The Official 2023-2024 Anaheim Ducks Thread

[gotbeer]

On 8/11/2023 at 2:59 PM, deepdrive said:

Just noticed on the Ducks roster Alex Stalock was added as a goalie (sometime in the last few days).

Didn't hear of an acquisition or trade. Where did this guy come from?

 

Okay, signed as a free agent 3 days ago. I don't see where this is going though. Do we really need another goalie?

More than likely, he's a backup to the backup in the NHL, but will spend much of his time in on the Gulls.  He's pretty much a journeyman 36 year old goalie.  Probably only will get called to the Ducks if there is injury.  Even if Gibswim is traded, I would think we would be taking a goalie contract back that would be the backup.

[deepdrive]

On 8/14/2023 at 8:19 AM, gotbeer said:

More than likely, he's a backup to the backup in the NHL, but will spend much of his time in on the Gulls.  He's pretty much a journeyman 36 year old goalie.  Probably only will get called to the Ducks if there is injury.  Even if Gibswim is traded, I would think we would be taking a goalie contract back that would be the backup.

Yeah, I guess they need him. I just don't know enough about hockey to see why. 

[gotbeer]

Ducks acquire defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from Sabres in exchange for 2025 fourth-round pick

Anaheim Ducks Acquire Ilya Lyubushkin

https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/l/lyubuil01.html

29 YO RH Dman.  Pretty bad Corsi and Fenwick last season.  But at 6'2", 200 lbs.  So fits the Beeker mold.  That would put Lyubushkin, Drysdale, and Gudas as the RD's with experience.  And Helleson and Warren as the RD's that have a chance to make the team.  Overall, not a bad move to shore up the D.

[deepdrive]

59 minutes ago, gotbeer said:

Ducks acquire defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from Sabres in exchange for 2025 fourth-round pick

Anaheim Ducks Acquire Ilya Lyubushkin

https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/l/lyubuil01.html

29 YO RH Dman.  Pretty bad Corsi and Fenwick last season.  But at 6'2", 200 lbs.  So fits the Beeker mold.  That would put Lyubushkin, Drysdale, and Gudas as the RD's with experience.  And Helleson and Warren as the RD's that have a chance to make the team.  Overall, not a bad move to shore up the D.

So, that should be about it unless a really good add makes itself available.

It’s probably important to note that the fourth they gave up is in ‘25. That says to me that this season is still probably a washout for the Ducks and they expect to show significant improvement the season after. The Ducks are good enough at drafting that they wouldn’t trade away a fourth without being strategic about it. I would expect the best chance for a difference maker signing or deal is after this season is over.

[gotbeer]

16 hours ago, deepdrive said:

So, that should be about it unless a really good add makes itself available.

It’s probably important to note that the fourth they gave up is in ‘25. That says to me that this season is still probably a washout for the Ducks and they expect to show significant improvement the season after. The Ducks are good enough at drafting that they wouldn’t trade away a fourth without being strategic about it. I would expect the best chance for a difference maker signing or deal is after this season is over.

Really, Z, Terry, McTavish, and to a lesser extend (at least right now) Carlsson have to take that next step and become the difference makers.  The coach is going to be the big thing this season.  Let's just hope he is good enough.

[deepdrive]

4 hours ago, gotbeer said:

Really, Z, Terry, McTavish, and to a lesser extend (at least right now) Carlsson have to take that next step and become the difference makers.  The coach is going to be the big thing this season.  Let's just hope he is good enough.

You’re right. The coach is going to be crucial this season and next. If he’s the guy who should be here, they will prosper. If not, he will set this team back 1-2 years.

[gotbeer]

I don't know.  Is Nylander successful because of who is around him, or can he elevate who is around him?  And of course, the question is cost.  We do have a logjam of young defenders.  Question is who would we give up.  But acquiring a top RW to go with our centers and combining Terry as a RW to have two solid RW's on the top 2 lines does sound good.

NHL analyst proposes Maple Leafs trade William Nylander to Ducks

[gotbeer]

And no, not giving up Mintyukov and a first.

Maple Leafs’ William Nylander “Perfect Fit” for Ducks, Analyst Says

[deepdrive]

2 hours ago, gotbeer said:

And no, not giving up Mintyukov and a first.

Maple Leafs’ William Nylander “Perfect Fit” for Ducks, Analyst Says

It would be more likely to happen if they would take Drysdale or Zellweger. I don’t see it though. We don’t have the D to compete during his prime years.Verbeek keeps hinting that he doesn’t see this teams peak for a few years. 

Another thing, we need to fit in the cap 5 years from now. You can only have so many high priced players. Pick the right ones or suck for years. So, it would come down to how Verbeek evaluates our current guys and Nylander. There’s not enough money for all of them.

[gotbeer]

28 minutes ago, deepdrive said:

It would be more likely to happen if they would take Drysdale or Zellweger. I don’t see it though. We don’t have the D to compete during his prime years.Verbeek keeps hinting that he doesn’t see this teams peak for a few years. 

Another thing, we need to fit in the cap 5 years from now. You can only have so many high priced players. Pick the right ones or suck for years. So, it would come down to how Verbeek evaluates our current guys and Nylander. There’s not enough money for all of them.

I think Toronto is in trouble, in that players are looking for over $10 million plus.  And they are not $10 million + players.  Really if I'm paying that much, that player better be like McJesus and score 100+ points a season.  

Really all these writers want Toronto to win, so their trade scenarios will be the top players on other peoples teams.  But the reality is, due to what Nylander is asking for, the Leafs won't get much.  Only the desperate teams will pay the ransom, and the Ducks aren't there....yet.  Look at what the Sharks got for Karlsson, and that is about what Nylander will net.

I agree with you regarding Nylander and the Ducks.  What he's asking for in future salary doesn't add up with the Ducks and their future money outlays.  Terry is locked in at $7.  Z will probably be in the $8 range.  McTavish will probably be in that range.  Carlsson will also be in that range.  And you could see Zellwegger or Mintukov possibly getting that also.  You have to figure that would be at least $40 million will be just on 5 players.  And that's not including Drysdale and the other players that will be in the $5 million range.  That cushion we have right now, will quickly disappear. 

[deepdrive]

Signed Harrington to a PTO. Looks like another filler for a filler season as players develop and Verbeek tweaks his roster to what he wants it to be.

Lol, sorry Ducks fans, no playoffs this year and not really concerned if there's any the following year. 

On a plus note, if anyone ever wanted to be a season ticket holder, now would be the time to snag a couple of cheap decent seats and prep to get your desired seat location over the next couple select-a-seats. One would probably be in a pretty good place when playoff time rolled around.

[deepdrive]

5 hours ago, gotbeer said:

I think Toronto is in trouble, in that players are looking for over $10 million plus.  And they are not $10 million + players.  Really if I'm paying that much, that player better be like McJesus and score 100+ points a season.  

Really all these writers want Toronto to win, so their trade scenarios will be the top players on other peoples teams.  But the reality is, due to what Nylander is asking for, the Leafs won't get much.  Only the desperate teams will pay the ransom, and the Ducks aren't there....yet.  Look at what the Sharks got for Karlsson, and that is about what Nylander will net.

I agree with you regarding Nylander and the Ducks.  What he's asking for in future salary doesn't add up with the Ducks and their future money outlays.  Terry is locked in at $7.  Z will probably be in the $8 range.  McTavish will probably be in that range.  Carlsson will also be in that range.  And you could see Zellwegger or Mintukov possibly getting that also.  You have to figure that would be at least $40 million will be just on 5 players.  And that's not including Drysdale and the other players that will be in the $5 million range.  That cushion we have right now, will quickly disappear. 

Isn't Marner at 10.9? And, didn't Matthews just re-up for 13.5?

So, if Nylander gets 10, that would be 3 guys eating up about 35. Hard to put the guys around them to make that work. I mean, it could be done if they're worth 35. But, there's not a lot of room for error in an organization that seems to make a lot of mistakes.

 

[gotbeer]

10 minutes ago, deepdrive said:

Isn't Marner at 10.9? And, didn't Matthews just re-up for 13.5?

So, if Nylander gets 10, that would be 3 guys eating up about 35. Hard to put the guys around them to make that work. I mean, it could be done if they're worth 35. But, there's not a lot of room for error in an organization that seems to make a lot of mistakes.

 

Marner is at $10.9 million, and his contract is up in 2 years.  And don't forget about Tavares at $11 million also with an expiring contract in 2 years.  So that's 4 guys that would eat up $45 million.  

And Lol at Matthews contract.  Such an overpay.

[deepdrive]

2 hours ago, gotbeer said:

Marner is at $10.9 million, and his contract is up in 2 years.  And don't forget about Tavares at $11 million also with an expiring contract in 2 years.  So that's 4 guys that would eat up $45 million.  

And Lol at Matthews contract.  Such an overpay.

It kind of seems like Marner and Travares are the worst overpays.

But yeah, with the type of sport hockey is and what he has delivered to date, a bit of an overpay.

Toronto is just another organization that can't seem to master the big picture of putting a team together.

Of course, no one's as bad as Edmonton. There's 5-10 organizations that McDavid would have won 2-3 cups on by now. Such a waste of talent.

[gotbeer]

49 minutes ago, deepdrive said:

It kind of seems like Marner and Travares are the worst overpays.

But yeah, with the type of sport hockey is and what he has delivered to date, a bit of an overpay.

Toronto is just another organization that can't seem to master the big picture of putting a team together.

Of course, no one's as bad as Edmonton. There's 5-10 organizations that McDavid would have won 2-3 cups on by now. Such a waste of talent.

It'll be interesting to see what Draisaital and Nugent Hopkins will do without McJesus as a linemate.   McJesus not having a ring yet is pretty much a Mike Trout and the Angels situation.  Except McJesus might be able to escape and win a ring somewhere else.  

It's sad that Edmonton and Toronto should pull Canada out of the cup drought.  But Toronto especially just seems outmatched out East, even if they get their shit together.  Edmonton at least still has a shot, with how the west is.  

[deepdrive]

1 hour ago, gotbeer said:

It'll be interesting to see what Draisaital and Nugent Hopkins will do without McJesus as a linemate.   McJesus not having a ring yet is pretty much a Mike Trout and the Angels situation.  Except McJesus might be able to escape and win a ring somewhere else.  

It's sad that Edmonton and Toronto should pull Canada out of the cup drought.  But Toronto especially just seems outmatched out East, even if they get their shit together.  Edmonton at least still has a shot, with how the west is.  

They both have a chance. Actually, probably a better chance than most people give them credit for. They just need to get a lot luckier than they should have to considering the talent they have to build around.

[deepdrive]

https://theathletic.com/4791896/2023/08/24/anaheim-ducks-nhl-prospect-pipeline-rankings/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983

Last in the present; first in the future.

[gotbeer]

Trade porn!

ANAHEIM DUCKS AND TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS WORKING ON A TRADE

Caveat to this is, even though we get rid of Vatrano.  He did top his career season points total last season.  So he is actually is worth the roster spot.  But, there really is no room for him.  McT/Terry/Rico.  Z/Killorn/Strome.  Lundestrom(Carlsson)/Silfverberg/Nesterenko/Jones.  Vakanenen is pretty much an unfortunate Dupres/Kase situation.  Probably has the talent to be in the NHL, but concussions will prevent him for being anything.

What we would get back.  Nick Robertson.  Still only 21.  At one point was the top prospect in the Leafs.  Small at 5'9".  But from Pasadena, so maybe some home cooking does him well.  He's a lottery card that works with the youth movement timeline, and at worse will be good at the ahl level.  

TJ Brodie.  33 YO.  On an expiring contract.  RD, which would solidify the right side to Gudas/Drysdale/Brodie.  His stats don't pop out.  But as a third pairing, he'd probably work out.

Timothy Lilgredgen.  Another RD.  24 YO, so fits in the youth.  67 GP, 18 points, 17 minutes ice time, a whopping +24.  6'1, 192.  Again, someone that looks like they would fit in a third pairing role.  

Overall, I think I would do this trade.  While losing a scorer like Vatrano would hurt.  He just rubbed me the wrong way on the ice.  If there was chirping, he would be in the middle.  If there was a scrum, he'd be there.  If there was a cheapshot, he'd be the one to throw it.  It's something that I think is rubbing off on Z in a bad way.  So you give the Leafs a solid scorer.  You get back 2 RD's that you are thin on.  And a prospect that does have a little upside.  And you could flip one of the RD's at the trade deadline.  

[arch stanton]

Nick didn't get his brother's size but he's still a decent player. The Leafs have to shed at least 3 mil before the season stats to get under the cap Lilgredgen is the target. Brodie is the cap dump that becomes a deadline rental. He's basically a slightly smaller Manson without the penalty issues 

[deepdrive]

I don't know. It's August in Toronto, nothing much going on, writers need content. How serious can you take this?

[arch stanton]

40 minutes ago, deepdrive said:

I don't know. It's August in Toronto, nothing much going on, writers need content. How serious can you take this?

The Leafs have no choice but to shed 3 mil. Something will happen there

[gotbeer]

2 hours ago, deepdrive said:

I don't know. It's August in Toronto, nothing much going on, writers need content. How serious can you take this?

It might be pure porn.  But it does make sense on a number of fronts from both sides.  Of course the part that does torpedo this rumor is that Toronto will be trading two of their RD's.  Ironically, leaving their only RD as Klingberg.  

But, what they do get.  They get a legit scorer in Vatrano.  They get a cheap RD, that will probably start on the LTIR (which actually helps them) in Vakanainen.  They get cap relief.  And they don't give up any draft picks.

We take on more cap, which we have plenty of room for.  We get a veteran RD that we can flip or keep.  We get a young RD, which we need depth of, and he's a pretty good prospect, so he can definitely fit into the future.  And we get a former top prospect, that plays wing, and might become the best winger prospect in our system.

I think this is a much more realistic trade, than all the Nylander ones.  

[Tank]

[deepdrive]

I get what you guys are saying. But, for every 5 trades that make some sense, probably less than some form of one actually happens.

Anyway, what about the negatives to the trade? Like, Toronto is in win now mode. Why would they want Vak? Or is he just our salary dump to offset their cap dump? Why would Verbeek want a short guy that didn't pan out? He likes 6'3"+ projects. Give up Vatrano? He's everything Verbeek wanted when he signed him. Take on another D guy. You don't want to totally block out our prospects. If we were trying to make the playoffs I could see it. But we're not. And flipping Brodie at the trade deadline. Wouldn't Vatrano be a better flip?

Maybe, what if, you don't know? No.  I'm going with probably. This trade doesn't happen.

[gotbeer]

37 minutes ago, deepdrive said:

I get what you guys are saying. But, for every 5 trades that make some sense, probably less than some form of one actually happens.

Anyway, what about the negatives to the trade? Like, Toronto is in win now mode. Why would they want Vak? Or is he just our salary dump to offset their cap dump? Why would Verbeek want a short guy that didn't pan out? He likes 6'3"+ projects. Give up Vatrano? He's everything Verbeek wanted when he signed him. Take on another D guy. You don't want to totally block out our prospects. If we were trying to make the playoffs I could see it. But we're not. And flipping Brodie at the trade deadline. Wouldn't Vatrano be a better flip?

Maybe, what if, you don't know? No.  I'm going with probably. This trade doesn't happen.

I get the taking on another D guy.  But even among our prospects, all of our D guys are LD's.  I think only one and Helleson was a RD.  So adding Lildgreden would not be blocking the prospect line.  

As for Toronto wanting Vakannainen.  He makes $850k, 6'2", 196 and a former first round pick.  So he has enough upside to take a chance on.  But, unlike Lildgreden, won't take a significant bump next season when his contract is up in RFA.  

I think that's what people are missing about this trade.  Both Brodie and Lidgreden's contracts are up after this season.  It's already set in stone that Brodie isn't going to be re-signed by Toronto.  But even at RFA status, Lidgreden's contract might be too expensive.  Especially if the Leafs plan on keeping Nylander.  

As for Vatrano, I've given my reasons why I think he should be traded.  

As for Robertson.  He doesn't fit the Beeker mold.  But we really need wingers in the prospect pool.  And he's a pretty highly rated one, that was ranked #2 in the Toronto system as early as this April.  Injury are a concern.  But so is Vakanainen's injury history.  We are pretty much swapping one injury history for another.  But in our case, we are getting the better player, in a position of need.