Ben Shelley: Assessing Pat Verbeek’s tenure as Ducks General Manager so far

He grades out to high B+ / low A- - 88 to 92 # grade -

Drafting - B+
Free Agency - C
Contracts - B

Ben your thoughts - #3 & Oil 1st + Terry & LaCombe

for Brady Tkachuk & Chychrun

He grades out to high B+ / low A- - 88 to 92 # grade -

Drafting - B+
Free Agency - C
Contracts - B

Ben your thoughts - #3 & Oil 1st + Terry & LaCombe

for Brady Tkachuk & Chychrun
- dozerD10

Why stop at Tkachuk. Add Stutzle too. Ridiculous.

As a Flyers fan I wish we had Verbeek. A guy willing to go all in on a rebuild rather than try to play both sides of the coin like the Flyers for for SO MANY years.

Believe me when I tell you that you won the Gauthier trade, and it isn't even close. You got rid of a skilled but injury prone #3 or 4 defenseman for what may turn out to be a consistent 35-40 goal scoring wing. And all it really cost you was a 2nd round pick. If Verbeek stays the course the Ducks are going to be good for a very long time. I am envious.

Why stop at Tkachuk. Add Stutzle too. Ridiculous.
- HockeyBuzzed

Really … 2 1sts for a star - & 2 really solid good players for 1 D …

I’m fascinated to hear why… Your articulate and immediate response was really just over my head and I could not comprehend your logic…

Please help me to understand-

As a Flyers fan I wish we had Verbeek. A guy willing to go all in on a rebuild rather than try to play both sides of the coin like the Flyers for for SO MANY years.

Believe me when I tell you that you won the Gauthier trade, and it isn't even close. You got rid of a skilled but injury prone #3 or 4 defenseman for what may turn out to be a consistent 35-40 goal scoring wing. And all it really cost you was a 2nd round pick. If Verbeek stays the course the Ducks are going to be good for a very long time. I am envious.
- MBFlyerfan

Yeah I don’t like this in the playoffs for six straight years, but I’m willing to ride out one more.

Cutter is legit - he definitely could’ve handled the flyer situation better but a 19 or 20-year-old …hell I’m glad nobody held me to those kind of decisions when I was that age.

We also got to get insanely lucky in the draft.
Z @ 9
Minty @ 9
Gaucher @ 23
Baby Z in the 2nd round along with Luneau as a 2nd rounder … Noah Warren…

These are all the backbone of our next decade…

Drafting is everything -

Really … 2 1sts for a star - & 2 really solid good players for 1 D …

I’m fascinated to hear why… Your articulate and immediate response was really just over my head and I could not comprehend your logic…

Please help me to understand-
- dozerD10

Brady Tkachuk is worth WAY more than a number 3 and what will be a late 1st. Why would they trade their leader for two unknown draft picks. Add next year's unprotected first. And probably Zegras too.

Brady Tkachuk is worth WAY more than a number 3 and what will be a late 1st. Why would they trade their leader for two unknown draft picks. Add next year's unprotected first. And probably Zegras too.
- HockeyBuzzed

Of course Sens don’t need or probably don’t want to trade him … he’s awesome - that’s why I want him,..

2 - 1st rounders is all I would offer though, esp as one is top 3 -

Of course Sens don’t need or probably don’t want to trade him … he’s awesome - that’s why I want him,..

2 - 1st rounders is all I would offer though, esp as one is top 3 -
- dozerD10

So the Sens find a guy who commits long term to the franchise. Is their captain. A dominant power forward. And they are going to trade him for a couple of draft picks? That #3 pick likely doesn't become as good as Tkachuk is. This offer is so bad that Ottawa hangs up and blocks your number.

So the Sens find a guy who commits long term to the franchise. Is their captain. A dominant power forward. And they are going to trade him for a couple of draft picks? That #3 pick likely doesn't become as good as Tkachuk is. This offer is so bad that Ottawa hangs up and blocks your number.
- HockeyBuzzed

Or that # 3 pick - turns into …. Wait for it Tkachuk a #4 pick or Makar or Miro or .. you get the idea -

Like Insaid - if I was Verbeek I would make the call and see if there was any interest and what it would take.

Or that # 3 pick - turns into …. Wait for it Tkachuk a #4 pick or Makar or Miro or .. you get the idea -

Like Insaid - if I was Verbeek I would make the call and see if there was any interest and what it would take.
- dozerD10

So I trade my captain Tkachuk for futures, setting back my progress towards a playoff spot. My hope is that in 3 or 4 years that #3 pick develops into a player as good as Tkachuk. And for all of that risk I'm taking, my reward is a late 1st from the Oilers. Not to mention that as I struggle to attract UFAs to my small market, every player is going to remember how i dumped my captain for a couple of draft picks. Again, this makes zero sense. Go on the main boards and get laughed at.

He grades out to high B+ / low A- - 88 to 92 # grade -

Drafting - B+
Free Agency - C
Contracts - B

Ben your thoughts - #3 & Oil 1st + Terry & LaCombe

for Brady Tkachuk & Chychrun
- dozerD10

I'm certainly not opposed to the Ducks moving the pick for the right piece, I just can't see any scenario where Ottawa would ever move Tkachuk.

I think there's also a decent chance they still make the pick, then look towards free agency to add instead.

I'm certainly not opposed to the Ducks moving the pick for the right piece, I just can't see any scenario where Ottawa would ever move Tkachuk.

I think there's also a decent chance they still make the pick, then look towards free agency to add instead.
- Ben.Shelley

Thanks.

I’d love Reinhart @ 6 x 9.5

Brady Tkachuk is worth WAY more than a number 3 and what will be a late 1st. Why would they trade their leader for two unknown draft picks. Add next year's unprotected first. And probably Zegras too.
- HockeyBuzzed

Ivan Demidov, and Caden Lindstrom will probably be better than Brady Tkachuk. The only reason the Ducks would give the Senators the 3rd pick is just to fast forward development. I like Brady alot. But he's not all that.

Ivan Demidov, and Caden Lindstrom will probably be better than Brady Tkachuk. The only reason the Ducks would give the Senators the 3rd pick is just to fast forward development. I like Brady alot. But he's not all that.
- Eman87654

Well, I hope you’re right about that.

I don’t know enough about either of those kids..

Are They pick and play or do they need a couple years before nhl …

Well, I hope you’re right about that.

I don’t know enough about either of those kids..

Are They pick and play or do they need a couple years before nhl …
- dozerD10

Demidov is Russian. So 2 or 3 years in the KHL. Lindstrom I think can. But I can imagine the Ducks leave Lindstrom in the CHL for another year

Demidov is Russian. So 2 or 3 years in the KHL. Lindstrom I think can. But I can imagine the Ducks leave Lindstrom in the CHL for another year
- Eman87654

So not a D pick ???

Thanks for the article Ben - I think the drafting point is interesting and valid to an extent. I think he has an old fashioned bias toward size.

I disagree with the idea that the Carlsson selection over Fantilli was questionable. They effectively performed the same this year. You could argue Carlsson was more consistent as he played in 6 more games despite his ramp into the league and had a better +/- with more average TOI on a worse team (but even then, PPG is within .02%, shots, games played, etc all very close).

The point is, we will not know for years which choice was better - both players had solid first seasons in the league but also had injuries, pros & cons for both.

Let's say they have identical, strong careers - will GMPV have made the wrong decision? I say no!

He grades out to high B+ / low A- - 88 to 92 # grade -

Drafting - B+
Free Agency - C
Contracts - B

Ben your thoughts - #3 & Oil 1st + Terry & LaCombe

for Brady Tkachuk & Chychrun
- dozerD10

My only issue with Anaheim is they should have traded Gibson when he was at the top of his game and saved that money since they were going full rebuild. I still can't tell if the team has turned the corner but I don't know if Gibson is going to shine with the team and has 3 more years at $6.4/yr. He could have fetched some good defense and prospect/picks.

My only issue with Anaheim is they should have traded Gibson when he was at the top of his game and saved that money since they were going full rebuild. I still can't tell if the team has turned the corner but I don't know if Gibson is going to shine with the team and has 3 more years at $6.4/yr. He could have fetched some good defense and prospect/picks.
- kingsfan626

Well. The Ducks had to make thr Cap Floor. And yes the Ducks ruined Gibson. But I hope Gibby can get his mechanics back. Gibson contract also ends in 3 years and that's exactly when the Ducks are gonna need more cap space. So keeping Gibson has a chance of working out.

Well. The Ducks had to make thr Cap Floor. And yes the Ducks ruined Gibson. But I hope Gibby can get his mechanics back. Gibson contract also ends in 3 years and that's exactly when the Ducks are gonna need more cap space. So keeping Gibson has a chance of working out.
- Eman87654

We better be pushing for a playoff spot next year - not in three….

We better be pushing for a playoff spot next year - not in three….
- dozerD10

It's just baby steps right now. If your watching the playoffs, you can see how far away the Ducks are right now. Everything just hits a higher level in the playoffs. The speed, physicality, execution, depth are all top notch. The Ducks can't even get to the Playoffs. I keep telling people that the Ducks are probably gonna be In Cap hell before this team hits that level. It's the biggest problem with the Detroit model of rebuild. It takes to much time. All the players will hit arbitration before they become contenders. Then Verbeek will have no choice but to start slowly dismantle the team. I mean he means well. But in the end it'll come short. Hopefully it's at least a fun ride. But the Development process is taking to long. The whole thing is starting to be really sad.

It's just baby steps right now. If your watching the playoffs, you can see how far away the Ducks are right now. Everything just hits a higher level in the playoffs. The speed, physicality, execution, depth are all top notch. The Ducks can't even get to the Playoffs. I keep telling people that the Ducks are probably gonna be In Cap hell before this team hits that level. It's the biggest problem with the Detroit model of rebuild. It takes to much time. All the players will hit arbitration before they become contenders. Then Verbeek will have no choice but to start slowly dismantle the team. I mean he means well. But in the end it'll come short. Hopefully it's at least a fun ride. But the Development process is taking to long. The whole thing is starting to be really sad.
- Eman87654

You miss what he said. The Ducks should be pushing for a playoff spot, not contending for the Cup. Detroit was pushing for a playoff spot last year. They didn't make it but they played meaningful games in April. The Ducks were done by the All-Star break. I disagree with your cap hell statement, too. As he's shown with the Zegras and Drysdale contracts, GMPV doesn't throw money around. He might have made a mistake with Terry, we'll know that next year. Killorn might work out, he was promising at the end of the season, and Gudas was a steal.

You miss what he said. The Ducks should be pushing for a playoff spot, not contending for the Cup. Detroit was pushing for a playoff spot last year. They didn't make it but they played meaningful games in April. The Ducks were done by the All-Star break. I disagree with your cap hell statement, too. As he's shown with the Zegras and Drysdale contracts, GMPV doesn't throw money around. He might have made a mistake with Terry, we'll know that next year. Killorn might work out, he was promising at the end of the season, and Gudas was a steal.
- duxcup07

I mean there's always hope I guess. I appreciate your optimism. But things are just going slow. It's funny. When Verbeek started I said that if the Ducks weren't careful, that this rebuild could take a decade. I said that as a worse case scenario. But Verbeek seems to think that's normal.

I remember the last rebuild the Ducks did before this one. It was started in 2009. It was Bob Murrys 2nd year. We had a young Getzlaf and Perry. J.S. Gigure, Chris Pronger were veterans. But we just couldn't get any defense. Scott Nidiemier retired. So did Temmu Selanne. The team just ran out out talent. Bob talked about trades. But we just didn't have the assets to make them. One day Bob does a interview. Nothing special. Just run of the mill interview. And pretty much just says we need a rebuild. After that he hardly does any interviews. It's just silence. But in a time frame off about 4 years he does a rebuild. Just drafts defense men and some forwards. And by 2015 we were pushing upwards. Wasn't a big deal when I was thinking about it back then . But now I look back a say wow. That was a good rebuild. Compared to that. This rebuild blows. It's just dragging on for so long. No end in sight.

I mean there's always hope I guess. I appreciate your optimism. But things are just going slow. It's funny. When Verbeek started I said that if the Ducks weren't careful, that this rebuild could take a decade. I said that as a worse case scenario. But Verbeek seems to think that's normal.

I remember the last rebuild the Ducks did before this one. It was started in 2009. It was Bob Murrys 2nd year. We had a young Getzlaf and Perry. J.S. Gigure, Chris Pronger were veterans. But we just couldn't get any defense. Scott Nidiemier retired. So did Temmu Selanne. The team just ran out out talent. Bob talked about trades. But we just didn't have the assets to make them. One day Bob does a interview. Nothing special. Just run of the mill interview. And pretty much just says we need a rebuild. After that he hardly does any interviews. It's just silence. But in a time frame off about 4 years he does a rebuild. Just drafts defense men and some forwards. And by 2015 we were pushing upwards. Wasn't a big deal when I was thinking about it back then . But now I look back a say wow. That was a good rebuild. Compared to that. This rebuild blows. It's just dragging on for so long. No end in sight.
- Eman87654

Bastool Bob did not do a rebuild, he did a re-tool. He kicked the can down the road and tried to catch lightning in a bottle, and it never happened. Those were good Ducks teams, but not good enough to beat the Blackhawks or the Kings. Then Anaheim was stuck in purgatory, which is the absolute worst place to be, not good enough to win, not bad enough to draft really good players. Verbeek had to fix that or the Ducks become the west coast version of the Sabres.