HockeyIzCool

San Jose having the worst pick possible is good for us, since we're in the same division. Columbus picking high is good for us for the same reason, since they're in a different conference, and we only play them twice a season.

Tomorrow Chicago & San Jose fans will be Columbus fans.

Ducks coach Dallas Eakins hoping to return to finish the job Coach's future is uncertain with the Ducks in second-to-last place in the NHL before the season ends Thursday IRVINE — In the end, Ducks coach Dallas Eakins simply wants to finish the job that has been started in Anaheim. Eakins will coach his 291st game with the organization against the visiting Kings on Thursday in the regular-season finale for both teams. With the final chapter of this season about to close for the Ducks (23-46-12), there are questions looming about the future of players and coaches on expiring contracts, including Eakins himself. Just when they will be answered is a decision for general manager Pat Verbeek, who is wrapping up his first full season with the Ducks. “It’s as simple as that for me,” the fourth-year Ducks coach said. “I’ve got my fingers crossed, I hope there’s a process to it. We’ll see where it goes. That’s just pro sports.” Equally unclear is Verbeek’s timeline. He’s under no obligation to instantly make his call. “That’s Pat’s decision,” Eakins said. “Respect the hell out of him. I think he’ll make the decision that he thinks is right for our organization at this time. I’m certainly going to respect that one way or the other because I only want the best for here.” Eakins was talking about a tumultuous 2022-23 season for the Ducks, which has them in contention for last place overall heading into the finale. In an interview in the dressing room at Great Park Ice after the Ducks’ final practice of the season Wednesday, Eakins touched on the future. “For me, personally, I have zero interest in going to somewhere where it’s rainbows and butterflies. That kind of ‘walk in and win right away’ mentality,” Eakins said. “There’s a part of me that enjoys going through the mud part of it, because the payoff down the road will be an incredible experience, to watch these young men develop and watch a team develop and do something far different that it has been this year.” After three losing seasons under Eakins, the Ducks are sitting in second-to-last place in the NHL, one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets. They started the season slowly – failing to win in regulation until Game 20 – and are finishing in roughly the same manner, having not won in their last 12 games. There is a potential pot of gold at the end of the rainbow this year, in the person of Regina Pats center Connor Bedard, the consensus No. 1 draft pick who is widely considered to be a franchise-changing talent. By virtue of their poor season, the Ducks are one of a handful of teams to have a legitimate chance at getting Bedard. “I’ve said it before. I’m inspired by the ownership,” Eakins said. “I understand Pat’s plan and the patience and the work ethic that it’s going to take to get it there. When my coaching days are over here – and I hope they are not – I want to be a Duck forever.” If coaching isn’t in his immediate future, Eakins would welcome a chance to stay in the organization in a different capacity, “I want to go do something else here,” he said. “I just think this is an incredible organization that is well led. When you find a place that is inspiring to work, I don’t think you should be trying to go look somewhere else to do whatever you’re going to do.”

The Ducks would only be spoilers if Seattle wins. Otherwise, it's meaningless.

I said that wrong. Ducks can't get 1 point unless Chicago gets to OT.

Ducks can't get 1 point unless Chicago loses.

Thank you for all the scenarios. For this one, Ducks would have to Lose Before OT.

San Jose lost tonight, and could still finish with the 2nd worst record. The only way that could happen, is if the Ducks finish with the worst record.

Pittsburgh already lost to the 2nd worst team in the league a couple of days ago. Is it asking too much for them to now lose to the current worst team in the league?

Tomorrow's Columbus game will be over while the Ducks are in warmups. Chicago's will finishing up the 2nd period when the Ducks game is just starting. Putting the worst record in Columbus' hands going into Friday seems quite unwise.

One thing is for sure, if we end up with Bedard, Zegras, McTavish & Drysdale, we're going to be a team that other players are going to want to play for. Look what having a next level player has done for clubs like Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay & Edmonton. There would be a shift in the Pacific Division balance of power, and the team up the freeway would be fearful of us for the first time in many, many years. '

It just seems like they are collecting more points than usual, but in reality, they've all spent the entire season below .400. Nothing has really changed, and the Ducks have lost 12 in a row now. That doesn't necessarily mean we're tanking, it just means we're a bad team.

I've given up trying to predict what will happen from game to game. Anything is possible in this league. You would think that Pittsburgh, with all they had on the line, would have come out tonight and smoked Chicago, the 2nd worst team in the league. Instead they lost 5-2. The Kings have owned us this season, and they're heading to the Playoffs next week, while we're reserving golf tee times. So you would think we're in good shape for a loss. Aside from the obvious rivalry factor, you never know what will happen. Gibson could start, and be fired up after missing several games. All things considered, we're in a pretty good position. And all it took was 12 consecutive losses to get here. You couldn't have scripted it much better.

Good lord, if you had told me that the day after the Ducks season ends, I'd possibly be watching the scoreboard of a Columbus Blue Jackets game, I'd have said you were crazy.

Islanders don't actually have to win, they just need to get to OT, and they clinch. I'll go right back to hating the L.A. scum next week when it really matters to them.

Regulation Loss against L.A. on Thursday, and 1 point by Columbus in their final 2 games, and we get 25% odds at Bedard. If not for that game we won against Columbus a couple of weeks back, we'd really be sitting pretty right now.

We don't have to worry about San Jose anymore. If we lose in Regulation on Thursday, we're guaranteed no worse than 2nd.

For the Penguins to make the Playoffs, the Islanders have to lose their final game in Regulation AND Pittsburgh has to win their final game.

Chicago might have shot themselves in the foot, while also killing any chance Pittsburgh had of making the playoffs.

Columbus - 57 Points - 2 Games Remaining Chicago - 58 Points - 1 Game Remaining Anaheim - 58 Points - 2 Games Remaining San Jose - 60 Points - 2 Games Remaining

Columbus loses.

Columbus to OT. 57 Points.

Columbus tied it up. Can they hold on for another 13 minutes, and get at least a point? Chicago with the 1-0 lead after 2 periods.

If Columbus finishes last, and they actually get Bedard, I'll believe a lot more in the legitimacy of the lottery. I don't know how popular hockey is in Columbus, but I can't imagine the league would be happy with the next superstar spending a decade or more in a market like Columbus. My guess has always been for him to land in Chicago, a city where they could market the s&*t out of him, and sell tons of merch.

The magic # is gonna be 56 points, isn't it?