Can't score for shit. Same song and dance every game.
This is the result of not drafting any impact forwards for years now outside of high first round picks (Z, Mason, Leo) on top of non-impactful forward acquisitions. Strome, McGinn are both blah. I have hope for Killorn but so far he's sucked. Vatrano has been good for what he is.
Also Terry being hot garbage this season. Hopefully Z gets back and brings something.
Gibson is a dumbass but honestly I don't really care what the goals look like when he gives up two and this pathetic offense only scores one. Again. You don't win games scoring one goal.
Defense was better so there's that I guess.
Generally, you'll find more success of impact forwards in the top-10; even more success in the top-3.
2019: C Zegras, 9th overall
2020: D Drysdale, 5th overall (not a forward)
2021: C McTavish, 3rd overall
2022: D Mintyukov, 10th overall (not a forward)
2023: C Carlsson, 2nd overall
We're still in rebuild mode as the youth continue to develop. Z made a huge jump between his first and second season in the NHL. Missed out on training camp and disrupted his flow as well as presence. Mac also is making a huge jump between his first and second season in the NHL. Carlsson is in his first year in the NHL as a part-time 1C. We're going to be dominant in a couple of years down the middle as both Mac and Carlsson put on more mass.
For defense, we just started our mass migration to the pro league this season. At the NHL level, there's LD Minty, LD LaCombe, and RD Luneau. At the AHL level, we have LD Zellweger and LD Hinds. RD Warren is already signed and will be here in 2024-25. Having most or all of our D develop means we can eventually use one or two as trade chips to acquire a top-6 forward or two.
Anaheim is actually sitting pretty right now knowing Carlsson was a hit of a pick, Mac being nearly a ppg player, and three rookie D-men in the NHL cutting their teeth. Vatrano and Strome are better players this year than last year. Gudas and Lyubushkin have been very good additions, with Lyubushkin probably receiving a better haul at the TDL than Klingberg. Even Vaaks is looking very serviceable now that he's healthy.
Verbeek has a year or two left on the rebuild and finding top-6 scorers should be a priority. He has options via FA, trade, a surprise forward or two in our system, or draft one with our first round pick in the 2024 draft.
