Nesterenko, Trouba, Mintyukov, Zellweger, Gibson, Husso
Underperformed: Strome, Fabbri, Vatrano, Lundestrom, Johnston, Leason, Harkins, Gudas, Coaching Staff
Injured/Prospect: McGinn, Washe, Moore
anezthes
Registered User
- Mar 20, 2014
- 4,403
- 4,054
Where's the sad emoji when you need one. :'(
Leo had 2 mins less average ice time from last year, and still produced more than last season. Nearly a 50 point pace, under Greg “I Don’t know” Cronin.
Cutter even more impressive. Hitting 20 goals and 44 points this year.
Needs a full season without surgery for me to believe he won’t be back to where he was offensively. It’s still there. When you can’t train and can’t play for months during a season it’s hard to get in a groove and be in game shape late in the year.
anezthes
Registered User
- Mar 20, 2014
- 4,403
- 4,054
It's appalling how dysfunctional our game is. There doesn't seem to be any real strategy in place—all our goals come from individual plays.
TheDarkWingThatDucks
Registered User
- Mar 20, 2025
- 105
- 60
I just don’t know how anyone could look at this and not think it’s part of the development plan. Yes they will play more next year.
Barkov played 17 / 17 … 19 / 19 …. 22 / 22 minutes his first 6 seasons. And has been pretty 20 the rest of his career so far.
The vets were signed to 3 / 4 / 5 year deals to help shelter the youth, make it so they’d all basically accept bridge deals (to kick the salary cap can issues down the road), and as a lot of these deals are looking to expire, the kids will take the reigns.
This wasn’t some happy accident, we have plenty of cap space going into this season, with some money coming off the books.
$6.75 mil with McGinn and Fabbri coming off. Husso and Kylington another $5.80 mil. Lesson and Isac another $2.55 mil.
With the following RFA’s (Isac and Leason also RFA’s) to sign. Dostal / McT / Colangelo / Washe / Nesty / Helleson. Following next season : we have
Johnston and Harkins coming off with $ 1.9 mil, Gudas and Trouba with 12 mil.
With the following RFA’s …. Zegras / Leo / Cutter / LaCombe / Minty / Zelly / Moore.
Plus Sennecke and Luneau (who will be an RFA with Z and company I believe) in the wings.
Then after that year you have…. Gibby / Strome / Killorn coming off the books (if not sooner) with
$17.65 mil.
Rising cap and what not, we are primed to pay our young talent and add something without blowing up our young core, although trades will be made.
Frustrating as a fan yes, logical if running the franchise…. Also yes.
FiveTacos
Registered User
But a 2nd line player is not worthless either, even an inconsistent one. Unless we get someone significant, who's taking his place? We're not exactly overflowing with creativity and skill on the wing.
I was also looking at PP numbers with and without him this year. The PP sucks even with him ... but without him we're back to 10.8%, which would have ranked 7th worst in NHL *HISTORY*.
I think we just have to readjust our expectations. No he's probably not an 80 point player, and that's okay for a 9oa pick. OTOH, on a team with a decent PP unit he should be a 60 point guy, and that's fine. Just depends on salary going forward. Just thank god we didn't do what some people wanted and sign him to some ridiculous 7 or 8 year deal. If he ends up our 4th or 5th best forward, we're not in bad shape.
Those ice times should have been flipped for Leo, imo. 15-16 mins in his first season and now 17-18 mins in his 2nd. He has actually blown past Barkov's D+2 year. So am very happy with how his development is going. Barkov was a .50 PPG, Leo finished up right around a .60 PPG, and was just as good if not better defensively.
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