Confirmed with Link: Ducks fire Greg Cronin

[TheDarkWingThatDucks]

I honestly don’t understand why people are giving Cronin props for “work ethic”. I think the team on average gave less than 1 period of high energy/high impact play, with the majority of most games being “lethargic at best”. The late game, second half of the 3rd period “play like an NHL team that gives a shit and has some talent” that we were regularly treated to is the exact opposite of a strong work ethic. As is the “start the game strong then forget how to play after 1-2 periods”.

I don’t care if you blame the coaches, players, or the whole lot, but this has not been a hard working, honest effort, well motivated team this year.

I think work ethic goes beyond product on the Ice. I also think it’s tough to gauge work ethic on the ice, when a lot of players getting minutes just aren’t good enough to be getting those minutes. (Gudas, strome, vats)

Work ethic is to me ….Do you study film, do you follow a diet, work out plan, do you commit to improvement and training to get better in the offseason. Do you party in Newport every night (I actually saw Milano out with some hot woman in Newport Sunday before he was healthy scratched Monday) or have a work ethic and get rest to prepare for the rigors on an NHL season.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I honestly don’t understand why people are giving Cronin props for “work ethic”. I think the team on average gave less than 1 period of high energy/high impact play, with the majority of most games being “lethargic at best”. The late game, second half of the 3rd period “play like an NHL team that gives a shit and has some talent” that we were regularly treated to is the exact opposite of a strong work ethic. As is the “start the game strong then forget how to play after 1-2 periods”.

I don’t care if you blame the coaches, players, or the whole lot, but this has not been a hard working, honest effort, well motivated team this year.

The game was difficult to watch last season and the team didn't look competitive, but Verbeek praised Cronin for the culture change, accountability, and work ethic. We were all passing out during the game due to the lack of entertainment. This year was the same as the first with the exception of individual play with like six minutes left in the some games while our goaltenders hung on for dear life in hopes the offense would find a pulse.

I think that's why Cronin does not elevate the team's game play. He earned one more point than Eakins with a vastly superior roster, especially on the blue line. Cronin did less with more. Year 2, Cronin got amazing goaltending and, again, he still did less with more.

Early in the season, I started to identify two things: 1) we were beating up weaker teams, but stalled against stronger teams (my SoS comparison) and 2) there was a distinct result when scoring 3 or more goals. Weirdly, the telecast brought this up later into the season and now Verbeek is citing it (from the Athletic). From the chart below, we were boring over half the games; which doesn't include the many games were our offense came to life in the last six minutes of the game for yet another potential comeback. We did have a total of nine successful comebacks this season.

From the Athletic article on Apr 19, 2025.

 

[70sSanO]

I do find it a little odd that Verbeek would say it’s something along the lines of a ‘private’ matter.

Just speculating here.. Was the locker room that dysfunctional that players went over Cronin to go to Verbeek about things? The way he words his interview made it seem like this came out of the blue.

On the off chance that Cronin might be hired as a HC, maybe in the Pacific, hope beyond hope 30 miles to the north if the Oilers beat them again, you don’t want to confirm what everyone knows.

John

 

[JAHV]

I honestly didn't see a problem with work ethic from this team. Outside of a few games at the end of the season when it looked like some guys had given up, I thought the team gave a pretty consistently strong effort. They just didn't execute consistently.

 

[Hey234]

I honestly didn't see a problem with work ethic from this team. Outside of a few games at the end of the season when it looked like some guys had given up, I thought the team gave a pretty consistently strong effort. They just didn't execute consistently.

I agree. I don't think the players were slacking until some of the vets in the final few games. I think it's really deflating to go out and try hard and it consistently doesn't work because the system is bad. I think the team was focused and did work hard.

Stupid metaphor: Coaches lay down the foundation to run on. A good coach/system is easy to run on and can accelerate progress by showing new effective paths. A bad coach/system is like running in mud, no matter how strong or fast you are, it's going to slow you down. You can make progress but it's more challenging than it needs to be, and you often can get confused/lost.

 

[Leonardo87]

I recall those comments from Silf, and Lyubushkin. They were onto something. Maybe the spitting chiclets guys were onto something. Also remember that poll, saying players didn’t want to play for Cronin? One comment that always sticks out to me is something like “All that talent and skill, and they should be a good team, but they are not”

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

I recall those comments from Silf, and Lyubushkin. They were onto something. Maybe the spitting chicklets guys were onto something. Also remember that poll, saying players didn’t want to play for Cronin? One comment that always sticks out to me is something like “All that talent and skill, and they should be a good team, but they are not”

I always found it odd that people (either here or on social media) downplayed Lybushkins comments initially. It was like the first little kernel of information that gets out and it was tossed aside.

Then Silf makes almost identical statements, delves into it further and only then people started to really understand what was going on.

I’m 50/50 with the Chiclets guys.

 

[Terry Yake]

the silfverberg/bush comments were very eye opening. silfverberg especially because he played under carlyle, BB, and eakins

guys speaking out about current coaches isn't something that happens often. the fact that two of cronin's former players felt the need to call him out publicly says a lot

 

[Ducks DVM]

I think work ethic goes beyond product on the Ice. I also think it’s tough to gauge work ethic on the ice, when a lot of players getting minutes just aren’t good enough to be getting those minutes. (Gudas, strome, vats)

Work ethic is to me ….Do you study film, do you follow a diet, work out plan, do you commit to improvement and training to get better in the offseason. Do you party in Newport every night (I actually saw Milano out with some hot woman in Newport Sunday before he was healthy scratched Monday) or have a work ethic and get rest to prepare for the rigors on an NHL season.

I can see that, but the on ice product and effort to me was substandard. I’ve never left a game early in my life except due to illness or emergency, and there were 5-10 games this year where I was seriously thinking about it. I don’t hate Cronin as a person, but I found his two years to be significantly less entertaining to watch in person than the Eakins teams, and I really don’t care if anyone disagrees.

If there was locker room culture improvement, hopefully it can be properly used going forward.

 

[Mr Rogers]

I always found it odd that people (either here or on social media) downplayed Lybushkins comments initially. It was like the first little kernel of information that gets out and it was tossed aside.

Then Silf makes almost identical statements, delves into it further and only then people started to really understand what was going on.

I’m 50/50 with the Chiclets guys.

Totally agree. And id say the Chiclets reports were written off almost completely as just being drivel from a former player who just didn’t like the org. They appear to have been at least somewhat correct.

 

[2faded]

Totally agree. And id say the Chiclets reports were written off almost completely as just being drivel from a former player who just didn’t like the org. They appear to have been at least somewhat correct.

Pretty sure they've said things about at least two other coaches then they ended up getting fired. Babcock and someone else. I don't remember exactly but each time everyone says the same things about how they're not believable or just making things up. Then they're right.

I think the things they say are coming directly from the players and somewhat verified or they wouldn't say it.

 

[ohcomeonref]

the silfverberg/bush comments were very eye opening. silfverberg especially because he played under carlyle, BB, and eakins

guys speaking out about current coaches isn't something that happens often. the fact that two of cronin's former players felt the need to call him out publicly says a lot

I don't know why people were so quick to dismiss these things. It's not like Chiclets, Boosh, and Silf were all a part of some conspiracy to undermine Cro

 

[Son of Gib]

Guys a clown wow Unbelievable we had him for 2 years

What I hear is a dude throwing his players under the bus in an attempt to sound smart. Cringey.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

I don't know why people were so quick to dismiss these things. It's not like Chiclets, Boosh, and Silf were all a part of some conspiracy to undermine Cro

Probably because they aren’t considered credentialed “reporters” and people think they only speak out when they have an ax to grind. That’s always a risk when anybody speaks out publicly and critically about a situation. Additionally with these guys it seems to be more on topics that clowns like LeBrun never speak out on.

I’m not a big fan of the Chicklets guys but I do think they are more willing to speak out on things the so called “insiders” want no part of covering. And there’s no doubt they are way more connected to players than most so called real media people are. People seem to like to overlook that. I’m not saying Z was at all involved but do people forget how much those guys enjoyed playing golf with Z? They know guys all over the league and probably have a damn good insight into some locker rooms.

 

[KelVarnsen]

I don't know why people were so quick to dismiss these things. It's not like Chiclets, Boosh, and Silf were all a part of some conspiracy to undermine Cro

Well then you have Z saying on air he hates playing wing. And Killorn saying to a reporter know one knows where each other is or supposed to be on the ice. There was a lot of smoke about how dysfunctional the team was under Cronin.

But hey, at least they practiced playing defense without a stick.

 

[Gliff]

Linda Cohn is on XM and said she thinks the players got together and got the message to PV that it was time for a change.

 

[AngelDuck]

Linda Cohn is on XM and said she thinks the players got together and got the message to PV that it was time for a change.

Makes sense, I bet it was someone well respected like Killorn or Gudas who were in on this too. Maybe Trouba too

There’s no way it was just a few young guys

The fact is that three long time NHL guys spoke out publically about Cronin (Silf, Lybuschkin, Yandle), so it’s not like only young guys don’t like his methods

 

[MMC]

 

[Mortal Wombat]

My interpretation: Verbeek is saying "The players were not happy but they don't run the show. The decision was mine."

 

[Mr Rogers]

there’s no doubt in my mind that we’d miss the playoffs again with Cronin and probably by a lot. He can’t coach a winning team at this level

 

[GermanRocket7]

there’s no doubt in my mind that we’d miss the playoffs again with Cronin and probably by a lot. He can’t coach a winning team at this level

He can't coach jackshit with the way he has behaved here for two full years. Imagine we would have had an actual NHL-calibre coach with offensive tactics and an open approach to his players. We might even be seeing Ducks hockey tonight.

 

[Leonardo87]

Makes sense, I bet it was someone well respected like Killorn or Gudas who were in on this too. Maybe Trouba too

There’s no way it was just a few young guys

The fact is that three long time NHL guys spoke out publically about Cronin (Silf, Lybuschkin, Yandle), so it’s not like only young guys don’t like his methods

Regardless of his locker room antics, the product on the ice was garbage. The overplaying of the 4th line, which was not even a good 4th line. The overplaying of Strome and Vatrano over Leo and Mac. Was a joke. Cutter being moved off the PP after he was heating up. Zegras becoming a shell of himself. Taking Zegras off the PP in favor of Strome....Clune may run the PP, but Cronin has the final say.

I'm happy Verbeek saw past the record/points improvement, and some of the kids taking strides in the 2nd half.

 

[Firequacker]

The timing just makes it so hard to believe player feedback wasn't the deciding factor. The precedent is Eakins, who they announced wouldn't be back pretty much immediately. But Cronin only gets jettisoned in the literal middle of exit interviews, even though that decision had implicitly already been made?

There's just nothing good (from a GM perspective) that could come from saying that out loud even if it's true, though.

 

[ducks8]

VB probably got the sense last summer that UFA's didn't want to sign here due to Cronin's abrasiveness and old school style coaching. I still can't get over him calling McTavish nothing but a 3rd liner

 

[Big Fat Rebound]

there’s no doubt in my mind that we’d miss the playoffs again with Cronin and probably by a lot. He can’t coach a winning team at this level

No question. They missed the playoffs by 16 points this year and that was WITH Dostal playing at a Vezina-caliber level til mid-March and Gibson having his best season in about 5 years. What was gonna happen if the former regressed to even just very good and the latter got shipped out for an almost assuredly inferior backup as part of a trade package in the offseason?