![[original_title]](https://rawnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/17be6ca74acd27b34d6569ef6068be5e-1024x683.jpeg)
On June 30, Pat Verbeek claimed he needed so as to add vital items to his roster when free company opened on July 1, most notably a top-six right-shot winger and a top-four right-shot defenseman.
The large swings had been taken, however contact was elusive. The Geese reportedly supplied Steven Stamkos (4 years, $8 million AAV) and Jonathan Marchessault (5 years, $5.5 million) bigger contracts when it comes to each {dollars} and size than what they finally signed for with the Nashville Predators.
The largest right-shot names on the defenseman market all signed sizable contracts with groups nearer to rivalry than the Geese on July 1 as properly. Brett Pesce signed a six-year, $5.5 million AAV contract with the New Jersey Devils. Matt Roy signed a six-year, $5.75 million AAV contract with the Washington Capitals. Brandon Montour signed a seven-year, $7 million AAV contract with the Seattle Kraken.
Verbeek and the Geese pivoted on July 2, buying and selling for two-time Stanley Cup champion defenseman Brian Dumoulin, who has one 12 months remaining on his two-year contract with an AAV of $3.15 million.
Although Dumoulin is not a right-shot, the stylistic slot in Anaheim, each from a system and roster perspective, is plain.
“I am him being a extremely good mentor to our younger guys,” Verbeek acknowledged at coaching camp on Friday. “We will form of plop him with some our offensive defensemen, and he’ll be form of the regular stay-at-home man. I hear nothing however nice issues about his character, the particular person he’s, and I believe he will be superior for our younger guys.”
Although sporting a 6-foot-4, 214-pound body, Dumoulin is something however motionless on the blueline. He makes use of his anticipation, explosion, and attain to pinch and eradicate potential breakouts. He shows efficient gaps in opposition to the frenzy and kills performs alongside the wall recurrently and effectively.
Thus far in camp, Dumoulin has been paired with Olen Zellweger, whose 26 video games in 2023-24 barely preserve him from rookie eligibility in 2024-25. Zellweger performed the vast majority of his NHL minutes in his rookie season alongside Cam Fowler.
Dumoulin represents a extra conventional match for a defender like Zellweger, who likes to push the tempo, cowl ample quantities of ice, and contain himself offensively.
“He is such a dynamic skater and may make a play out of nothing,” Dumoulin stated of taking part in with Zellweger. “He is a enjoyable participant to observe, and it has been good simply to speak with him and speak with him and browse, taking part in with him, what sort of companion he’s.”
Dumoulin to Bring Consistency, Leadership, and Stability to Ducks Blueline
“He is taking part in his off-side, so I simply needed to let him know that if he ever will get caught on the left, that I am wonderful on the precise,” Dumoulin continued. “It is simply fixed communication to really feel one another out. If I will go D-to-D with him, whether or not he likes it on his forehand or on his backhand. It is simply these little sport conditions that after you get into the sport, you look good as a result of it comes simple.”
Dumoulin expresses the significance of communication and connecting with the people within the locker room as individuals as a lot as gamers, an analogous sentiment head coach Greg Cronin enormously values.
“He simply demonstrates professionalism once you speak to him,” Cronin stated of Dumoulin on Thursday. “Someone like him who’s gained two (Stanley) Cups and is so excited to contribute right here, it is very nice to listen to.”
Although not a right-shot, Dumoulin checks each different field the Geese worth, need, and had been missing on their blueline as they goal to play extra aggressive hockey for an extended time frame in 2024-25.
Pat Verbeek, Greg Cronin, Ducks Players Offer Thoughts on Radko Gudas Captaincy
Anaheim Ducks Name Radko Gudas the Ninth Captain in Franchise History
