perry_mvp

I don't think Zegras should be paid less if he is moved to wing. Kane and Toews had the same AAV while in Chicago. So if the Ducks go with Carlsson-McTavish-Gaucher down the middle that's fine. That's what I'm expecting. So if you're talking trade then are you dangling Zegras?

That tweet or whatever you call it just said $3-4M AAV. The other speculation was 3 years. Verbeek and Solomon aren't going to be fired even if they should be. I don't see Zegras as a generational talent but I think that term in general is over used anyway. Everyone on the team needs to improve. Four years of Eakins hockey probably set them back in proper development. My point has never been about numbers, talent or leadership. It's been about the culture. I did miss something? When did I ever say the Ducks are a cup contender? I've been saying the Ducks have very little young forward talent. But since you brought it up, if Carlsson doesn't stick as the #1C who do you think is sliding into that spot?

That's fine to disagree but I'm not talking about captaincy or leadership. McTavish is going to see what's happening to Terry and Zegras. They are older than him. Like his older brothers. He's also going to see what's happening with Drysdale. Then look around the league. Is there any other team that's treating their young skilled highly valued players like this? Zegras is part of the future but it feels like Verbeek got HIS #1 C with Carlsson and now it's f off Zegras. That isn't going to sit well with the young players.

What's next? Verbeek is telling Drysdale that he has to pay the Ducks to let him play? Now you're thinking my way. I don't think its a joke though.

That's your perspective as a fan and I think you completely missed the point. Zegras seemed to look up to Terry when he first came in. I don't think it's so far fetched to think McTavish looks up to both of them. They are all buddies. Zegras and Drysdale came in together. If some of these kids don't think they are valued because Verbeek could just out and sign old farts like Killorn and Gudas they could think maybe I should be somewhere else where I am valued.

Yeah but say if Zegras wants out of Anaheim then it's not like it's a US player wanting out of Canada. My concern with the situation is that even younger players like McTavish might be thinking he might not be valued because Zegras is kinda like the man. The mentality of the younger generation might be something Solomon or Verbeek didn't anticipate because they are kind of old school.

Since Calgary has been referenced in some posts here I think it's fair to look what's happened there. Tkachuck wanted out. Gaudreau was reportedly being offered more money by Calgary than Columbus but left anyway. Lindholm has supposedly said that he won't re-sign and Hanifin is very open to a trade. Sutter is now gone and so is Treliving. So it's a curious question to ask why would Hanifin and Lindholm want out. Calgary lost two of their biggest names and could lose two more. Why is Calgary having these problems? Now here in Anaheim, we have a new coach and GM. Two of our young players are not signed yet. Who has more to lose? I can't stop thinking of the Calgary situation and think if we lose Zegras and Drysdale, who's next? Maybe their situation sours McTavish who will be an RFA in two years. Maybe it sours Carlsson? Maybe Terry asks for a trade. We haven't even gotten to our young defensemen yet. I think there is a lot to lose and Anaheim can't afford to play games and think "well if we trade these kids we might get something better".

If the worry is "what do Zegras and Drysdale want to be paid" then how in the world would you pay Fantilli and Jiricek?

I mean, Zegras isn't the billionaire holding onto his money here. The Ducks haven't drafted any wing talent in years and the guy who Verbeek says will most likely be moved to wing is your current #1C. Why would that devalue Zegras? It should make him even more valuable.

Hopefully Cronin and his coaches will not employ such a ridiculously stupid defensive scheme as the Eakins regime. Were any of the defensemen really really "good" under Eakins? They looked liked the Keystone Cops.

The Wild do not have $16M in cap space like Anaheim does so maybe that's why Addison signed what he signed. Also he has competition with Brock Faber. Any competition Drysdale has on the right side is still a year or two away. I mean sure Gudas is signed for three years but Drysdale just turned 21 and he is the future (hopefully).

I don't think Addison is as established with the Wild as Drysdale is with the Ducks. Addison's AAV is the same in the minors as it is with the big club. I think that minor league money is what he was fighting for.

The Drysdale camp could be waiting to see what Pinto gets because he is also a 10.2c with zero leverage.

Who traded for Kulikov and signed Beaulieu because he didn't want to re-sign Lindholm? Who paid Kluckberg $6M to look like total garbage? Who traded a veteran forward then said the team needed veteran leadership and signed a new guy to the same AAV as the team he was traded to paid him? Who traded the 4th round pick he got in the Kluckberg trade to trade for another defenseman because he can't seem to get his young defenseman signed? And who kept one of the worst coaches in the NHL, put together the worst defense and said it was a .500 team?

I want to be excited about the up coming season but there's just been too much let down from past seasons. Cronin is a 60 year old rookie NHL HC. Our GM reminds me of the Brick Tamland character from the Anchorman (Ron Burgundy) movies. The defense is a turnstile. So no, I'm not feeling excitement.

Zegras only has two full seasons under his belt. His first full season he had Milano and Rakell, right? Second season he had Terry and Henrique? Don't you think that Terry might have benefitted more with captain Getzlaf when it came to learning defense? Plus Terry took a nosedive in goals last season and a pretty long (3 week stretch was it?) without a single goal. Also, why a bridge deal? Unless that's what Zegras is pushing for. If Verbeek is pushing for anything less than 7-8 years then he's a buffoon. All but one of Zegras's comparables are on 7-8 year deals. The one is Elias Pettersson. It's unsure if he wants to stay with Vancouver. If Zegras wants a bridge deal then to me it indicates that he's not believing in what Verbeek is doing or he feels like he's being pushed out.

I think the chances of Nylander staying in Toronto are slim to none. He allegedly wants between $10-11M on his next contract. Could he take less, sure but will he? The problem with Anaheim is a lack of top end forward talent. Whether it's young or even veteran. It's not going to do either side (the Ducks or Zegras) any good for him not to be signed by the start of training camp. Same with Drysdale. Since we can't get any of the hard working Anaheim media to maybe ask Verbeek some questions, we are kind of left to speculate and/or dissect any source whether it's based in fantasy or reality. I just don't think the optics are good in this situation and they will be bad if he isn't signed by the start of the season.

Nesterenko needs more ice time and he probably will not get it in the NHL. In the AHL he could be getting 18-20 minutes a night. NHL maybe 8-10 minutes. There isn't any rush with either of them.

Nesterenko isn't ready. It's like how Regenda was last year. Kassian is a PTO. I think Leason sticks as #13 but..... we have to see what happens with Zegras first. If he's unsigned by the start of the season then... I don't know. Kassian? I think the most positive aspect of this rookie camp is McIlvane. He got them to buy into something and it worked even if they lost a game. I think the fans have more to look forward to with the defensive prospects. Forwards, not so much. A bunch of hard working forwards and with the exception of Carlsson, no high end talent.

He can't be worse than Benoit,

I would rather take Kubalik for one season. However, there have been trade rumors involving Pinto going to Philly. I don't want Joseph for 3 years. I would rather put some of that money into Drysdale.

Not invisible from the refs though.

Etem is a bigger homer than Hazy.

Suchanek is going to be signed by someone. Hopefully a Gulls contract. Alexander needs better coaching.

Final game of the rookie tournament is at 12:30pm today vs LA.