Ben Shelley: Ducks have opportunity to build some momentum on long homestand

A little to negative for me Ben… but that stretch was brutal - we probably deserved a bit better in a few of the games…

LaCombe needs to go down… he’s been brutal recently - with Jamie coming back put Vaaks in and send Jackson to SD -

The injuries have crushed the offense- just getting Z and Mason back puts guys further down the lineup where they need to be. With Leo slated to start playing more games we should be much better offensively-

I’m really encouraged by the Jersey and esp Detroit W’s esp on the B2B with travel -

Calgary and Seattle are very winnable games this week -

You expect inconsistent play from young players. What you can't have is your veteran leadership taking a nightly parade to the penalty box. You expect Gudas to lead the team in penalty minutes - that's part of his game. You don't expect Ryan Strome or Frank Vatrano to spend time in the box every night.

Vatrano's career high in penalty minutes was 38 before he got to Anaheim. He has 39 in 31 games this year, and posted 66 last year. Strome had a career high 79 PIM last year and already has 46 in 30 games this year. Troy Terry is on pace for a career high. So is Killorn. The penalty parade needs to stop for the Ducks to become more consistent.

Compete level is good and skill level is improving, which makes them more fun to watch this year. Mintyukov is the real deal. LaCombe is struggling a bit and going through the ups and downs that most young D-men go through. I wonder if he'd be better off playing on his strong side. Drysdale was skating in a black jersey at practice yesterday so expect to see him back soon, maybe tonight, which should help with zone exits.

Overall, with the injuries and lack of scoring depth as a result, 12-19 is not an unexpected result at this point. New Jersey and Detroit performances were very encouraging.

Echoing Dozers post, getting healthy will restore players to more comfortable positions. While I think they are playing well this year, there isn't a chance in hell that Silfverberg nor Leason nor Max Jones should be anywhere near the power play. The fact that it hasn't been a tire fire is a credit to the other skill players on the PP.

As for LaCombe, both you and Ben need to give him a break. The poor kid has been learning how to play NHL defense while having to play on his off side. It shows how bad Fowler has regressed with his numbers being almost as bad. They've recently switched so I'd like to see if Jackson's numbers improve now that he's playing on his natural side.

Echoing Dozers post, getting healthy will restore players to more comfortable positions. While I think they are playing well this year, there isn't a chance in hell that Silfverberg nor Leason nor Max Jones should be anywhere near the power play. The fact that it hasn't been a tire fire is a credit to the other skill players on the PP.

As for The poor kid has been learning how to play NHL defense while having to play on his off side.LaCombe, both you and Ben need to give him a break. It shows how bad Fowler has regressed with his numbers being almost as bad. They've recently switched so I'd like to see if Jackson's numbers improve now that he's playing on his natural side.
- duxcup07

He's making plays that have nothing to do with his offside... now it could be mentally taxing him to play his offside and that is what is leading to the dumb plays he has been making recently. I'll grant you that. He still needs to sit for a few -

And yeah Cam has been azz -

Few hours before game time. Stoked and cant wait. Looks like no Carlsdon but zegras is back so there is that!!

Few hours before game time. Stoked and cant wait. Looks like no Carlsdon but zegras is back so there is that!!
- Roadrunner75

We got goalied….daccord was nuts … all the wrong guys with chances last night…

We got goalied….daccord was nuts … all the wrong guys with chances last night…
- dozerD10

Yeah. Daccord was nuts in there. One point early third shots were 2 to 1 in favor of the ducks even. Hurt watching the Kraken play keep away holding Ducks in their own end and not being able to pull the goalie. Quite a few bad decisions and passing there too but enough good they could have just as easily won.

Well. The Ducks shouldn't sell at any point. Don't know what Ben is smoking but wasting another year of development by tanking is career suicide by Verbeek. Players Don't develop well playing on teams that don't try to win. At this point Kings are lapping the Ducks in player development. And I still haven't seen Verbeek do anything that says he wants to win. Hasn't traded for any good players. Made some average free agent signings in Vitrano, Strome, Killorn, and Gudas. And his head coach signing seems to be struggling adjusting to NHL level play styles. Right now a trade would be good. But Verbeek need to acquire a good veteran player. Calgary is selling. And the Ducks don't need more prospects. They need players who can play in the NHL.

Well. The Ducks shouldn't sell at any point. Don't know what Ben is smoking but wasting another year of development by tanking is career suicide by Verbeek. Players Don't develop well playing on teams that don't try to win. At this point Kings are lapping the Ducks in player development. And I still haven't seen Verbeek do anything that says he wants to win. Hasn't traded for any good players. Made some average free agent signings in Vitrano, Strome, Killorn, and Gudas. And his head coach signing seems to be struggling adjusting to NHL level play styles. Right now a trade would be good. But Verbeek need to acquire a good veteran player. Calgary is selling. And the Ducks don't need more prospects. They need players who can play in the NHL.
- Eman87654

Have to say I agree. Dont really sell. Team is going in the right direction. They need to be hungrier, drive the net more. Found they tried to be too fancy/skilled and pass it around the outside instead of taking it to the net and finding a rebound.

MUCH better game live this year over last and can see the leap in improvement and fight in the group.

Will say though the Ducks radio was utter trash vs Leafs driving home listening on sirius xm. Couldnt follow the game or what was happening. Lot of inane babbling. Kouleous ( sp?) sucked bigtime.

Well. The Ducks shouldn't sell at any point. Don't know what Ben is smoking but wasting another year of development by tanking is career suicide by Verbeek. Players Don't develop well playing on teams that don't try to win. At this point Kings are lapping the Ducks in player development. And I still haven't seen Verbeek do anything that says he wants to win. Hasn't traded for any good players. Made some average free agent signings in Vitrano, Strome, Killorn, and Gudas. And his head coach signing seems to be struggling adjusting to NHL level play styles. Right now a trade would be good. But Verbeek need to acquire a good veteran player. Calgary is selling. And the Ducks don't need more prospects. They need players who can play in the NHL.
- Eman87654

Well he read your comment about needing a trade. Just prospect for prospect...sort of.

I don't think it's a terrible deal for the ducks though

Wow!!!