The reports I've read suggest that Ekblad's play has really fallen off in the last 2 years, not to mention the PED suspension. Presumably he's going to be looking for a big deal with lots of term. I'm not interested in that at all. I'd take him on a short term deal (1-2 years).
Speculation: 2024-25 Roster Thread
- Thread starter Leonardo87
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Even if fallen off, he averaged 23:30 this year with 0.6PPG. That's solid.
But yeah at 29 years old he will look for the biggest/longest contract he can get and it will likely be too much for us.
Deuce22
Registered User
I’m fine with Ekblad if he replaces Gudas or Trouba. Not OK with running Ekblad, Trouba, Gudas on the right side with Helleson, Luneau, Moore blocked.
91Fedorov
John (Gibson) 3:16
- Dec 30, 2013
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I can't imagine that Luneau isn't on the team next year. I think he's ready and deserves it as well.
Ekblad is fools gold. The guy is in steep decline.
FiveTacos
Registered User
Agree, for his likely price you could probably get TWO fairly high end upgrades for the bottom 6.
- Apr 15, 2012
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I can’t see a defense with 4 young guys. Whether it’s Lacombe, Minty, Zellwagon, Helleson or Luneau.. there’s just not enough experience there
Eh, you might be right, but after what LaCombe showed this season (plus he's 25 years old), I don't think he's considered a young guy any more.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
Defensively, Luneau isn't as close a finished product we would want him to be. Our left side are our offensive-minded d-men in LaCombe, Zell, and Minty. The latter two are still a work in progress defensively, while LaCombe is our two-way D. All three are ahead of Luneau offensively. On the right side, we have our defensive d-men in Gudas, Trouba, and Helleson.
I'd prefer if Luneau stay in the AHL until the TDL to try to develop him more into a two-way D. From the reports of @mightyquack of this board and from Defend the Nest, Luneau is behind defensively. Defend the Nest believes that RD Ian Moore would be ahead of Luneau.
mightyquack
eggplant and jade or bust
- Apr 28, 2010
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I'd be shocked if he makes the team, because as it stand right now there is not a good fit for him on the blueline.
Luneau in the NHL means either LaCombe, Mintyukov or Zellweger have to play as a defensive guy to cover Luneau, Luneau's defense is not great at this point in his career which is why in the Gulls he had a stay at home guy with him consistently and we don't have that type of player right now, unless we are willing to play one of our RHD on their weakside.
We pair Luneau with LaCombe, we are putting LaCombe in the exact same position as he was in with Fowler which would just be a dumb move from Anaheim, and the fact Luneau is not in anyway ready to handle top pairing minutes. We pair him with Mintyukov then we are trying to turn Mintyukov him into a stay at home defenseman which is also a terrible decision as he can be so much more then that. And obviously it's not going to work with Zellweger.
Unless Zellweger is moved, don't see Luneau starting the year anywhere other then San Diego. Think it's more likely Moore makes the leap right now to be honest.
Our 1RD hole is a tough one to solve. We seemingly have 5 NHL-ready RHD, none of which that can handle that workload/matchup.
Ducks DVM
sowcufucakky
There’s still plenty to ask on the whole playing defense part of being a defenseman.
anezthes
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- Mar 20, 2014
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Hockey Duckie
Registered User
The guys currently on the NHL roster are trying to learn defense at the NHL level. Luneau gets to have the luxury of developing it at the AHL level. Plus, unlike the players on the current roster, Luneau lost a whole season two seasons ago. It took Luneau half a season to regain confidence in his offense this year.
Anaheim did start the season with Luneau on the NHL club for six games. His stat line for those six games: 0g + 0a, a -5 rating, and with a 37.6% CF Pct. Defensively, Luneau is probably still worse than Zell and Minty. Zell has shown the capacity to handle top-4 minutes, provided his OZ Start % is heavily biased. Minty looks solid as a 3rd pairing for the past two seasons. But Luneau, being RD, isn't in direct competition with LD's Zell and Minty. His competition is with RD's Helleson and Moore, who are both stronger defensively than Luneau.
Another aspect to keep in mind is that contracts of RD's Gudas and Trouba are up after this season. We probably will move on from Gudas. We hope that Luneau and Moore show up enough to move on from Trouba, but I think Verbeek wants at least one older vet on the NHL roster. Still, we truly don't know what we have in Luneau, Moore, and Helleson. We also don't know how Zell and Minty will pan out. No point in giving away talent when they're still in development mode.
Emerald Duck
Registered User
I don't think it's a matter of giving away talent. We're trading from a position of strength to fill offensive hole(s). Otherwise, we may be looking at another year of stellar goaltending/defense and starving for goals.
There's always risk when you trade potential. It may or may not be realized on our team. I don't know if there is another Cutter-type deal available (Howard ?) but I'm ok with trading either Minty or Zell depending on the return for a Top 6 forward who can help us now.
This is where not drafting. Snuggarud is frustrating.
He would have been that top 6 forward on cheap deal.
Now we either have to trade a promising D or sign a guy 28 or 29 year old to a long term high priced deal.
He would have been that top 6 forward on cheap deal.
Now we either have to trade a promising D or sign a guy 28 or 29 year old to a long term high priced deal.
Ducks DVM
sowcufucakky
Playing as poorly at defense in the AHL as the current guys are in the NHL is not a reason to promote.
anezthes
Registered User
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Ducks DVM
sowcufucakky
I will wholeheartedly disagree. Playing well in the AHL =/= playing well in the NHL, and almost every player in the NHL improves relative to their peers when out in the AHL. . Harkins is a star in the AHL. I would suspect that Luneau would have his offense translate to the NHl (although not PPG), but suspect that, just like Zellweger 1-1/2 years later, that his defensive deficiencies will be magnified.
anezthes
Registered User
- Mar 20, 2014
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IMO, Zellweger’s no better than Luneau—offensively or defensively. If one belongs in the A, so does the other.
Ducks DVM
sowcufucakky
I think both belong in the AHL, so we are in agreement. I think Mintyukov needed to spend time there as well.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
We don't have a position of strength, but a position of numbers. Many of those talents don't possess a lot of value due to the fact they've been exposed to not be two-way defenders at the NHL level in their current form. LaCombe broke out in his D+6 season. Zell has just finished his D+4, Minty his D+3, and Luneau his D+3 (while missing a year due "load mgmt" and sickness).
Remember at the end of last season, a mass majority on this board wanted to trade away LaCombe. Let's be patient with defensive youths.
In my mind, we are heading into year 4 of the Verbeekining. It is still a development year, but closer to seeing which prospects begin to sink or swim. There are many factors for starving for goals such as hiring a non offensive-minded HC, retaining PP coach Clune, and relying on Vatrano-Strome-Terry as a top line. Mac was our best point producer per minute, but HC Cronin used him as a third liner with third line minutes.
Trading for a prospect doesn't help us now. Cutter didn't explode in his rookie season in the NHL. He produced similarly to Mac in his rookie year. Carlsson hasn't broken out in his D+2 season with only 45 points in 76 games. Trading for a prospect will help us in the near future.
Trading for a top-6F will demand more than just Zell or Minty. Anaheim needs more than a top-6F, they need a top-4D (preferably RD) b/c it's our goalies that prevented a lot of goals against. If one of Zell or Minty can become that 2nd pairing LD, then that does help alleviate concerns on the D.
Hamilton Bulldogs
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- Jan 11, 2022
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I'd like to keep Zellweger. He has a lot of offensive skill that might be difficult to replace. He also comes off as someone who desperately wants to win and for a team like the ducks, that's a big plus.
