Speculation: 2025 Trade/Free Agency Thread

[zegrassyknoll]

Every team defensive metric this season is worse than last season, most markedly worse. The lone exception is GA/60, the only one affected by goaltending. The roster is not that different, and we were told repeatedly that this season would be better since they had a year of familiarity with Cronin and his system. They still look clueless the vast majority of the time. So what good habits and defense is the hard-ass actually teaching?

If there were any hint of improvement in anything but the goalies, then yeah, he'd have a good argument to get credit for building a foundation if things take off under the next guy. But the evidence points to total failure at the very things he's meant to be focusing on, so... nope! Rest easy blaming him.

Yeah if we were playing Kings-style hockey that was effective defensively but boring offensively it would be one thing.

But the only thing similar to the Kings this team has is that I hate watching it with a passion.

 

[tomd]

I get the sense that we are nearing the stage where we trade some young guys for proven talent. The D crunch that is going to happen soon will push someone out and if the F doesnt start to click then I can see Verbeek making changes.

Cronin needs to go too but he ticked the box this season so I expect him back next season.

I would just caution everyone that a lot (maybe most) of the D prospects are not going to pan out as currently advertised. And I don't think they are worth what you think they are worth to other teams. There may not be a trade market for many of them unless they are add-ons in a bigger deal.

 

[ohcomeonref]

Every team defensive metric this season is worse than last season, most markedly worse. The lone exception is GA/60, the only one affected by goaltending. The roster is not that different, and we were told repeatedly that this season would be better since they had a year of familiarity with Cronin and his system. They still look clueless the vast majority of the time. So what good habits and defense is the hard-ass actually teaching?

If there were any hint of improvement in anything but the goalies, then yeah, he'd have a good argument to get credit for building a foundation if things take off under the next guy. But the evidence points to total failure at the very things he's meant to be focusing on, so... nope! Rest easy blaming him.

I'm trying to lay a groundwork for me not being INSANELY disappointed when Cronin is retained here!

 

[Firequacker]

I'm trying to lay a groundwork for me not being INSANELY disappointed when Cronin is retained here!

Okay, in that case maybe he's actually building a very important foundation for the next guy simply by the laws of physics. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, so every year of Cronin promises a year of future Ducks excellence.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I'm trying to lay a groundwork for me not being INSANELY disappointed when Cronin is retained here!

Verbeek already laid out the groundwork. If we only had better PP and PK units, then we would be more competitive and closer to the playoff chase. Then Verbeek can point to LaCombe blossoming under Cronin (although, don't remember that Verbeek said LaCombe now looks like how he played in his senior year in college) and Dostal becoming a star-studded #1 goalie.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

I would just caution everyone that a lot (maybe most) of the D prospects are not going to pan out as currently advertised. And I don't think they are worth what you think they are worth to other teams. There may not be a trade market for many of them unless they are add-ons in a bigger deal.

I agree with this 100%. People are constantly talking about only giving up some young guy(s) for an upgrade. Well, ask yourself, why would a team trade a mid 20s fully developed proven scorer for a less than proven D (or a ruined Z)? Pat wasn't a genius for getting Gauthier. He was just in the right place at the right time when manna from heaven fell into his lap.

There's nothing wrong with hoping for lightning to strike twice in Anaheim, but don't count on it.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I agree with this 100%. People are constantly talking about only giving up some young guy(s) for an upgrade. Well, ask yourself, why would a team trade a mid 20s fully developed proven scorer for a less than proven D (or a ruined Z)? Pat wasn't a genius for getting Gauthier. He was just in the right place at the right time when manna from heaven fell into his lap.

There's nothing wrong with hoping for lightning to strike twice in Anaheim, but don't count on it.

I dunno how Murray did it, but he traded D Vatanen and a 2018 3rd round pick for Rico, Blandisi, and a 2019 conditional 3rd round pick (if signed before 2019 draft, 2020 3rd rd pick if signed after 2019 draft, and no loss of pick if Rico doesn't sign an extension). (Source) Rico was 27 years old at the time of the trade.

 

[tomd]

I dunno how Murray did it, but he traded D Vatanen and a 2018 3rd round pick for Rico, Blandisi, and a 2019 conditional 3rd round pick (if signed before 2019 draft, 2020 3rd rd pick if signed after 2019 draft, and no loss of pick if Rico doesn't sign an extension). (Source) Rico was 27 years old at the time of the trade.

Of course, VAtanen was 26 and a 5-year vet at the time of that trade.