Man, the luck we've had when Bargain Bob dished out long contracts to older/physical players... Souray, Fistric, Despres, Eaves, Kesler... Murray thinks he'll save in the long run with these earlier extensions or extra years but most have bitten us in the ass except for the Rakell contract.
If its not the GM, maybe we are cursed like the Angels having so many Tommy John surgery pitchers....
This all makes me want to go all-in for the youth route. Although not buy too many bad contracts like the Coyotes...
I think I understood Bob's process. When Bob took over between 2008-2009, Burkie left the club without any talent in the pipeline and cap strapped the organization. The 2009 NHL draft is when Bob started re-tooling the Ducks, while keeping them afloat. First rounders Holland failed and Palms priced himself out of Bob's long term plan, but we did grab Vats in the fourth round. The next draft, Etem and DSP didn't amount to much in the NHL, but D Fowler was an instant starter at 18 years of age. Finally, the 2011 draft came. That's where the draft took off for Bob, but we wouldn't know it for a few more years (F Rakell, G Gibson, C Karlsson, F Crammarosa, D Welinski and F Friberg), . In 2012, D Lindholm was the jewel that would supplant Fowler in a real hurry, but forwards Kerdiles or Roy didn't pan out. The 2013 class brought D Theodore, but 2nd round pick Sorensen couldn't hack it in NA. Forwards Ritchie and Kase are mainstays in the NHL for us for the 2014 class that also brought us Monty and Pettersson. 2015 still has us waiting on 1st rounder D Larsson to become a mainstay at the NHL, fifth rounder Terry might become a regular this coming season. Between Larsson and Terry are a bunch of forwards that may only be AHL players. Since the 2016 draft is when the Ducks' scouting staff started hitting on 1st and 2nd round forwards. Steel and Jones are first rounders in 2016, Comtois in the 2nd round of 2017, Lundestrom is a first round pick in 2018, and finally we get Zegras as well as Tracey in the first round of 2019.
Most of Bob's successes in the draft were defensemen to begin with. Finding forwards that panned out consistently have eluded Bob and his scouting staff. But those defensemen, though very talented, were also very raw. Bob would insert youth, but surrounded by veterans. It worked. In the past seven years, the Ducks have been playoff bound six out of the seven years, which included five consecutive Pacific division titles. Last year was the first year the Ducks didn't make the playoffs. Bob has been buying time with veterans until his prospects were more mature and showed they were NHL competent. There's a long list of drafted forward failures and only recently did the Ducks start hitting on them like they do defensemen and goalies.
The forward youth contingent is here, with more coming. The defense netted a plethora of talent, but only three have remained. Bob is still waiting on Larsson and recently acquired Guhle, as his defensive prospects that should be vying for an NHL roster spot today. Nothing is standing out for defensemen in the pipeline aside from "hoping" a Mahura or Benoit can slowly be something in two to three years. LaCombe and Thrun are four years away. But Bob did secure his top-3 defensemen. As of right now, we don't have an outright 1C or 2C from our prospects. C Steel should make the NHL squad, but lots of fans are talking about "protecting him". Steel will be a 3C with optimism for more.
Bob has been buying time with veterans. Lindholm (25 years old), Manson (27 yrs), and Fowler (27 yrs) are our grizzled veterans on the blue line. Fowler is going into his 10th season with the Ducks. Lindholm is into his 7th season. Manson is going into his 6th season. So he's buying time with veterans vying for #4-6 with Larsson and Guhle potentially climbing the charts.
Eaves being out didn't change the roster, but both Kesler and Perry aren't playing for the Ducks this season. That's two additional spots for the youth. Bob sees the youth need spots today, which is why he bought out Perry.
GM Bob has a long game. If all his FA/trade/ re-signing acquisitions were all healthy, then we might have a different tune today. Injuries occur. Propsects don't pan out. Yet, we've been a staple in the playoff community six out of the seven years. Last year revealed that mass injuries exposed how our youth are still a season or two away. Remember, a majority of the Ducks' first round selections have been in the 20's and higher. We didn't own a first round pick in 2017, but Comtois is shining bright like one. I really don't think Bob gets enough credit b/c people only want to see big splashes. Bob's 2011 draft class all have a played a game in the NHL. His 2014 class looks good as four out of five are NHL's, with D Berkovitz in the NCAA for Army (which means he may not play for the Ducks b/c the military often makes you do your 4-year work commitment after graduating).
Bob won't go all in on the youth. He wants that mix of veterans and youth - always has. That's how the Ducks have remained competitive. Coming into this season, the Ducks do have high level talent in the AHL should injuries arise. There's a possibility that LW Comtois, LW Jones, C Lundestrom, and C/F Sherwood all start the year in San Diego. With three older defensemen (Holzer, MDZ, and Hakanpaa) at the NHL level already, Larsson and Guhle need to beat them to earn a spot.
The team has talent. Unfortunately, under RC, it was highly suppressed. Also unfortunately, under Bruce, we like losing the exact same way in the playoffs... up 3-2 with home ice advantage only to be booted out losing at home. Maybe this year will be different with Dallas as HC? It also helps that Bob signed Sutter to be an advisor to Dallas. Sutter won a couple of Cups coaching the Kings.