Ben Shelley: What to expect from the Ducks after dead last finish, Dallas Eakins firing

Ducks definitely need to keep a couple vets to play with the younger guys. That said going to have to move a few bodies and bring in some new ones especially on the blueline. Man watching Nashville just swarm and dominate in the area around the net and crease all game in december there was almost embarassing. Gibson is not a bad goalie, but he certainly isn't going to do it night in and night out carrying the team facing 40-50 shots.

Mayfield would be a good add on the back end, more physical. A couple good solid d and it will certainly help.

The biggest thing will be the coach and the systems that get put into place. That alone could really change how the Ducks play, and help lead to better success.

Fingers crossed.

Defensively the Ducks were impressively bad. I still think Gibson is long past having any value. I hope you guys get Bedard.

I would love Mayfield & Severson…

Someone is coming from Jr to play in Anaheim- my guess baby z to help the dreadful pp.

We also need a hammer up front - to protect the kids -

A scoring RW wing for the 2nd line -

A totally redone 3rd. & 4th line -

Comtois and Jones can both go away - DG / Silf .. buyout -

Uncle Rico 3rd line with Isac & Frankie V -

Strome 4th line C -

The spotlight is now on PV. The coaching decision is #1, and it's actually 3 or 4 decisions - new head coach, which assistants stay or go and how any openings get filled, and who gets the critical job of preparing a strong group of prospects in San Diego over the next 2-3 years.

Building a D unit that doesn't consistently hang Gibson/Dostal out to dry and can get the puck out of their own end is #2. LaCombe and Helleson looked not awful in their debuts, and should be in the mix for next year. It will be a steep learning curve if they make the team, but both are close to NHL ready. Zellweger is tearing up the WHL playoffs - he has as many points as the other 5 D-men on his team combined after 6 games. If he's not on the roster out of camp, he won't be in San Diego very long. I still agree with Ben that the Ducks will need to bring in a veteran on the right side as a placeholder for a year or two. Looking for a trade over overpaying/overextending a free agent.

Getting an immediate impact player at the draft is #3. If the Ducks do get the #1 spot in the draft, I'm not sure there are enough pucks to go around between Z, Terry, and Bedard. Nice problem to have. Bedard is an immediate impact player. So is Fantilli if the Ducks fall to #2. If they fall all the way to #3, could be Carlsson or could be through trade. I'd stay away from Michkov because of his contract timeline in Russia.

The spotlight is now on PV. The coaching decision is #1, and it's actually 3 or 4 decisions - new head coach, which assistants stay or go and how any openings get filled, and who gets the critical job of preparing a strong group of prospects in San Diego over the next 2-3 years.

Building a D unit that doesn't consistently hang Gibson/Dostal out to dry and can get the puck out of their own end is #2. LaCombe and Helleson looked not awful in their debuts, and should be in the mix for next year. It will be a steep learning curve if they make the team, but both are close to NHL ready. Zellweger is tearing up the WHL playoffs - he has as many points as the other 5 D-men on his team combined after 6 games. If he's not on the roster out of camp, he won't be in San Diego very long. I still agree with Ben that the Ducks will need to bring in a veteran on the right side as a placeholder for a year or two. Looking for a trade over overpaying/overextending a free agent.

Getting an immediate impact player at the draft is #3. If the Ducks do get the #1 spot in the draft, I'm not sure there are enough pucks to go around between Z, Terry, and Bedard. Nice problem to have. Bedard is an immediate impact player. So is Fantilli if the Ducks fall to #2. If they fall all the way to #3, could be Carlsson or could be through trade. I'd stay away from Michkov because of his contract timeline in Russia.
- hardenx

I’m all for playing kids on the backend.. even this yr.. really how much worse could it have been…

Next yr - should 5 be newcomers on the backend.

And yes it’s either Bedard / Fantilli / Carlsson -

Petry + 2024 2nd for Gibby, if Petry's no-go list does not have the Ducks.

Needless to say, this will be GMPV's most important off-season. He NEEDS to get the coaching hires right for both the Ducks and the Gulls. As for the players, I was really impressed with Jackson LaCombe and Nikita Nestrenko. The Ducks D was so bad Jackson already looked like a top-4 and if Nikita can play with some skill players, I think he can score some goals. There should be a ton of available spots for GMPV to work with next year. For the forwards, I can't see Comtois, Grant, or Megna coming back. On the defensive side there will be plenty of room for the kids as only Fowler, Drysdale, and White are signed, although he's expendable. Vaakaneinen hopefully can make it through a season without getting hurt, but I'm extremely doubtful about that.

Petry + 2024 2nd for Gibby, if Petry's no-go list does not have the Ducks.
- HenryHockey

Carter, Granlund, and a 2nd for Gibson. Gibson' is a liability on that contract as he's been average for 4 straight years now.

Carter, Granlund, and a 2nd for Gibson. Gibson' is a liability on that contract as he's been average for 4 straight years now.
- jfkst1

This is a joke, right? How about this Silfverberg and a late 3rd rounder for Crosby? Crosby isn't the same either and this gets the Pens a much-needed $3.5 million in cap space! A freaking no- brainer! You're welcome!

This is a joke, right? How about this Silfverberg and a late 3rd rounder for Crosby? Crosby isn't the same either and this gets the Pens a much-needed $3.5 million in cap space! A freaking no- brainer! You're welcome!
- duxcup07

There isnt a goalie alive that could look remotely competitive behind the ducks d the last four years

Ducks had 13 regulation wins out of 82 games. Half of those were games Gibson outright stole. You could probably say the same about half of the OT wins. How many goalies had to make 50+ saves in 3 consecutive games this year and actually won 2 of those games? He was a bit inconsistent at times, but also overworked. Whoever wins the Vezina this year would have had a 3.5GA playing behind Anaheim's defense.

Gibson probably isn't tradeable at this point because based on the nightly dumpster fire that was the 22-23 Ducks, there's no legitimate way to judge what he has left in the tank. Hopefully that will change next season.

Ducks had 13 regulation wins out of 82 games. Half of those were games Gibson outright stole. You could probably say the same about half of the OT wins. How many goalies had to make 50+ saves in 3 consecutive games this year and actually won 2 of those games? He was a bit inconsistent at times, but also overworked. Whoever wins the Vezina this year would have had a 3.5GA playing behind Anaheim's defense.

Gibson probably isn't tradeable at this point because based on the nightly dumpster fire that was the 22-23 Ducks, there's no legitimate way to judge what he has left in the tank. Hopefully that will change next season.
- hardenx

Jake for Gibson …

Now that’s a fair trade.

There isnt a goalie alive that could look remotely competitive behind the ducks d the last four years
- dozerD10

Explain why Gibson isn't outperforming his backups over the last four years. Arguably doing worse. Random UFA signings for $1m on a 1 yr. contract can be mediocre like Gibson. He's 30, hasn't had a good season in four years, and has a massive liability contract. He's 100% risk and a worse contract than Carter and Granlund combined.

Gibson, Stolarz, and Dostal had identical save percentage numbers this year. Gibson draws in against A-list teams like Edmonton and Vegas and his backups are much more likely to draw in against B-listers.

With a good team in front of him I’d take Gibson over Jarry in a heartbeat, but the Gibson to Pittsburgh trade some folks seem so worried about will never happen. Is Gibson the guy who stopped 50+ shots 3 games in a row or is he the guy with the 3.99GA. There’s no way to make that assessment until PV puts a better team on the ice in front of him.

Gibson, Stolarz, and Dostal had identical save percentage numbers this year. Gibson draws in against A-list teams like Edmonton and Vegas and his backups are much more likely to draw in against B-listers.

With a good team in front of him I’d take Gibson over Jarry in a heartbeat, but the Gibson to Pittsburgh trade some folks seem so worried about will never happen. Is Gibson the guy who stopped 50+ shots 3 games in a row or is he the guy with the 3.99GA. There’s no way to make that assessment until PV puts a better team on the ice in front of him.
- hardenx

That optimistically explains one of the four mediocre years. Maybe Gibson just doesn't try and still has good seasons left. Regardless, I doubt the next front office FSG hires will risk it and some low ball offer will be all they are willing to do. At this point, Gibson is likely viewed as a liability by most front offices.

That optimistically explains one of the four mediocre years. Maybe Gibson just doesn't try and still has good seasons left. Regardless, I doubt the next front office FSG hires will risk it and some low ball offer will be all they are willing to do. At this point, Gibson is likely viewed as a liability by most front offices.
- jfkst1

If so that would be a poor view to take -

He’s still a very good goalie just run down by being under constant barrage.

Same narrative was used on Manson and Lindholm by the uneducated lazy out there.

Once both left my crappy Ducks people are like ..ohhh those guys are really good D men… exact same scenario-

If so that would be a poor view to take -

He’s still a very good goalie just run down by being under constant barrage.

Same narrative was used on Manson and Lindholm by the uneducated lazy out there.

Once both left my crappy Ducks people are like ..ohhh those guys are really good D men… exact same scenario-
- dozerD10

"Very good" NHL goalies don't have four mediocre seasons in a row. Not if they are playing at max effort. To further undermine your point, Lindholm had ONE subpar season in 2022. Manson had ONE down season in 2021. Illogical to compare the risk of single season anomalies with four straight years of performance. Based on the biased logic of this board, Carter and Granlund are good bets to rebound given they've had better relative performances over the last four years than Gibson. Moreover, as has been speculated often, IF Gibson had any value, he would have been traded by now.

"Very good" NHL goalies don't have four mediocre seasons in a row. Not if they are playing at max effort. To further undermine your point, Lindholm had ONE subpar season in 2022. Manson had ONE down season in 2021. Illogical to compare the risk of single season anomalies with four straight years of performance. Based on the biased logic of this board, Carter and Granlund are good bets to rebound given they've had better relative performances over the last four years than Gibson. Morever, as as been speculated often, IF Gibson had any value, he would have been traded by now.
- jfkst1

He’d be a serious upgrade for 20-22 teams - easy… Carolina could use him today - so could Seattle, Vegas and probably Colorado-

"Very good" NHL goalies don't have four mediocre seasons in a row. Not if they are playing at max effort. To further undermine your point, Lindholm had ONE subpar season in 2022. Manson had ONE down season in 2021. Illogical to compare the risk of single season anomalies with four straight years of performance. Based on the biased logic of this board, Carter and Granlund are good bets to rebound given they've had better relative performances over the last four years than Gibson. Moreover, as has been speculated often, IF Gibson had any value, he would have been traded by now.
- jfkst1

Love the "biased logic" comment. The only way Carter bounces back is if he hops into Doc Brown's Delorian. Besides, what are the Ducks going to do with old farts like Carter and Granlund? All this trade you call for does is gets the Pens out of 2 horrific contracts. Plus, you'll get Gibson, who is the best player in the trade. It'll take a lot more than a 2nd round pick, but the Pens cupboard is bare after constantly going all-in on first-round playoff losses. Hey, at least you got in the playoffs, right?

Love the "biased logic" comment. The only way Carter bounces back is if he hops into Doc Brown's Delorian. Besides, what are the Ducks going to do with old farts like Carter and Granlund? All this trade you call for does is gets the Pens out of 2 horrific contracts. Plus, you'll get Gibson, who is the best player in the trade. It'll take a lot more than a 2nd round pick, but the Pens cupboard is bare after constantly going all-in on first-round playoff losses. Hey, at least you got in the playoffs, right?
- duxcup07

It's not a good trade for ANA at all. It merely resembles what a data driven front office from FSG would be willing to offer for a perceived massive risk in Gibson. A front office run by retards like Hextall would likely make an overpayment for Gibson.

So he's mediocre for four seasons and nothing more than a risk. Exactly WHY then would Pitts be trading for him at all? I mean surely a high risk mediocre for four years goalie is worse than Jarry/DeSmith right?! So its a non starter then on a trade really.