deepdrive

I've read that this draft is good for defense. I don't know if the top ones are L or R. I would think that even up we would take a D guy. Definitely don't need another center. I wonder what the possibility of trading our pick for a younger established right D would be if we can't get the guy we want.

I think this is the last year Verbeek doesn't push to win more. At some point he has to replace an assistant coach if things don't improve.

I forgot it was an away game. Watching the first period now. Guess I didn't miss much.

Oh well, we didn't need the points anyway. We actually played with them for most of the game. No Zegras, no Minty, no McT, the future looks good.

LaCombe, you're kind of slow. Kane really did blow by him. Made him look bad/inexperienced.

The guy can play when matched with the right linemates. He's not $5M good. But, he's not the offensive drain that some others are - when he's on the right line.

Silfverberg couldn't get the puck elevated ??? No, he couldn't even get the puck off the ice.

So, why is McT a healthy scratch?

There you go. The Vegas defense, when it's on, is almost unbeatable. It's just surprising that other teams haven't been able to copy it better.

It makes a difference. Does Edmonton have anyone of consequence out?

Hold off on that post above. NJ is holding Colorado to 1 halfway through the second. Maybe even the Ducks could skate with them this week. Big game tonight. Maybe biggest of the season.Can Vegas stop them ? I don't think so. Anyway, it wouldn't be right to take away the thunder of the Ducks next game.

The reality hit me today about how much of a favor the NHL players who participated in the Athletics survey did for the Ducks. You take a guy like Zegras with a combination of talent, confidence, and ego and insult him the way they did. The motivation that will give the guy is huge going forward. Plus, with the survey being anonymous, Zegras has to have a bit of an us v. them complex. That should only help in retaining him.

So, I saw the end of the Colorado/New York game. Looked like NY played them as evenly as the score showed. Could this be enough for the GM to make a trade or two and go for the SC ? Inquiring Ducks fans want to know.

Oh that's right about Z2. Well, we'll see what happens after the break. I never thought he would keep Minty and LaCombe both up this season. As far as SLC, I think if the NHL was willing to expand, that would be a minimum of 5 years. It could still affect us at that point though. My guess is they want to set their place in line if Arizona goes bad. What would be interesting is the possibility that Arizona goes to SLC with the agreement an expansion is coming and Arizona would get back in once a venue was in place. I don't see that for a couple reasons. But, it's not that bad of a resolution to a problem that keeps pushing forward.

So, Zellweger was sent back to SD. Not surprised. I had my doubts they were going to give him enough games this year and now I'm a little more sure of it. In a way it's a good sign for those who hope he stays. Good chance this is partly to keep all the young D contracts who are going to be kept from bunching up. I expect he will be on the team full time next year. Him and Luneau both. Unless someone moves in a trade. Which could happen if we take a D guy in the early 1st round. The guys who are ready to start their NHL careers are already starting to bunch up.

Oh, and Shayna Goldman is probably the most worthless writer at the Athletic. The stuff she puts out is thoughtless drivel that shows either a lack of knowledge or laziness in research. I wouldn't even read an article written by her anymore. I honestly suspect that the only reason she has a job is because of some connection. Nothing to base it on. Just the lack of talent and the fact she still has a job.

Zegras is the flavor of the month in a period of time where there hasn't been a lot to write about and, going forward, lends a name to trade deadline articles that need to attract viewers/response. There is nothing to make a reasonable suspicion that he is anymore available than he has been since joining the Ducks organization. I guess Henrique just doesn't have enough pull to excite fans of other teams. The fact that him and Drysdale held out makes them both trade pieces is laughable. Drysdale was traded because of the return and Verbeek's issue with smaller D guys. Not because of anything he did. Zegras would be traded if the Ducks were made an offer that benefitted them as much as the Drysdale trade. But, it wouldn't be because of the hold out.

Seems like a bit of a Bob Murray move. If your the GM messes up in the trade/ team assemblage area, just deflect to the coach when things go wrong. Maybe they have someone in line to take over. It's not like McLellan is so special he can't be replaced.

Rumor is Henrique is third in line. That means if there is a push by the remaining teams that want a center, something could happen soon.

So, do you think Jones is on the team next year ? My guess is yes. But, I sure don't see him lasting past the time Gaucher is ready unless he makes a leap forward with his shooting skills. Otherwise, I think he becomes redundant.

So, McT with Lindy and Silfverberg is a producing line McT with Vatrano and Strome was doing really well. Maybe we should see what McT with Carrick and Leason can do. You know, just for sh!ts and giggles.

Isn't that a fine to throw your stick in the stands? I guess with the year he's having, he'll sign a new contract somewhere and have money to burn.

That was quite the low energy game wasn't it ? Something you would expect the last week of the season.

Did we win or did SJ just not care enough to try to win?

Ducks. Can't even get to their vacation on time. Cronin tried. He kept Gibson on the ice until a minute and a half left.