The Anaheim Geese face one other essential offseason because the group seems to be to take significant steps ahead in what has already been a prolonged rebuild. The membership has been out of the playoff image for six consecutive seasons however has amassed an intriguing assortment of prospects. Basic supervisor Pat Verbeek will probably be trying to find free-agent signings and commerce potentialities to complement his younger core forward of the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
The primary merchandise on the agenda would be the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, which is able to happen on June 28-29 from the Sphere in Las Vegas. The most recent version of Information & Rumors will study the various instructions the Geese may take with the No. 3 general choose. There are additionally some commerce rumors to debate, together with the potential of a take care of the Columbus Blue Jackets for Patrik Laine and the most recent hypothesis round Trevor Zegras. Moreover, the Geese teased a new-look emblem for the group’s upcoming rebrand and introduced their preseason schedule.
Geese Will Have Loads of Choices at No. 3 Total
By most accounts, the 2024 Draft is a reasonably wide-open subject. The Geese may go in a number of totally different instructions, which was mentioned by Corey Pronman of The Athletic. Pronman has the Geese deciding on left-handed blueliner Anton Silayev of the Kontinental Hockey League’s Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. “Anaheim is among the most attention-grabbing choices on this draft,” Pronman wrote. “If Chicago took somebody aside from [Artyom] Levshunov, I believe they make this choice much less aggravating for Anaheim, who can take the extremely gifted defenseman who performed in North America. The league thinks they wish to get greater and want protection. That turns us to Silayev. He’s large and nice. He’s additionally a KHL participant. He suits Pat Verbeek’s prototype completely, but when they don’t wish to go Russian, then you definately begin speaking about alternate options like Sam Dickinson or Carter Yakemchuk right here and the draft will get attention-grabbing” (from ‘NHL Mock Draft 2024: After Macklin Celebrini, making alternatives for all 225 picks,’ The Athletic, June 19, 2024).
Associated: Geese 2024 NHL Draft Targets: Anton Silayev
He additionally believes that the Geese may go down a very totally different route if the group trades Zegras for a defenseman previous to draft day. That might end in a shift to picking a ahead like Cayden Lindstrom, Ivan Demidov, or Beckett Sennecke. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see what the Geese resolve to do. The group’s selection of Leo Carlsson within the 2023 Draft turned some heads, and it seems as if one other shock might be in retailer for 2024.
Canadiens Shifting Focus Away From Zegras?
Arpon Basu of The Athletic stories that the Montreal Canadiens have performed their due diligence whereas checking in on Zegras and Martin Necas of the Carolina Hurricanes. Nonetheless, the acquisition price for each gamers is too excessive in the meanwhile (from ‘How the Canadiens match within the commerce market and the influence of a rising cap on negotiations,’ The Athletic, June 11, 2024). Basu doesn’t consider that the timing is true for the Canadiens to make a transfer for both participant. He additionally questions whether or not or not Zegras could be a very good match with the teaching workers and if the Canadiens ought to decide to a long-term, big-money contract with the 23-year-old ahead as soon as his three-year, $17.25 million deal expires following the 2025-26 season.
Basu is below the impression that the Canadiens will deal with groups trying to purchase what they’re prepared to commerce relatively than dealing away helpful property in what he argues could be lateral strikes. Nonetheless, that most likely doesn’t rule the Canadiens out as contenders for Zegras sooner or later. The Geese have the luxurious of being affected person with Zegras, who’s eligible for arbitration as a restricted free agent on the finish of his present contract.
Geese May Be within the Combine for Laine?
Sportsnet’s Sonny Sachdeva talked about the Geese as considered one of eight potential touchdown spots for Laine. The 26-year-old proper winger would add much-needed scoring upside. He’s additionally a high-volume shooter who may enhance the ability play. The Geese ranked thirtieth within the league in targets per sport (2.48) in 2023-24, and the group sits thirty second (2.50) in that class over the previous six seasons. Laine may present a spark for the top-six group, supplied he can keep wholesome. He was restricted to 56 video games in 2021-22, 55 contests in 2022-23, and appeared in solely 18 matches in 2023-24.
The Blue Jackets will most likely be prepared to retain a portion of his wage to assist facilitate a change of surroundings for Laine, however cap house wouldn’t be a difficulty for the Geese, and that would influence the asking worth. He nonetheless has two extra seasons remaining on his four-year, $34.8 million contract. Assuming the Geese aren’t on his 10-team no-trade listing, Laine might be an intriguing possibility for Verbeek if the value is true.
Geese Tease New Look and Announce Preseason Schedule
The Geese can have a brand new look in 2024-25, which is able to probably lean closely into the colour orange and have a distinct model of the previous Mighty Geese brand based mostly on the current teases proven by the group. The membership additionally utilized for an “Orange County” trademark on June 16, which is predicted for use for merchandise. The brand new jersey may be unveiled on the group’s Summer time Flock Celebration on June 30 or probably on the 2024 Draft.
The Geese will play six preseason contests in late September. All six video games will happen in California, together with two visits to SAP Middle in opposition to the San Jose Sharks. The Geese will face the Los Angeles Kings at Toyota Area in Ontario. The Geese can even host three video games at Honda Middle in opposition to the Sharks, Kings, and the Utah Hockey Membership.
