I might have missed it, but I still don't think I've seen whether Cronin's contract was ever made public. Is it a two- or three-year deal?
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I might have missed it, but I still don't think I've seen whether Cronin's contract was ever made public. Is it a two- or three-year deal?
MMC
Global Moderator
I mean I think it's a lot easier to move on from a head coach after last season then it would be after this one.
I don't really care either way in terms of him being brought back or not, I just think that when a team improves from one year to another as much as this one will likely end up doing (20+ points) then really one of two things has to happen to justify a coaching change, either Cronin failed to meet PV's personal expectations (of which I believe the answer is no) and/or does PV have an available replacement in mind who wants to take this job (we have no way of knowing but I think it's safer to assume that's a no here as well)
That backhand snipe by Cutter was unreal.
KaseMeOutside
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- Oct 18, 2011
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Is it possible there was some sort of meeting of the minds with the players and Cronin? There does seem to be a bit more belief with this team, I don't think they would've gotten this game to OT a few months ago
The Midnight Burrito
True Fan
JonathnTaylorTavares
Registered User
- Feb 4, 2019
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Jesus Christ, never fully realized how hateable Red Wings fans are here, they should be embarrassed by this game not cocky
LePerilsofPerreault
Registered User
SmokeyDuck
Registered User
Redwings will go nowhere in the playoffs where they won't be spoon fed call after call.
We could literally be right in the mix on Thursday.
Next two games for:
-Calgary: Caps and Lightning
-Canucks: Kings and Ducks
-Utah: Blackhawks and Wild
-Ducks: Sabres and Canucks
This is fun.
Next two games for:
-Calgary: Caps and Lightning
-Canucks: Kings and Ducks
-Utah: Blackhawks and Wild
-Ducks: Sabres and Canucks
This is fun.
70sSanO
Registered User
SmokeyDuck
Registered User
The Cronin hate is beyond embarrassing. I wouldn't be sad to see him go but he isn't some hockey terrorist like yall love to make him out to be.
duckaroosky
So sayeth Duckthulu
Watching the PPs make me feel terrorized
mightyquack
eggplant and jade or bust
- Apr 28, 2010
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The statistics would say otherwise tbh. This team would be nowhere if it wasn't for top 5 goaltending, it is below average to bad in all other areas.
But at least we are playing meaningful games this late in the season, so at least we're making use of our extreme luck.
Terrorist is aggressive. I'm pleased that the player meetings seemed to have paid off, as did the break, but as @mightyquack said, the only reason this team can sniff a wild card spot in the distance right now is because this team, for most of the season, was carried by the goalies standing on their heads. Up until very recently, the team was near dead last or dead last in most major offensive and defensive metric categories.
But even worse than that was, until recently, most of the kids looked to be either stagnating or regressing. The imperative of this team getting out of this rebuild, as in the single most important thing, is the development of our youth core. Outside of Lacombe, no one was really taking meaningful strides from said core.
Until just recently Leo looked to be in a pit of zero confidence and despair with awful numbers supporting rough play. Zegras looked to be playing a more complete game that helped the team overall but before and after injury, he hasn't exactly been scorching the scoresheet. Mac for most of the season looked like a shade of his form last season, and it seems like he's cooled off from that heater that followed being called a third liner. Helleson came up looking surprisingly solid but has stayed at that level ever since. Mintyukov looks like his confidence is even more shattered than Leo's. Zellweger was riding the press box for weeks and not getting game reps. Dostal is starting to look a little more human. Cutter had a stretch of solid improvement from his initial start with sloppy and erratic hockey, but he hasn't shown a whole lot of growth since then and just chips in offense here and there.
It's been discussed to death, but Cronin has talked a lot about stressing defense first under the presumption that our kids' offense will just come naturally in the future. I've ranted about this before so I'm not going to word salad it again, but that's not acceptable to me. We shouldn't ignore the kids' strengths to focus on defense exclusively. This is the time that offensive talent needs to be honed for long term effectiveness. If anything, defense can be taught further down the line. Cassidy and Maurice (just to name two) have shown that the right coach can get a team to buy into a proper 5 man defensive system even with players that weren't previously known for defensive aptitude. Even if this team somehow manages to sneak into the last WC spot, I still think we need a new coach. We need coaches and a dev staff who can maximize development of all aspects of these kids' game. Not a guy who focuses on just one and crosses his fingers that the offense will "come naturally." We need at least some of these kids to hit on their high offensive potential or we end up with a bunch of middle 6 and middle pair lifers when we need offensive firepower in today's NHL. As I said, the development of the youth core is more important than anything, and the results haven't been good after a year and a half of Cronin's tenure.
Your continued defense of him is embarrassing. The stats don't bear out Cronin doing almost anything well. Unless you consider neutering offensive prowess as a positive, which he's been amazing at.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
I agree that Verbeek judges the coaching staff based upon his expectations. I disagree with judging upon meaningful improvement in the standings. Cronin was only "one" point better than Eakins with a vastly improved roster, but Verbeek was happy with Cronin.
Goaltending
We aren't a better team this year, but we do have better quality goaltending and are taking fewer penalties. We are earning points and wins with a weaker offense and weak shot suppression as @Ducks DVM previously shared above.
Just how big of an improvement are our netminders this year compared to last year? It is stark! Question is, can the Ducks' netminders reproduce this next season? If we lose one of Dostal or Gibby for an extended period, then would we keep up the pace?
From Moneypuck:
Fewer Penalties (Discipline)
A huge factor for our GA being improved this year is seeing less time on the PK. Our PK efficiency sucks ass still, but because we have significantly reduced our Time Shorthanded, we have reduced the number of GA this season. Cronin should get credit for team discipline for this season.
Youth Growth
The only youth skater that has made huge progress offensively is LaCombe and he is the best of the youths at trying to tilt the ice this year. The rest have plateaued or regressed. The only youths not in their rookie or sophomore seasons are Zegras and Mac. Mac is down in his offensive production compared to his sophomore season last year. Z used to produce a 0.80+ ppg scoring rate for two seasons before meeting Cronin.
We have five top-10 picks on our roster (Zegras, Mac, Minty, Cutter, and Carlsson), but none have taken flight. It is our 2nd round pick from 2019 in LaCombe that is leading the offensive charge.
Overview
The difference between last year and the first 27 games of this year are three more wins and one OTL to reach similar Pts %. The difference between the first 27 games of this year to the next 27 games of this year is converting two losses and two OTLs into wins. In the first 27 games, we didn't have Gibby until game 14.
Netminding as well as discipline have tweaked a few games here and there for the better. Aside from those two metrics, everything else is mediocre to abysmal. There have been individual offensive efforts (aka Luck) to generate wins/points for the Ducks, but it is unpredictable and not repeatable. In game 55, we beat a Bruins team missing its top-2 defensemen in McAvoy and Lindholm. Tonight's game, we stole a point by scoring twice on 6v5 situations at the end of the game.
I wouldn't want Cronin back, but I am not his evaluator, Verbeek is. I think Verbeek is quite happy with whatever narrative he chooses to keep Cronin around for next season. Last year was he was happy with Cronin's culture, despite the abysmal record with a vastly upgraded roster. This season could very well be the improved record, despite regressing or plateauing metrics.
If Verbeek is keeping Cronin for next season, then Verbeek needs new PP and PK coaches. Should the Ducks regress and the youth offense continues to stall, then both Cronin and Verbeek will probably be out of a job.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
Stat Card and LaCombe being atop is becoming a regular thing.
Where did you come from?
Where did you go?
Where did you come from,
Jackson LaCombe!
Where did you come from?
Where did you go?
Where did you come from,
Jackson LaCombe!
CrazyDuck4u
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- Oct 14, 2006
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