Ben Shelley: Ducks trade Brian Dumoulin to Devils, acquire Oliver Kylington from Isles

Needed to try to move Gibson and pick a direction this off season. Need to win some games and push for a wild card.

Based on what I've seen from other sources, there was probably only one team interested in Gibson at the deadline and they were worried about his recent injury history. Guess what, he's hurt again. When he's healthy, Gibson and Dostal together are the primary reason the Ducks are still playing meaningful games. Their combined xGA is close to the top of the league.

Realistically, the Ducks aren't a wildcard team yet. They're making progress and with an addition or two this offseason could be in position to challenge for a playoff spot as soon as next year. Moving Dumoulin to get back into the 2nd round this year after trading their own pick for Gauthier is a good move that opens space for Mintyukov and Zellweger to play every night. Picking up Kylington for a bag of pucks and a few sticks provides another option behind the kids.

It's the day after the Ducks lost to the Capitals 4 to 6.
I just wana say something about the state of Ducks hockey right now and where it's going.

The Ducks are currently tring to make the playoffs. They're 9 points out and are putting up some pretty good effort to make it. Hope is on the rise in Anaheim. And I don't wana kill it. But things need to be said before things get out of hand.

I just don't agree with the current system that Greg Cronin and the Ducks coaches are using. It's the extreme Forechecking system that Analitics loves. It maximizes offensive skating through the neutral zone using all 5 skaters to make zone entries. It sounds great in theory but has one huge drawback. It gives up all defensive positioning it create the massive Forecheck. In a way if you only look at offense like Analitics does then it makes perfect sense. They say "you need to score to win". But they completely reject any idea of defense winning games. But in truth both are extremes.

Hockey has a balance to it. It's almost has a duality to it. Offense vs Defense. Forecheck vs Backcheck. Gritty Hockey vs Pretty Hockey. And in truth if you go to one side or the other to hard then you won't win games. Cronin right now has the team playing so offensive minded that it's cost the Ducks the chance to win hockey games. That what Defense does. It gives you the chance to win. And with this Extreme Forecheck the Ducks just aren't making it back in time to play defense. Opposing teams are getting behind the Ducks Defense more and more and the Ducks just aren't scoring enough to cover the Opponents goal totals.
I know Cronin believes in Analitics alot. But I'm also hoping he's a practical coach. An Extreme Forecheck only works in certain situations. And using it constantly is going to have negative effects on this Team. Sometimes you team is behind and you don't have alot of time and you just gotta push. But all the time. Come on Cronin. Your smarter than this.
The only way this system makes any sense right now is if the Ducks are tring to tank. Then maybe that's OK. They're are some interesting towards in the draft that the Ducks can Draft this year. And may the 7th time is the the charm and the Ducks win the Lottery. Buts that's a subject for latter. For now just try to win.