“Big Summer” Ahead For Anaheim

Photo: NHL

By Michael Walters

On the latest 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman discussed the firing of Head Coach Greg Gronin and stated that it’s going to be a “big summer for Anaheim”.

Kyle Bukauskas started the Anaheim segment(1:11:54 mark) mentioning how Cronin was fired and that General Manager Pat Verbeek made it known that his expectation is to make the playoffs next season. Friedman responded, “This is going to be a big summer for Anaheim. And I think that’s(making playoffs) factored… something factored absolutely into his(Verbeek’s) decision(to fire Cronin).”

Friedman continued, “There are a couple of things here. I did think that Verbeek was going to wait to talk to his players before he made any decision. And number two, I do believe that a lot of Verbeek’s thought process into this was if we are going to make the playoffs next year, and as you said the expectation is to do it, we’ll we get it done under this head coach or do I need to do elsewhere?”

About interest in the coaching position, “The number one thing I want to say to about this job is. Of all the jobs that are going to be open, the sneaky one in terms of interest, I think is going to be this one Kyle. I think there are a lot of coaches out there that are going to look at the Ducks and say that is a team on the upswing. They like their talent, they like their young players they have there, they got a lot of them. And the thing too there is Kyle, they have a lot of cap room to do things and if they can’t necessarily do it in free agency, which is not giving up anything to get something expect for a paycheck. They have the flexibility with their young players, that if they want to make trades they are going to have pieces that people are going to want to make those moves.”

Friedman added, “Now, I will say this, the Ducks historically have not been the biggest pay team for coaches. So I think there is kind of a knowledge there you’re not going to be a five million man if you are going to coach the Anaheim Ducks. But on a pure, roster future setup list, Anaheim is going to be very high. I think there is going to be a lot of interest in this job.”

Regarding the player interviews, “The last thing I want to say on this, we talked on the pod on Saturday morning that Verbeek was going to listen to his players. He did, but I think Verbeek kind of wants people to know that this wasn’t a player revolt or a player decision. I think he listened to their input as he should, but Pat Verbeek, ultimately, I believe made this choice because he felt that he needed something a little different to get to the playoffs next year. I know Cronin has taken a lot of heat about what some of his players feel. I don’t believe at the end of the day this was the… Verbeek made the change because he was like my players demand this. I don’t think Verbeek is that kind of a guy. I think is going to make the call as he sees it. He manages liked he played, the little ball of hate, and I think he felt that this was the decision that had to be made.”

Kyle Bukauskas added, “Ten more wins right? That’s what he(Verbeek) said. We are trying to find somebody that can get us…that was the difference for us this past year why we did not get to the playoffs. And trying to find the right mix, the right person in charge that can bridge that gap. And of course we will see what happens there too in the summer with Verbeek and how they try to bolster their lineup there.”

One final note, Friedman thinks Cronin could get a job in the AHL somewhere if wants to coach again.

We discussed the firing of Greg Cronin on our latest show and took a look back at this season.

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April 21st, 2025