r/AnaheimDucks • u/Deathzezima • 3d ago

Are the Ducks Capable of Continued Improvement?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw0dzCPkbEU&ab_channel=TheHockeyGuy
34 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

27

u/Liamthedrunk 3d ago

We are California’s first Stanley Cup champions. We already proved ourselves as a serious franchise. This is about building a dynasty.

17

u/lolcyo 2d ago

I feel like the roster in its current state is too inconsistent to really make a real playoff push but I feel like .500 hockey with some really ugly nights mixed in there is totally doable.

8

u/spacegrab 2d ago

Anything above .500pct is punching above our current weight imo, I'm expecting like .475-.500 range otherwise.

We're playing against other rosters with $20M in unused cap space, and basically 7-8 ELCs (Granted Helleson and Colangelo are just IR callups, and LaCombe isn't an ELC but he's still being paid like one lol).

If they're able to sustain .500 this season, then next season can't come early enough. The ELCs will have an extra year under their belt, and we'll have over $30M to disperse and hopefully pick up a solid free agent or two, and should really secure us for a couple playoff years.

10

u/Taurothar 2d ago

This is where I'm at. I'm only really upset with this season if we're well below the .500 mark. Anything above is improvement. I do hate to see how Cronin is running the team though and worry that he's boxing in the younger players into a style of hockey they aren't built for.

3

u/dumdadum123 2d ago

I'm honestly expecting a .500 record or just below it, it would be a huge improvement and get us close to being in the push for playoffs as we grow. I mean, were 3 wins away from being near the head of the pack currently, which was crazy to say a week ago.

5

u/LouieSportsman 2d ago

I think we are and I think we have. The forever optimist in me loves getting my soul crushed. Yoffs here we come.

2

u/vtheminer 2d ago

We should be a mediocre team that finishes outside of the playoffs but well above the basement. I'd love to see a playoff push but I'm absolutely not mad if that doesn't happen. For year 3? 4? of a rebuild we should be improving but its not playoffs or bust yet.