Ben Shelley: Ducks’ four-game road trip will serve as good test

This could get Fugly in a hurry if we don’t play with more purpose and focus from the get go..

Moving and playing as a 5 man unit and attention to detail in the D zone.

Well. At least we beat the Sharks twice already. That means the Ducks are no longer the worst team in the Pacific Division [does golf clap]. That's one down, 3 more teams in the Pacific to be better than. Then we can call ourselves a Playoff Team. But the Ducks are technically not even a Bubble team yet so we wait.

Next up in the Pacific standings is Calgary. Let's see if the Ducks can be better than the Flames. But the Flames have started fast and have alot of Veteran players. So I don't think the Ducks are gonna pass them as easily. Gotta keep working on those fundamentals.

And I don't think this road trip is gonna go that well. 2 wins probably and maybea extra points. The Ducks conditioning is kinda suspect already. So after two games, I'd expect this team to really slow down. 🐌. So it's gonna be hard to out skate other teams. And the Ducks don't really play any other system. So at least one of these game well be a train wreck. Still we march on. Hoping for better days.

I don’t like their chances tonight but they’ve just gotta continue to grow and develop young players and draft well. The winning will come in due time.

A much better 2nd … looking dangerous off the Rush…Dostal = Wall… 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😃😃😃😃

got to cash this power play in…

Best looking, PowerPlay we’ve had this year, even though we didn’t score-

I don’t like their chances tonight but they’ve just gotta continue to grow and develop young players and draft well. The winning will come in due time.
- LeftCoaster

The Ducks are way past that time of drafting. Yes they are developing. But the tanking is done.

Just got done watching the Ducks vs Rangers. It was a good game. A real thinking fans hockey game. Plenty of chances. Both team played hard and the score was tied till the 3rd. Both teams had to make adjustments. I accutally had to think more. Alot of times im watching and i know whos gonna win. But i couldn't tell till the third period.
The Ducks are actually starting to look like a team. Not just a collection of players grouped together into lines and then they whatever they want. It takes time to build that type of teamwork. And I hope the Ducks Coaches keep it up. You can't win in NHL consistently without good teamwork. Doesn’t matter what system you play. No teamwork/No wins.

Secondly the Ducks are gonna have to improve their cycle game. They're having a hard time holding pucks in consistently. It's even hurting their power play where cycling is key. I know the cycle game seems old. But in certain situations it's really needed. Like playing against faster smaller teams. Or just tring to kill time at the end of a game. It helps.

Just got done watching the Ducks vs Rangers. It was a good game. A real thinking fans hockey game. Plenty of chances. Both team played hard and the score was tied till the 3rd. Both teams had to make adjustments. I accutally had to think more. Alot of times im watching and i know whos gonna win. But i couldn't tell till the third period.
The Ducks are actually starting to look like a team. Not just a collection of players grouped together into lines and then they whatever they want. It takes time to build that type of teamwork. And I hope the Ducks Coaches keep it up. You can't win in NHL consistently without good teamwork. Doesn’t matter what system you play. No teamwork/No wins.

Secondly the Ducks are gonna have to improve their cycle game. They're having a hard time holding pucks in consistently. It's even hurting their power play where cycling is key. I know the cycle game seems old. But in certain situations it's really needed. Like playing against faster smaller teams. Or just tring to kill time at the end of a game. It helps.
- Eman87654

Def... hosed by the refs on that call... But there were encouraging signs..

Baby Z is a force... He and Minty are going to rule the backend for a decade... both are complete studs.

The Ducks are way past that time of drafting. Yes they are developing. But the tanking is done.
- Eman87654

Yes, I completely agree, the days of multiple 1st and or 2nd round picks are over, however, all indications are they're going to finish bottom ten again so they still have to utilize the draft as a tool to build. Every team does, every year.

If the Ducks finish bottom five or win the lottery, they're going to get another fantastic prospect for the organization.

Yes, I completely agree, the days of multiple 1st and or 2nd round picks are over, however, all indications are they're going to finish bottom ten again so they still have to utilize the draft as a tool to build. Every team does, every year.

If the Ducks finish bottom five or win the lottery, they're going to get another fantastic prospect for the organization.
- LeftCoaster

Verbeek might trade a player to get another low 1st or 2nd. But the Ducks will probably between the 5th and 10th pick. Which is still a good player. But If your tanking, then you'll wana be in the top 5 picks. That's were the top line players are.

Verbeek might trade a player to get another low 1st or 2nd. But the Ducks will probably between the 5th and 10th pick. Which is still a good player. But If your tanking, then you'll wana be in the top 5 picks. That's were the top line players are.
- Eman87654

We shouldn’t be picking anywhere in the top 15 those days are gone.

We got an Ace goalie for the team.. It’s time for the rest of the squad to start producing … Or find a coach who can get them to produce…

What a train wreck last night… completely unprepared in all phases -

Cronin has to go.

Mindless dumb penalties -
Anemic PP -
Lost in the d zone -
No adjustments -
Terrible FA signings -

Hire Bruce back - then at we can score goals again.

My opinion on Cronin is pretty simple. Here it is. Greg Cronin is probably not getting fired before his contract ends. So some of you wana huff and puff and blow the Ducks coaches down. But the truth is that the Ducks organization budget is really tight right now. And the Organization isn't going to pay for new coaches while paying old ones. With all the tanking and bad play Ducks fans aren't really happy. And thus aren't spending as much money. So ownership isn't going to waste money.

Now is this good or bad. I don't know. Sometimes wait and seeing is the right move. But I'm more into the process of what needs to happen. The results are secondary for me at the moment. I mean I thinking about how to turn this Ducks team into a contender in the next 3 years. So this year I'm looking at more about foundation. Basic stuff like Defense, Zone entries, puck possession, ect. These are things that pay off big in the long run. But it also takes a big commitment for Coach's and the front office to teach. Now it would have been nice to teach these things in the AHL. But nobody seems to have the patience to wait 2 or 3 years for prospects to develop basic hockey skills. And these skills aren't being taught in junior or college anymore. So it's pretty much on NHL coaches to do this work. And it shouldn't be this way. You'd think Development leagues would do a better job preparing players to get a Job in the NHL. But, it is what it is. And this is a process that can't be skipped.

So in conclusion. I'm will to give the the coaches some leeway on this. As long as the process is being done. But if Cronin and Verbeek want a contract extension. Then progress will have to be visibly seen. But that's 2 or 3 years from now. Until then, we wait and critique.

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