HockeyIzCool

If seeing the Ducks finish with 65 points rather than 60 points is going to make either you or the players feel even the slightest bit better about this season, or the immediate future, then you’re clearly a better fan than I am. 2022-‘23 was a complete failure and disaster. The only good that can possibly come out of it, imo at this point, is as high a pick as possible. I have extremely low confidence that the Ducks are gonna do anything of consequence during the off season, given their recent track record. But I guess we can look back a year from now, and see whether I was completely off base.

Again, I find the argument that “look on the bright side, you can still come out with a great player later, so don’t worry about not picking in the top 3” to be ridiculous. If it were true, then nobody would care about trading up to get a higher pick. I’ve seen videos of Bedard in action, and I’ll be very surprised if he’s not being talked about as a superstar for years and years to come. And while there will always be exceptions, statistically the players drafted in the top 3, tend to be legit for the rest of their careers. The chance of success is clearly better when you have more players to choose from, rather than looking for that Diamond in the rough. Unless perhaps you think Verbeek is the guy to trust on finding that diamond as opposed to picking as early as possible. I don’t.

Yeah, I'm still trying to be optimistic in thinking that the worst team will end up with 60 points +/- 1. Could be a tie between 2 or even 3 teams. If Ducks win 3 of their remaining 8, that takes them out. They have to get at least 1 less win down the stretch, than the other 3 teams they're competing with. We'd be in a better position if there was at least a game between 2 of those other teams, since that guarantees one of them getting 2 points. Of course, despite those who were so, so happy that we beat Columbus recently, think of how much better things would look right now had we lost that game. But hey, we'll be able to remember that game fondly for months and months, right?

What I want to know, is which of the 4 teams is going to be lucky enough to lose their last 8, or 9 (Columbus), games, in order to guarantee themselves a Top 3 pick, and the best odds at landing Bedard?

How is it too late? 2 points separate #1 from #4, with 8 games remaining. And Ducks "lose" tiebreaker at the moment with fewest regulation wins.

All 4 teams in action on Thursday. Ducks really can't afford to win more than 2 games. 2-1-5 is the record which would give them 61 points, and I think a good chance at that guaranteed Top 3 pick. That game at home against L.A. scares me. Rivalry, and Kings may rest many of their stars if the game means nothing to them.

1. Chicago - 54 Points - 8 Games Remaining - Max Possible 70 (24 Regulation Wins) 2. San Jose - 55 Points - 8 Games Remaining - Max Possible 71 (23 Regulation Wins) 3. Columbus - 53 Points - 9 Games Remaining - Max Possible 71 (24 Regulation Wins) 4. Anaheim - 56 Points - 8 Games Remaining - Max Possible 72 (21 Regulation Wins) Only San Jose won tonight, but that tightened things a bit. 2 point separation between the teams for current points and maximum # of points each can get.

I think it will be slightly higher. 60 or 61 at least. If Ducks can go 2-1-5 in their remaining games, they'll have a legitimate chance. Especially since they're in good shape in terms of "losing" the tiebreaker.

I somehow f’d up with Chicago. Only 9 remaining. Thanks DTS.

It’s literally a 3 point separation. That’s nothing. If this were a race to see who gets the last playoff spot, it would be anybody’s ballgame. Tonight is big since all the teams have 1-2 games in hand against us. Let’s hope at least 1 of them manages a victory, or at least an OT point.

1. San Jose - 53 Points - 9 Games Remaining - Max Possible 71 2. Anaheim - 56 Points - 8 Games Remaining - Max Possible 72 3. Columbus - 53 Points - 10 Games Remaining - Max Possible 73 4. Chicago - 54 Points - 10 Games Remaining - Max Possible 74 No remaining games between any of these teams. Big night on Tuesday. San Jose, Columbus & Chicago all in action.

So far, doesn't look like you'll have to worry about that.

We're Soooooo close to being guaranteed a Top 3 pick in a draft, where there is a great deal of buzz about the quality of the players expected to go 1, 2 & 3. I want what's best for the team, and guess I can't really understand why others still think that achieving mediocrity by getting a few more points, missing the Playoffs by a mile anyways, and ending up with a mid round pick, is the best outcome. Do you know what team's fans are going to be excited this off season? The fans of the one that lands Bedard. I realize that's a longshot, and no guarantee even to the team who finishes with the worst record, but I'd still be quite happy with Pick #2 or #3. And the team with the worst record has best odds for Bedard, and, is Guaranteed of picking no worse than 3rd. Like it or not, our Stanley Cup team is now 16 years in the past. This season went into the past in December. The upcoming Draft is essentially our imminent future, but will likely be relevant to our future for years to come, depending upon the player we get access to signing.

I'll have some of what you're smoking please.

I'm not sure you could call Gibson's contract an "albatross." At least he brings it on most nights, and is an above average goalie. Perhaps not worth quite what he's getting paid, but he's not a ripoff. He's made the All Star Game, and has had some seasons where he's played very well, hence the high contract. Fowler is at least an average quality Defenseman. Again, perhaps not at the level of his contract, but also not severely overpaid, since he mostly gets the job done. And he's been with the Ducks his whole career, so loyalty counts for something. He's been fine when he's had decent players to line up with.

No mention of Getzlaf's # Retirement I assume? A question I've been curious about for a long time. And reading now about Scotty's involvement with players, I'm even more curious. Has Scotty ever had ambitions about being a Coach? Of all the great former Ducks players, I've always thought he had the type of mind and feel for the game, especially defensively, that he would make a good coach someday. I think if that came to pass, it would really excite the fan base. I'd certainly see who is out there and available, but if he would take the job, I'd have him high on my list. The guy's a Hall Of Famer, and he's smart. With Getzlaf gone, the Ducks don't really have someone special the players can look up to. Fowler? Henrique? I don't think so. They'd look up to a guy who has won 4 Stanley Cups.

Discounts increasing 10% Not mentioned, prices are going up 15%.

I still believe the league wants and will make sure the #1 pick goes to Chicago. The Blackhawks will make it look that much more legitimate, if they finish with the worst record.

Players supposedly love playing for Eakins though.

Bertuzzi is a douche. He’s the Kyrie Irving douche of the NHL.

ABC 7 did it a 2nd time for good measure. Quick pictured next to a Blues logo. Columbus, St Louis, what's the difference?

The people who run the local TV sports departments are Idiots. Just now, ABC 7 did a story about Jonathan Quick getting traded to Columbus. They showed the St Louis Blues logo during the story.

Sports are amazing. Quick was very much responsible for the Kings winning 2 Stanley Cups. At least the first one, they never could have won without him. And they just trade him under cover of night, as an afterthought. On the news last night, they talked all about the game, and then at the very end, they gave a brief mention of the trade. At least they made mention that he was a part of 2 Cup teams. I suppose some of the lack of coverage has to do with the fact Hockey is like the 5th most followed sport in So Cal. Still, Quick probably deserved better.

Giguere is arguably the greatest goalie we ever had. He got us to the Cup Finals twice, and helped win us the Cup.

The Ducks are going to be sellers at the TDL. Only problem is, they have nothing to sell that anybody really wants. They got rid of all the desirable players last year. Perhaps they could trade Gibson or Fowler and retain part of their future salary, a la Corey Perry.