Ben Shelley: Previewing the Ducks’ 2024-25 season after a quiet summer

I see the team being better … how much and how soon well that depends …
I’m not sold on either PV or Cronin..

Cutter / Leo / Frankie
Mason / Z / TT
AK / Isac / Colangelo
Ross / Strome / Fabbri

Minty / Gudas
Baby Z / Luneau
Cam / Dummo / LaCombe -

Dostal -
Gibby -

I was encouraged by the first 2 games against SJ, especially the first one, 30+ shots! The boys were shooting from everywhere! These last 2 games against the Kings were disheartening. Passing up open shots to try to make the pretty play. I know the Kings are better defensively than SJ, but there still were open lanes to shoot from distance and they were passing them up. You may be right about Cronin. I've tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but whatever his message is, it's not getting through. These guys are trying to be high skill guys and most of them aren't. They need to simplify their game. If he can't get them to do that, then it's an easily rectified situation.

The Ducks just need to execute better. They're probably the worst execution team in the league. I think the idea Cronin had last year about shooting the puck more and closer to net was premature. This young Ducks team just isn't ready for that. I know you Analitics Ducks fans are gonna complain about shot totals. I mean that's what you do. But the problem is more basic than that and it needs to be fixed before anything can be accomplished. It's really just building the foundation of a team. And they are small things like boardwork, faceoffs, screens, positioning, Defense, ect that need to be addressed before things can progress. We know Cronin likes speed. And he'll probably push the team in that direction . So I don't see a problem yet. It just a process

Oh yeah. There is one other thing I'd like Ducks fans and bloggers to think about. It's the idea that Pat Verbeek said that he wanted the Ducks to compete for a playoff spot. It's a realistic idea. And a decent goal. But in the Pacific Division there are two teams ahead of the Ducks that are already trying to get those wildcard spots. The Kings and the Kracken. I assume that the first three Division playoff spots are gonna be taken by Vegas, Vancouver, and Edmonton. So the Ducks are gonna have to go toe to toe with these two other teams which are bigger, more experienced, better conditioned, and pretty much just want it more. I think the Ducks might have more skill. Maybe a tad more depth. But the Kings and Kraken are already ready to go. And this Ducks team is still getting there stuff together. If the Ducks wanna contend, then they need to play more Reliable hockey. Your not just gonna out skate or out shoot these Veteran teams. The other teams have seen that style and already know how to counter it. These Ducks have gotta execute and play a team game if they wanna have any chance of making the playoffs

Better effort last night -
Sennecke looks like a great pick-
Cutter & Leo are going to be a force…

Minty is the real deal -

We’re still a mess in our own end though - Cam is done-

Better effort last night -
Sennecke looks like a great pick-
Cutter & Leo are going to be a force…

Minty is the real deal -

We’re still a mess in our own end though - Cam is done-
- dozerD10

Sennecka looked good. I liked his skating and stick handling. He looked like he was adjusting to the pro game. Asking alot questions. He's gonna have to hit the weights. I've always been a believer in letting prospects have a few games i the NHL. Just for the experience. It seems to help.