In ANaheim, there is a great optimism for the future of the Ducks. The question is whether the future is today or tomorrow.
New head coach, Greg Cronin , believes the future is the 2023-24 season.
“We’re trying to make the playoffs,” Cronin said. “We’re not playing for consolation prizes. We’re playing this year to make the playoffs. That’s our goal. … As we saw last season, Florida gets in the playoffs [on] the last day, and they go to the Final. So, our job is to make the playoffs.”
The Ducks scored 251 goals last season, and that was good enough for 31st in the NHL.
“Scoring is the most coveted skill, right?” Cronin said. “Guys that score goals get paid the most for a reason. They impact the most. In the absence of having a natural goal-scorer, you’ve got to have community scoring, team scoring. … So, we’ve got to try and design a system that’s going to invite that team-scoring mentality, and I have some ideas, but there’s some things that we need to do to recruit more scoring into our team because we’re not going to win a lot of games if we score at the rate we scored last year.”
The Ducks young roster is led by Trevor Zegras, 22, Troy Terry, 25, and Jamie Drysdale, 21. THey all need to step up their game regardless how young or much they accomplished so far.
“I think [what] we’re going to try and do is give them all an opportunity to compete at training camp and then see who responds in a mature way,” Cronin said. “And then hopefully there’s some reliable trajectory to that growth.”
Translation across the NHL is, “you are getting your time, now you need to show me you can do it, or find someone else.”
The youth will find inspiration, or something akin to that, from two free agent signings this off season. Alex Killorn and Radko Gudas were signed to provide that push from a veteran resource.
“I’ve been on a lot of winning teams in the past,” Killorn said. “I’m definitely hoping to bring a veteran leadership to this group. I know it’s probably a younger team than I’ve been on before, but I look forward to that. There’s so much talent when you look at the guys that are on this team and guys that are about to be on this team, whether it’s this year or the next year.
“The first thing that stands out to you is his size,” said Matt McIlvane, coach of the San Diego Gulls of the AHL. “He’s a big, tall guy that certainly knows how to use that range on the ice. His ability with the puck and ability to be able to see the game stands out right away to be at a very high level. And again, the thing that was the most impressive about Leo is just his character. He’s humble, he’s coachable, he’s excited. And he’s very, very hungry for the opportunity.”
Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, 19, is also expected in Anaheim this season. He spent last campaign in the juniors.
Another former junior skater, Nathan Gaucher, is also slated for this season. The forward iced for the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL.He picked up 46 points, with 22 goals in 44 games.
“He strikes you right away as somebody that could have great leadership qualities about him,” McIlvane said. “When you’re giving a meeting as a coach, he’s one of the guys that’s just totally locked in. Anytime there’s a drill on the ice, he’s so focused on what he’s doing, and you can just tell that his makeup has helped him to have success, but also his success that he had gives him a great level of confidence moving into this next challenge.”
“At this particular moment with the Ducks, there’s a real influx of new talent coming in and my skill set as a coach would mesh really well with what (general manager) Pat (Verbeek) is trying to do here in terms of building a championship team,” Cronin said. “You’ve got to have a healthy balance, but it starts with your habits, and if your practice habits aren’t good, they’re going to follow you right into the game.”
That right there is an understatement.
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Cronin needs to weave some consistent offense out of a young roster. How much patience does ownership have for another losing season? Odds are, not much. There is plenty of talent on the bench, and a fair amount of talent in San Diego looking to move up. That talent can be used to attract more consistent and seasoned scoring.
Add in that Alex Stalock is the new number one goalie, and the Ducks are in line for another difficult season.
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