2faded
Registered User
That has to be Cam's best playoff game of his career. Good for him.
2025 NHL Playoffs
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2faded
Registered User
I've been a staunch Fowler supporter throughout the years, but I can't imagine this big a turn around unless he was dogging it with us. I'm sure there was some coaching/system stuff, but he had to just be going through the motions.
- Apr 9, 2012
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Maybe it wasn't dogging by the traditional definition, but he absolutely played at half speed most of the last few seasons. It’s not an exaggeration to say he was often the slowest guy on the ice when he was out there. You could say it was because he was conserving himself due to heavier usage, more defensive zone starts, whatever. But he absolutely didn’t suddenly get rejuvenated in a physical sense simply by having his role changed.
Big Fat Rebound
Dongle Digits.
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I've gone after Fowler plenty here, but in fairness, it also helps that he has Colton Parayko--an actual competent right-handed partner--for the first time probably ever in his career and not the Paul Mara/Andreas Lilja/washed Kevin Bieksa/Ben Lovejoy/Erik Gudbranson (who he absolutely helped get paid) level-dreck that he had to babysit night after night for years on end.
Dr Johnny Fever
RIP Grizzly 399
You mean, maybe he wasn’t a square peg being forced into a round hole anymore? That would sound more like the result of the Cronin effect than just checking out on his own.
Regardless, I’m happy for him. He was hardly the cause of the disfunction this team has been going through.
Cam’s success is yet another check of why Cronin was fired. Dude is too class act, but I know he hated playing for Greg the bunny, but won’t say it.
Happy for Cam!
Happy for Cam!
FiveTacos
Registered User
Of course he was going to cruise around, when he was being over-played, and by a coach who dislikes creative plays on the rush.
In any case it doesn't matter. It was time to move forward, and he more than earned the right to better days.
In any case it doesn't matter. It was time to move forward, and he more than earned the right to better days.
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It wasnt just that he was misused here, it's that people around the clock argued he was bad. For years. It was stupid then and it's stupid now.
Terry Yake
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- Aug 5, 2013
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i mean, it definitely looked like he had lost a step the last few years. whether that was just him coasting or not, who knows. maybe he has lost a step, but playing with a competent partner on a winning team masks it
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
The blame isn't Cronin. The blame is on Verbeek's roster construction. Due to the Verbeekening and purposeful tanking the following season, Fowler became a top-pairing D-man and his role was changed to become more of a defensive-minded babysitter. He wasn't paired with a shutdown player like LaCombe with Gudas or Minty with Lybushking or Dumo or Helleson. What a terrible situation to put onto Fowler because he's at his best in a 2nd pairing (or 1B pairing), offensive role with a stay-at-home/shutdown d-man.
It is sad to see that Fowler's offense was reawakened to new career highs under Eakins only to be throttled under Cronin. Cronin throttled everyone's offense down and Verbeek was happy with it in year 1. That is what Verbeek wanted in a coach when he hired Cronin.
Anaheim4ever
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- Jun 15, 2017
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I started out as a Fowler fan when he was drafted but it changed after a few seasons to team Lindholm.
I will never forget the excitement and smile on Murray's face when they were announcing the pick because a ton of teams let him slip right to the Ducks.
Fowler is now playing like the player I thought he was gonna be when he was drafted. Maybe Murray shouldn't have rushed him to the NHL just because he probably wanted the team to return to the playoffs after missing it the season before. Then Murray does the same with Drysdale and rushes the 5'11 Drysdale to the NHL. Verbeek has been more patient with Dmen so far, none of them have gone straight to the NHL where their confidence could get broken. Thankfully Luneau is developing in SD, Murray would likely have him playing top pair since he was drafted.
I will never forget the excitement and smile on Murray's face when they were announcing the pick because a ton of teams let him slip right to the Ducks.
Fowler is now playing like the player I thought he was gonna be when he was drafted. Maybe Murray shouldn't have rushed him to the NHL just because he probably wanted the team to return to the playoffs after missing it the season before. Then Murray does the same with Drysdale and rushes the 5'11 Drysdale to the NHL. Verbeek has been more patient with Dmen so far, none of them have gone straight to the NHL where their confidence could get broken. Thankfully Luneau is developing in SD, Murray would likely have him playing top pair since he was drafted.
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CrazyDuck4u
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- Oct 14, 2006
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SmokeyDuck
Registered User
The Cam we had are not the Cam who is playing now. He just didn't fit on our roster. Glad to see him doing well. My only consternation with the deal is the meh return. At least we got a 2nd and space for LaCombe to shine.
KelVarnsen
Registered User
Moronic play by wash. Your goalie has broken stick and they don't ice the puck on 2 diff occasions.
I hope verbeek is watching this game. Mon roster construction and players are pretty similar to where ducks roster is at. Trying to play shut down def with roster like that = you lose to bigger stronger teams like wash.
Only way to win games if you're mon is to make it a track meet and be willing to trade chances
Only way to win games if you're mon is to make it a track meet and be willing to trade chances
LePerilsofPerreault
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Terry Yake
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Big Fat Rebound
Dongle Digits.
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The Kings have scored 7 power plays goals in just under 8 periods in this series. The Ducks scored 6 power plays goals from February 27 until the end of the season.
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They were 27th out of 32 teams in the regular season. Don’t think what happens against a team with no defense and no goaltending over a 3 game span tells you anything.
