Former Ducks (2024-25 edition)
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Justin Kirkland. The account of the car accident he was in last year on the way to a game was really odd
Alessandro Seren Rosso
Registered User
A lot of Ducks talk and Mintyukov praising for former Ducks d-man Ilya Lyubushkin in this translated interview:
Have a good read!
thehockeywriters.com
Have a good read!
Stars' Lyubushkin Talks New Contract, Maple Leafs, Mintyukov in Russian Interview - The Hockey Writers Dallas Stars Latest News, Analysis & More
In this interview, Stars' Ilya Lyubushkin talks about his move to his new team, playing in Toronto, Mintyukov and the Ducks, and much more.
thehockeywriters.com
FlyingV09
Registered User
Not a glowing review of Cronin…..A lot of Ducks talk and Mintyukov praising for former Ducks d-man Ilya Lyubushkin in this translated interview:
Have a good read!
Stars' Lyubushkin Talks New Contract, Maple Leafs, Mintyukov in Russian Interview - The Hockey Writers Dallas Stars Latest News, Analysis & More
In this interview, Stars' Ilya Lyubushkin talks about his move to his new team, playing in Toronto, Mintyukov and the Ducks, and much more.
- Sep 21, 2018
- 3,862
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Even though the coach was a good guy, he always put enormous psychological pressure on the players. We had a schedule where we would come in, warm up, sit in a meeting for an hour, and only then hit the ice. I always thought, ‘Why are we warming up now? Let’s do it after the hour-long meeting.’ They said, ‘No, we can’t do it that way.’ Then, after two months, they changed it, agreeing, ‘Okay, let’s do it your way.’
I think we've all had bosses that've pulled this kind of shit. Not a good look at all.
It really isn't. The part about the order of practice - that they would come in, warm up, then sit for an hour in meetings (some of which Lyubushkin said weren't even hockey-related), and then get back on the ice to practice - that makes very little sense to me.
On the one hand, I appreciate that Cronin changed his approach midseason. On the other hand, that whole thing seems really weird to me. The point of warming up is to get the blood flowing and the muscles stretched out so that they don't go from nothing to full use too quickly. Why would he have the players warm up and then sit so that muscles could re-tighten?
The "psychological pressure" comments are also very alarming. There have been bits and pieces here and there that have made me skeptical of Cronin, but still hopeful that he can turn the ship around. This interview makes me think he's probably not the guy. We'll see how the season goes (the earliest he would get fired is next offseason), but this isn't a good look.
FlyingV09
Registered User
I’ve been defending him till now given his short tenure but if there are other players feeling this way, it is certainly concerning.
KelVarnsen
Registered User
Wow those quotes about Cronin are pretty horrible.
This one screams to me:
“It wasn’t just because we weren’t winning—there was a combination of factors. The coach, Greg Cronin, was very tough, and the psychological atmosphere within the team was very difficult. It wasn’t that I wanted to quit hockey at that moment, but I did catch myself thinking, ‘Am I really tired of hockey already?!'
But you’d come to these meetings, sit there for 40 minutes, listening to things unrelated to hockey. Then, finally, we’d start watching video. By then, you’ve already been sitting for 40 minutes, listening to random stories. It was just exhausting. He’s a good coach and a good person, but that was his approach. You’d walk into the locker room and see all the other guys with the same expressions on their faces as you… It was hard to find any motivation to go out and train. And it wasn’t just about struggling to find motivation—you just didn’t want to do it.”
A Dude who has played hockey his entire life was questioning whether he wanted to actually play a game he supposedly loved? Cronin's approach combined with losing so much must have made the atmosphere terrible.
This one screams to me:
“It wasn’t just because we weren’t winning—there was a combination of factors. The coach, Greg Cronin, was very tough, and the psychological atmosphere within the team was very difficult. It wasn’t that I wanted to quit hockey at that moment, but I did catch myself thinking, ‘Am I really tired of hockey already?!'
But you’d come to these meetings, sit there for 40 minutes, listening to things unrelated to hockey. Then, finally, we’d start watching video. By then, you’ve already been sitting for 40 minutes, listening to random stories. It was just exhausting. He’s a good coach and a good person, but that was his approach. You’d walk into the locker room and see all the other guys with the same expressions on their faces as you… It was hard to find any motivation to go out and train. And it wasn’t just about struggling to find motivation—you just didn’t want to do it.”
A Dude who has played hockey his entire life was questioning whether he wanted to actually play a game he supposedly loved? Cronin's approach combined with losing so much must have made the atmosphere terrible.
Definitely concerning although none of it surprising.
Kinda funny Verbeek interviewed so many guys for the job he damn near made it to interviewing peewee coaches, and still chose Cronin. I don’t think last season was all on him, but if that’s truly the morale of the locker room under him, that’s a huge red flag.
anezthes
Registered User
- Mar 20, 2014
- 4,741
- 3,069
Can't blame him. I thought the same thing.
Oh, boy. Wait until our beat writers hear about this! The org will have to answer some really tough questions.
McDonald19
Registered User
That is some alarming mike babcock esque mind games bullshit.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
I wonder if the 40 minutes was more for the youths on the team with the culture Verbeek and Cronin wanted to develop. That's probably how the kids all had to suck it up and play through injuries last year. We heard from Verbeek that he is happy with the team as they have improved in team culture, despite our abysmal season. That's a totally different perspective to what happened the previous end of the season report with Eakins even though the records were eerily similar.
From NHL.com: Verbeek, Cronin Recap Ducks Season.
On Greg Cronin
I've got a super long time for Greg Cronin. Got a lot of respect for him. Very competitive, very passionate guy. Love his approach to life and his approach to our hockey team. I'm very happy with the job that he did this year. There were a lot of things that were positive. Guys had career years and we certainly improved our competitiveness, our work ethic and the overall culture has taken big strides. Do we still have work to do? Yes, we do, but overall I'm very happy from that aspect.
If you read further down that NHL.com article, you'll see Cronin's recap and he's huge on "messaging". That kinda supports Lyubushkin's recounting.
Saw this article somewhere else. I'm just so uncomfortable with this guy continuing to have the future of this team directly in his hands.
dracom
Registered User
We’re so close to becoming another Buffalo. A team that kills players interest in hockey.
Smirnov2Chistov
Fire Greg Cronin!
Lord Flashheart
Squadron Commander
Terry Yake
Registered User
- Aug 5, 2013
- 28,109
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cronin better be gone after this season if there's no notable improvement from the last couple seasons. haven't heard anything good about him since he took over
Hamilton Bulldogs
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- Jan 11, 2022
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- 5,901
Yikes.
Very concerning words from a vet but glad to get some insight on what’s going on with the team.
Very concerning words from a vet but glad to get some insight on what’s going on with the team.
I think I've ran out of excuses for him. He does sound like a respectable guy that's interesting to talk to, but I don't want him coaching our team. It shows how our team looks and plays. Get Bruce back, it will do way more for the team and players individually.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
The problem is Verbeek doesn't see a problem with Cronin or last season, but Verbeek really wanted Eakins out of the org asap the season prior. Verbeek is very supportive with what Cronin is doing b/c they are essentially the same persona. Like many others have mentioned how Z was treated far differently from everyone else last year - it was another piece of evidence of a psyche experiment by Cronin.
Terry Yake
Registered User
- Aug 5, 2013
- 28,109
- 16,745
bruce is almost 70 and probably not going to coach at the NHL level again. not to mention that he's the guy you hire when your team is ready to contend for the playoffs, and this team is far from that
Unfortunately, I have to definitely agree that it seems that Pat does not see the problem with Cronin. Even more, he seems to be encouraging it. That's bleak
WhatTheDuck
9 - 20 - 8
Max Jones was injured in camp and hasn't participated in the pre season thus far. Though the latest reports today are that he is "close".
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