Keeping up with the Anaheim Ducks

Welcome to Keeping Up With The NHL™, a new EP Rinkside series in desperate pursuit of a catchier title. Every other week, I will – you guessed it – catch up with a different NHL team. While the series is still fresh and the league is my Oyster, I will decide which team to Keep Up With by asking myself a simple question: “For better or for worse, what team am I most curious about right now?”

Each installment will come bearing a surprise interview with someone close to the team: a coach, a player, a mascot, a particularly online parent. You get the picture.

Right now, I’m obsessed with the Anaheim Ducks. Is their fun, albeit chaotic, start to the season sustainable? Does that even really matter for a team with several years allowance to grow?

And what is it about tough-but-brilliant first-time NHL head coach Greg Cronin, who has found himself in and around successful rebuilds for his 36 years coaching in various leagues and roles?

Lucky for us, Cronin took 30 minutes out of his day Wednesday to help us Keep Up With The Anaheim Ducks. Below are the highlights of our conversation, edited for clarity and brevity.