The Anaheim Ducks hired Greg Cronin as head coach on June 5, 2023. With him, he was set to bring 36 years of coaching experience at the NCAA, AHL, and NHL (as an assistant coach) levels. This was his first crack at head coaching an NHL franchise. He was to establish a culture unforeseen in Anaheim for several seasons, as they were in the midst of their darkest stretch in franchise history and coming off their all-time worst season.
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His second season behind the Ducks bench is nearly in the books and the Ducks are 59-82-13 so far in his tenure and 32-32-8 in the 2024-25 season.
According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic and TSN, Cronin is under contract for one more season following 2024-25, and Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek intends to bring him back for 2025-26.
“The Anaheim Ducks have improved in Cronin’s second season, and he seems to have eased up a bit after being a bit of a taskmaster in Year 1, which grated on some players,” LeBrun reported. “All things being equal, I think Ducks GM Pat Verbeek is good with Cronin coming back next season.
The Ducks are 25th in the NHL in goals per game (2.72), 21st in goals against per game (3.13), 20th in shots on goal per game (27.7), and 32nd in shots against per game (32.1). On special teams, they boast the 31st-ranked power play (12.1%) and the 28th-ranked penalty kill (73.1%).
Their underlying numbers at 5v5 reflect even worse, as they rank 30th in terms of shot attempt share (45.76%), 19th in goals share (49.46%), and 30th in expected goals share (44.96%). All statistical indications identify the bulk of their success stemming from the crease, where they sport potentially the best tandem in the NHL between John Gibson and Lukas Dostal.
There have been strides taken when it comes to the on-ice product. Under the second year in their system, the players know what’s expected of them, have a better understanding of what they’re trying to accomplish on the ice, and provide a more detailed effort on a nightly basis. They aren’t nearly as leaky in the defensive zone as they had been in years past, though they do spend an inordinate amount of time in their end of the ice.
“I think coming into this year, they knew what the expectations were. It was a different mindset for the players to come into,” Verbeek said following the trade deadline. “We’ve tweaked a little bit, some of our system things, and they slowly got used to playing with each other, understanding how to play. If our special teams were better on both sides, this team would be in the playoffs. We’d be sitting in a playoff spot.
“I liken it to a golf game, where one day you’ve got the driving and the putting going, but your approach shots stink. That’s kind of how I see it right now with our group,” Verbeek continued. “We’ve got the five-on-five going and now we’ve got to get going in the special teams department. There are things that are constantly evolving. Sometimes the power play will be going, but our five-on-five won’t. It’s a constant battle, but I feel confident in the group that they’re grasping all the things they’re being asked to and we’re gaining traction.”
Indications are the front office, organization, and players are content and encouraged by where the team is at in their progression. There’s palpable enthusiasm around the club for where the team could be heading in the near future. The youngest and most talented players on the roster are beginning to produce, as their potential indicated they could and the “buy-in” feels tangible.