Player Discussion Trevor Zegras : Part III

[TheDarkWingThatDucks]

If they move him for a no brainer upgrade at forward, then I have no issue with it.

If they move him for a player with questions or not in the age group the Ducks should be in, in otherwords the main motivation with trading him is to move on from him, then we f***ing riot.

Yes I agree, I just don’t think Verbeek is that stupid, his price is high on him, is it so high it’s basically a no one will trade for him ? Trading Zegras + AHL assets or draft picks for anything other than a clear upgrade who still fits our timeline would be something an idiot would do, and I hope Verbeek isn’t that. He seems like the heartbeat of this team, from the outside looking in, so I hope if that is true mgmt notices it too.

Brady is really the only one I'd be good trading him for in a package. I still really believe in Z.

Yeah I’m a huge Z fanboy as well, and I think his commitment to the defensive side of the puck will only enhance the crafty little magician man we have grown to love. I still see PPG potential PP1 play driver in his future. Hopefully that happens……. For the ducks.

 

[MMC]

 

[Gliff]

We all will look back in 5 years when Zegras is Datsyuk and wonder if we all were too rough on Cronin lol.

 

[ohcomeonref]

We all will look back in 5 years when Zegras is Datsyuk and wonder if we all were too rough on Cronin lol.

I want to eat my hat on Cronin really bad. I hope you're right.

 

[TheDarkWingThatDucks]

I want to eat my hat on Cronin really bad. I hope you're right.

The good news is, we can technically make the playoffs still, and we have several players underperforming, so like can guys improve for a 28 game stretch. Like let’s just for funsies have McT / Leo / Z / Cutter all go be 28 PPG players these final games

No but really I guess from an underlining statistics side of things, and I hate myself for saying this and immediately jinxing this, but it’s not like we could play much worse …. Right ? Right ?

 

[Deuce22]

I want to eat my hat on Cronin really bad. I hope you're right.

Not a fan of Cronin but getting tired of the "it's all the goalies" narrative. The Ducks are improving and now are pretty competitive in most games. My dream is that Cronin's work is finished soon and Verbeek brings in a coach that can maximize the talent at his disposal.

 

[MMC]

Not a fan of Cronin but getting tired of the "it's all the goalies" narrative. The Ducks are improving and now are pretty competitive in most games. My dream is that Cronin's work is finished soon and Verbeek brings in a coach that can maximize the talent at his disposal.

If they improve by 20+ points the only chance Cronin goes is if his contract is up and PV has his replacement in mind

 

[Deuce22]

If they improve by 20+ points the only chance Cronin goes is if his contract is up and PV has his replacement in mind

You're probably right. I'm just hoping Cronin was brought in to bust up the country club and Verbeek has someone else in mind to take them to the next level.

 

[robbieboy3686]

If they improve by 20+ points the only chance Cronin goes is if his contract is up and PV has his replacement in mind

+1 replacement must be available for Cronin to be gone

 

[MMC]

You're probably right. I'm just hoping Cronin was brought in to bust up the country club and Verbeek has someone else in mind to take them to the next level.

Well I’m sure PV will want to see continued improvement. I think any regression next year would cause Cronin to be fired but I think he’ll be given the chance to see if he can keep building upon this season

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

If Verbeek believes Cronin met expectations for the year, I highly doubt he fires him. That would require hiring another coach who is a 100% yes man but without the same emphasis on defense? Never going to happen.

The only way Verbeek changes course is if his current plan is shown to be an abject failure. Short of that he's not shifting gears.

 

[JAHV]

We have no idea what Verbeek's expectations are, what was communicated to Cronin, and how Verbeek evaluates Cronin's performance. I think Cronin could meet Verbeek's expectations and still be let go if Verbeek was always clear that the idea was for Cronin to come in for two years and set the culture before moving on. For all we know, that was the plan.

There's no way Verbeek looks at the last two seasons and says, "Yes! This is what I want." Any fan with an internet connection can see that the team is, in many ways, still struggling but has a better W-L record largely because of goaltending. That's not sustainable, and Verbeek has to know it.

So two things could be true: 1. Verbeek likes the work ethic and defensive habits Cronin has taught, which is what Cronin was brought in to do; and 2. Verbeek realizes that Cronin is not the guy to take the team to the playoffs. In that case, I think Cronin gets let go if Verbeek's next coaching target is available and willing to come to Anaheim.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

We have no idea what Verbeek's expectations are, what was communicated to Cronin, and how Verbeek evaluates Cronin's performance. I think Cronin could meet Verbeek's expectations and still be let go if Verbeek was always clear that the idea was for Cronin to come in for two years and set the culture before moving on. For all we know, that was the plan.

There's no way Verbeek looks at the last two seasons and says, "Yes! This is what I want." Any fan with an internet connection can see that the team is, in many ways, still struggling but has a better W-L record largely because of goaltending. That's not sustainable, and Verbeek has to know it.

So two things could be true: 1. Verbeek likes the work ethic and defensive habits Cronin has taught, which is what Cronin was brought in to do; and 2. Verbeek realizes that Cronin is not the guy to take the team to the playoffs. In that case, I think Cronin gets let go if Verbeek's next coaching target is available and willing to come to Anaheim.

I 100% agree with your first sentence. But I don't know how you can hire somebody to "set a culture", have him succeed (in your eyes) and then fire him for somebody else to come in and lead that group that he (the new guy) didn't cultivate.

 

[JAHV]

I 100% agree with your first sentence. But I don't know how you can hire somebody to "set a culture", have him succeed (in your eyes) and then fire him for somebody else to come in and lead that group that he (the new guy) didn't cultivate.

I hear you, but this isn't that uncommon in the real world. There are people hired all the time to take companies from one stage of their development to another. They're hired with the understanding that their job is to get the employees to change their mindset from A to B and start working toward new goals using different resources. They often stay on for two years or less.

Greg Cronin is 60-something. He's never had an NHL head coaching job. I can easily imagine this scenario: Pat Verbeek says, "Here's a two-year contract** to coach an NHL team. Your job is to get these kids to work hard, develop good practice habits, and learn the defensive side of the game. Wins and losses are secondary. At the end of those two years, we'll evaluate the progress, but it may be someone else to get this team to the next level." If you're Cronin, you still take that, right? You bet on yourself and hope that you can impress Verbeek enough to stay on, or, if he doesn't keep you, he'll at least recommend you to other franchises.

And as for a new coach, the culture Cronin's setting will work with anyone who comes in. It's not like the next head coach is going to be upset that everyone is practicing hard and backchecking consistently.

** Do we know what the length of Cronin's contract is? I assumed it was two years and that Verbeek wouldn't actually have to fire him after the season. Cronin could just be let go. But I don't know for sure.

 

[cheesymc]

If Verbeek believes Cronin met expectations for the year, I highly doubt he fires him. That would require hiring another coach who is a 100% yes man but without the same emphasis on defense? Never going to happen.

The only way Verbeek changes course is if his current plan is shown to be an abject failure. Short of that he's not shifting gears.

Sadly this is true. We are on pace to having the best record for the past freaking SEVEN YEARS. Cronin is going to be employed next season and will only get fired if we go well below .500.

Maybe by then Terry can lure his old Denver coach David Carle…for 2026-2027.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

I hear you, but this isn't that uncommon in the real world. There are people hired all the time to take companies from one stage of their development to another. They're hired with the understanding that their job is to get the employees to change their mindset from A to B and start working toward new goals using different resources. They often stay on for two years or less.

Greg Cronin is 60-something. He's never had an NHL head coaching job. I can easily imagine this scenario: Pat Verbeek says, "Here's a two-year contract** to coach an NHL team. Your job is to get these kids to work hard, develop good practice habits, and learn the defensive side of the game. Wins and losses are secondary. At the end of those two years, we'll evaluate the progress, but it may be someone else to get this team to the next level." If you're Cronin, you still take that, right? You bet on yourself and hope that you can impress Verbeek enough to stay on, or, if he doesn't keep you, he'll at least recommend you to other franchises.

And as for a new coach, the culture Cronin's setting will work with anyone who comes in. It's not like the next head coach is going to be upset that everyone is practicing hard and backchecking consistently.

** Do we know what the length of Cronin's contract is? I assumed it was two years and that Verbeek wouldn't actually have to fire him after the season. Cronin could just be let go. But I don't know for sure.

Well, I think that would be quite a new trend in NHL coach hiring. I’d be pretty surprised if the little ball of hate was the the first to spring it on the league.

His contract has never been made public but I always guesstimated 2 years with a team option for a 3rd. It can’t be one year. If two years and things don’t go well there’s no financial penalty for cutting your losses. If Cronin becomes a stud in two years the team still gets another year on the cheap. And given his age and lack of NHL background there’s no way I see him getting four or more years. So, 2+ an option is my guess.

 

[Ducks DVM]

NHL coaches get fired all the time after building up bad teams.

For the last month : This team is still objectively bad at special teams (dead last PP% at 6.9%, 16th PK at 77.8%). 29th in SA/G at 33.2. 27th in both SAT% and USAT%.

It’s the goalies, guys.

Also, I can easily see zero wins in the last two weeks, especially if Dumoulin is traded, and absolutely if Gibson is.

 

[JAHV]

Well, I think that would be quite a new trend in NHL coach hiring. I’d be pretty surprised if the little ball of hate was the the first to spring it on the league.

His contract has never been made public but I always guesstimated 2 years with a team option for a 3rd. It can’t be one year. If two years and things don’t go well there’s no financial penalty for cutting your losses. If Cronin becomes a stud in two years the team still gets another year on the cheap. And given his age and lack of NHL background there’s no way I see him getting four or more years. So, 2+ an option is my guess.

Would it? Greg Cronin is currently in the upper half of the league in terms of longest tenured head coaches. He's 13th. He's been on the job less than 2 years. I think bringing in coaches for a couple seasons is a pretty common trend in the NHL.

If Cronin's contract is for two years, which is what I assumed, he would not need to be fired. He would simply be thanked for his services and let go, which would be about in line with how long coaches are lasting in the NHL these days.

 

[JAHV]

This thread is about Zegras and it's been derailed. So, back to Trevor. Do we still think he needs to move back to center? Or are we happy with him on Carlsson's wing? Personally, I think he's a winger in the NHL because his defense (while vastly improved) will just never be good enough to last as a top-6 center. And I think he's looked good there. But I think there's merit in both.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

This thread is about Zegras and it's been derailed. So, back to Trevor. Do we still think he needs to move back to center? Or are we happy with him on Carlsson's wing? Personally, I think he's a winger in the NHL because his defense (while vastly improved) will just never be good enough to last as a top-6 center. And I think he's looked good there. But I think there's merit in both.

Good thing he had a mentor at playing center, but coaches discovered was probably better at wing in Rico.

 

[DavidBL]

This thread is about Zegras and it's been derailed. So, back to Trevor. Do we still think he needs to move back to center? Or are we happy with him on Carlsson's wing? Personally, I think he's a winger in the NHL because his defense (while vastly improved) will just never be good enough to last as a top-6 center. And I think he's looked good there. But I think there's merit in both.

I still prefer him at center and while he has looked good with Carlsson so has McTavish

 

[robbieboy3686]

I 100% agree with your first sentence. But I don't know how you can hire somebody to "set a culture", have him succeed (in your eyes) and then fire him for somebody else to come in and lead that group that he (the new guy) didn't cultivate.

Because good coaches dont take rebuild jobs. And an old dude like Cronin is just thrilled to have been given a chance to coach in the nlh