Battle for the Macklin. I’m so F’ing tired of this. I hope Verbeek is going to make enough moves this summer, to where they can be at least on the bubble.
Battlin' for Macklin.
I actually don't think we're battling for Macklin, but battling with ourselves. Cronin threw the team under the bus in his last interview.
Also, having talent matters. After last year's TDL, Rico was out due to injury while we traded away two of our top-4D in Kulikov and Klingberg. We didn't have enough talent depth last year to absorb the loss of those three players. We closed the season with a 13-game losing streak, with a record of 0-11-2 (2 pts). And we got those two points because Rico returned after missing 19 consecutive games due to injury.
Despite having a better roster this year, losing Rico at the TDL to be compounded with missing Zegras and Carlsson is a huge blow to the offense. Losing D Lyubushkin is mitigated by the call up of Zell, but we're also rotating Vaak, Lindstrom, and LaCombe for two spots. We should hold defensively.
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Rating to the Median
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Key
= very little improvement needed
= max improvement needed
According to Natural Stat Trick site, the Ducks are ranked 30th best at 5v5 goals scored with 101 goals for. The high is 158 GF and the median is 130.5 GF.
- Goals For at 5v5
- Rank = 30th (3rd from bottom)
- Ducks GF - Median = - 29.5 (GF less than the median)
We need to find a way to generate 30 more goals just to be a middle of the pack scoring offense at 5v5. Last season, our GF @ 5v5 was 143 GF (31st), median was 173.5 GF, and difference was -30.5 GF. We haven't improved in this area despite improved roster talent across the board.
Factor we lost 11 ES GF with Rico and 5 ES GF with Carrick no longer part of the team. That mean we have to figure out a way to produce 54 goals just to be a middle of the pack scoring offense at 5v5. Getting Zegras back to scoring form could help out a lot, he's scored 14 ES GF two years ago and 19 ES GF last season. Adding Cutter should also increase our 5v5 scoring output. The huge caveat is Cronin's scheme has stifled Zegras' offense significantly.
Maybe the additions of offensive defensemen (OFD) Zell and Luneau can produce more offense for the team at 5v5 play?
GF at 5v5 improvement rating to the median:
- Goals Against at 5v5
- Rank = 24th (from least given up)
- Ducks GA - Median = +9.5 (GA more than the median)
GA at 5v5 improvement rating to the median:
At 5v5 play, the Ducks just need a little more tweaking to becoming an average team. But we will be breaking in another rookie next year in RD Luneau. Anaheim needs to replace Lyubushkin's team leading blocks with 138 blocked shots and 2nd best D in hits with 112 hits. It's possible that most of Lyubushkin's blocks occurred while on the PK.
- PK efficiency
- League Best = 86.00% (LAK)
- Ducks GA - Median = -4.02%
PK eff improvement rating to the median:
- Goals Against on the PK
- PK GA = 64 (most given up in the league by 7 more GA on the PK)
- Rank = 32nd (from least given up)
- Ducks GA - Median = +23.5 (GA on PK more than the median)
Anaheim needs to significantly improve their PK unit. But it's also beyond the PK unit. Not only do the Ducks' PK give up the most goals, but they own the most PK opportunities in the league with 258 PK opps, 32 more opportunities than the next team! The Ducks are a very undisciplined team to take an exorbitant amount of penalties. Which is confusing because Cronin was brought in for his accountability. It feels there is not much accountability going on if the team leads the league in penalties/PK opportunities.
GA at PK improvement rating to the median:
Team discipline:
- PP efficiency
- League Best = 29.23% (TB)
- Ducks GA - Median = -2.26%
This is an odd one. Anaheim's PP is not a consistent product on ice. Sometimes there's great movement, but many times it's stagnate. Earlier in the season, it was dependent on how hot Frankie can get. There isn't a great scheme for the PP unit.
PP eff improvement rating to the median:
Conclusion
Anaheim's going to need a lot of improvements just to be on the edge of a playoff spot. One factor that can be improved without adding any roster spot is improving team discipline. The problem is there has not been improvement in this area throughout the season. If Cronin remains the head coach, then I do not know how he can reduce taking penalties?
The bright spot is the team defense at 5v5. This can be attributed to the improved roster talent on the blueline. There should be improvements from rookies Minty, Zell, and LaCombe going into next season. Although, we will be breaking in yet another rookie next season in Luneau. This is why I think next year is another development year than a year you want to be vying for the playoffs.
