Speculation: 2022-23 Roster Thread

[FiveHoleTickler]

So PIT needs to move our a Dman. I know we should be aiming for a RD, but what about trying to bring Pettersson back?

We already have a younger and potentially better option in Pettersson. We need someone who is more physical.

 

[Ducks DVM]

Opening night featured Zegras-Getzlaf-Lundestrom-Groulx down the middle, obviously different when you swap a second line center for a fourth but Lundestrom is on his third contract and Zegras isn't a rookie, if they feel McTavish is ready then there's no reason not to.

The Sens currently are also running three centers basically the exact same age as the Ducks' group.

McTavish looked overmatched as a wing last year. Zegras didn’t start at center his rookie year, there’s not a lot of reason to expect Eakins will feel differently about McTavish, and Verbeek has been pretty clear that he thinks prospects are to be developed properly and not rushed. I agree with you in principle, but I think th ances of them feeling the specific players in question are ready is miniscule.

 

[FiveHoleTickler]

McTavish looked overmatched as a wing last year. Zegras didn’t start at center his rookie year, there’s not a lot of reason to expect Eakins will feel differently about McTavish, and Verbeek has b pretty clear that he thinks PPPE TS are o be sloped properly and not rushed. I agree with you in principle, but I think th ances of them feeling the specific players in question are ready is miniscule.

 

[wraparound]

Eakins has a short leash.. mark my words

not the hottest of takes but go off!

 

[Ducks DVM]

Cat ran on the keyboard when I walked away lol

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

No NHL team is running 3 under 22 year olds at center to start the season.

While I agree…. Henrique and strome are both there to help out with zegras/mctavish

If mctavish is struggling you swap him to wing and Henrique down middle

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

McTavish looked overmatched as a wing last year. Zegras didn’t start at center his rookie year, there’s not a lot of reason to expect Eakins will feel differently about McTavish, and Verbeek has been pretty clear that he thinks prospects are to be developed properly and not rushed. I agree with you in principle, but I think th ances of them feeling the specific players in question are ready is miniscule.

I don't doubt it but they're not the same guy, easing Zegras in the way they did was somewhat obvious, just given his body type and how he hadn't played a lot of center in his draft year or at either World Juniors, and not only that it was possible; they can't run the same plan with McTavish. Verbeek's quote really wasn't about this and even then I just don't doubt they feel he's ready to be an NHL centerman. He doesn't really come with the question marks there that Zegras did.

Also worth noting that Zegras' NHL stint at the wing was 17 games and McTavish has 9, not really far off. I dunno, I don't know what they're gonna do but I don't think they're going to willingly convert their top prospect away from a more important position. And more importantly I don't think Zegras and Lundestrom are going to factor into that decision at all.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

No NHL team is running 3 under 22 year olds at center to start the season.

It sounds worse when framed like this, but Lundy

A) Turns 23 a month into the season

B) Will be on his third contract (second as full time NHLer)

C) Has proven to be a dependable NHL center, requires no sheltering and should be able to bare a fair amount of defensive responsibility.

If we are talking about having too many young/unproven centers in one lineup, that's a conversation about Zegras/McTavish and has nothing to do with Lundy - he's a young veteran now. I'd put him and Silf out against the toughest of competition (preferably with a dependable LW).

Zegras has had his full season and then some to get his feet under him as a center, and now he'll be expected to start figuring it out more at the defensive end. The only rookie in the equation is McTavish - who is lauded for being mature beyond his years as a center, and may very well prove to almost as far along as Z in terms of faceoffs and the defensive side.

Should also point out that I believe Ottawa did run with Stutzle/Norris/Pinto (19/22/20) down the middle for a short time until the latter got injured. Looking like this will be the group they go with again.

 

[bsu]

It sounds worse when framed like this, but Lundy

A) Turns 23 a month into the season

B) Will be on his third contract (second as full time NHLer)

C) Has proven to be a dependable NHL center, requires no sheltering and should be able to bare a fair amount of defensive responsibility.

If we are talking about having too many young/unproven centers in one lineup, that's a conversation about Zegras/McTavish and has nothing to do with Lundy - he's a young veteran now. I'd put him and Silf out against the toughest of competition (preferably with a dependable LW).

Zegras has had his full season and then some to get his feet under him as a center, and now he'll be expected to start figuring it out more at the defensive end. The only rookie in the equation is McTavish - who is lauded for being mature beyond his years as a center, and may very well prove to almost as far along as Z in terms of faceoffs and the defensive side.

McTavish is overrated defensively and underrated offensively IMO.

 

[Duck Off]

i might try something like

Vatrano zegras strome
Henrique mctavish terry
Comtois Lundy silf
Jones carrick grant

I think we could see 1 of Henrique or comtois moved tho. Give comtois a shot in top 6 and if he shows he can be a useful player then go from there and lucic brought in.





Defense I’m Optimistic about

I think drysdale will be much improved, I think Vaaks will be healthier, we def need to add a little size tho

I like this and almost did same lineup but isn’t Vatrano a RW?

 

[lwvs84]

I like this and almost did same lineup but isn’t Vatrano a RW?

I think he's comfortable and plays both sides

 

[FiveHoleTickler]

I like this and almost did same lineup but isn’t Vatrano a RW?

He can play either side, apparently. He shoots left FWIW

 

[Duck Off]

I think he's comfortable and plays both sides

Ah didn’t know. In that case, that’s exactly the forward lineup I’d do

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Ah didn’t know. In that case, that’s exactly the forward lineup I’d do

I think he played rw mostly but he’s a lefty so I imagine it wouldn’t be too hard of a swap

 

[Ducks DVM]

I don't doubt it but they're not the s e guy, easing Zegras in the way they did was somewhat obvious, just given his body type and how he hadn't played a lot of center in his draft year or at either World Juniors, and not only that it was possible; they can't run the same plan with McTavish. Verbeek's quote really wasn't about this and even then I just don't doubt they feel he's ready to be an NHL centerman. He doesn't really come with the question marks there that Zegras did.

Also worth noting that Zegras' NHL stint at the wing was 17 games and McTavish has 9, not really far off. I dunno, I don't know what they're gonna do but I don't think they're going to willingly convert their top prospect away from a more important position. And more importantly I don't think Zegras and Lundestrom are going to factor into that decision at all.

Zegras only played 24 games his first NHL season, which started in January. 17 sounds a little different on that context. Also, there was AHL time before that.

The equivalent is McTavish getting some time at center in January. Zegras was started at wing to learn how to play vs men, at NHL speed. I don’t see why McTavish doing the same thing would be seen as converting him as opposed to just easing him into the league.

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

Zegras only played 24 games his first NHL season, which started in January. 17 sounds a little different on that context. Also, there was AHL time before that.

The equivalent is McTavish getting some time at center in January. Zegras was started at wing to learn how to play vs men, at NHL speed. I don’t see why McTavish doing the same thing would be seen as converting him as opposed to just easing him into the league.

I meant the entire Zegras plan, which was AHL-wing, NHL-wing, AHL-center, NHL-center. Can't do that with McTavish, all has to be at the NHL level.

I have no idea why you're adjusting for the covid year and pointing that out at all, it makes zero difference. Zegras played 17 games at wing and the team thought he was ready to go center. It doesn't matter that covid shortened the rest of the year so he only played 7 more at center. I'm just saying McTavish already has had a short NHL stint as a wing, where for the most part I'd say he looked better than Zegras did, and then was sent down to play center. The only thing missing is the option that doesn't exist.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

McTavish looked overmatched as a wing last year. Zegras didn’t start at center his rookie year, there’s not a lot of reason to expect Eakins will feel differently about McTavish, and Verbeek has been pretty clear that he thinks prospects are to be developed properly and not rushed. I agree with you in principle, but I think th ances of them feeling the specific players in question are ready is miniscule.

To be fair, McTavish's pre-season was wiped out due to injury. He wasn't even supposed to start until Jones fell sick. And then McTavish got injured again during the 9-game stint. At the NHL level, McTavish played wing in all nine games. At the AHL level, McTavish played center.

Before he joined the Ducks, his D+0 season consisted of only 21 games. (Olten = 9 reg, 4 playoff; WJC-18 = 7 games). Olten is a men's league.

Starting from the Ducks' season, McTavish played a total of 65 games for five different teams, three pro leagues (NHL, AHL, and Olympics), three different continents, and won an OHL championship. He was a huge factor why his OHL team won the championships.

McTavish is a much different player than he was a year ago and with far more experience. The reason he was sent back down to juniors was so he can develop as a centerman, his natural position, and because there wasn't a center position for McTavish at the NHL level.

With Getz retiring, there is a center position open for McTavish to develop at the NHL level. And with our FA acquisitions, it feels like support for our youth program than our org to build aorund. Why not follow through on it? There isn't a proper way to develop due to the CHL circumstances McTavish and the NHL have to oblige by. @The Mighty Duck Man mentioned that Zegras had that AHL avenue to acclimate to the playing against a higher league, first at wing and then at center. That option doesn't exist with McTavish. Plus, McTavish has played against men at the NL-B (C and LW), NHL (LW), AHL (C), and Olympics (LW).

If Verbeek wants to properly develop McTavish, then McTavish stays put in the OHL this year. The following year, he stays in the AHL and gets called up a couple of times. Will Verbeek keep McTavish in the OHL this coming season? No.

Here's Eakins on why McTavish was sent down last year:

“He’s done a hell of a job because he’s playing out of position,” Eakins said. “He’s a centerman. And we cannot find him reps at center. We just can’t.”​

​

“We don’t want to waste a year of this kid’s development,” Eakins said Saturday. “We can stick him on the wing. As we get healthier, the reality is that his minutes will go down and he’s not playing his position. We need him to develop into one of our four centermen. I think he understands that."​

It feels odd to let him develop as a centerman for a hockey season only to stick him at wing at the NHL level. Plus, it's a developmental season anyhow... especially if we don't address the blue line. Just keep Rico with McTavish to be his on-ice coach/mentor.

 

[Ducks DVM]

I meant the entire Zegras plan, which was AHL-wing, NHL-wing, AHL-center, NHL-center. Can't do that with McTavish, all has to be at the NHL level.

I have no idea why you're adjusting for the covid year and pointing that out at all, it makes zero difference. Zegras played 17 games at wing and the team thought he was ready to go center. It doesn't matter that covid shortened the rest of the year so he only played 7 more at center. I'm just saying McTavish already has had a short NHL stint as a wing, where for the most part I'd say he looked better than Zegras did, and then was sent down to play center. The only thing missing is the option that doesn't exist.

Because he was a half season older, more physically mature, and had been practicing with adult men for all that extra time.

I thought McTavish looked small, sorta slow, frequently tentative, and lost a lot of the time he was more than 10-15’ from the opposing net. There, he looked great. The rest of his game was not NHL ready.

 

[Ducks DVM]

o be fair, McTavish's pre-season was wiped out due to injury. He wasn't even supposed to start until Jones fell sick. And then McTavish got injured again during the 9-game stint. At the NHL level, McTavish played wing in all nine games. At the AHL level, McTavish played center.

Before he joined the Ducks, his D+0 season consisted of only 21 games. (Olten = 9 reg, 4 playoff; WJC-18 = 7 games). Olten is a men's league.

Starting from the Ducks' season, McTavish played a total of 65 games for five different teams, three pro leagues (NHL, AHL, and Olympics), three different continents, and won an OHL championship. He was a huge factor why his OHL team won the championships.

McTavish is a much different player than he was a year ago and with far more experience. The reason he was sent back down to juniors was so he can develop as a centerman, his natural position, and because there wasn't a center position for McTavish at the NHL level.

With Getz retiring, there is a center position open for McTavish to develop at the NHL level. And with our FA acquisitions, it feels like support for our youth program than our org to build aorund. Why not follow through on it? There isn't a proper way to develop due to the CHL circumstances McTavish and the NHL have to oblige by. @The Mighty Duck Man mentioned that Zegras had that AHL avenue to acclimate to the playing against a higher league, first at wing and then at center. That option doesn't exist with McTavish. Plus, McTavish has played against men at the NL-B (C and LW), NHL (LW), AHL (C), and Olympics (LW).

If Verbeek wants to properly develop McTavish, then McTavish stays put in the OHL this year. The following year, he stays in the AHL and gets called up a couple of times. Will Verbeek keep McTavish in the OHL this coming season? No.

Here's Eakins on why McTavish was sent down last year:

“He’s done a hell of a job because he’s playing out of position,” Eakins said. “He’s a centerman. And we cannot find him reps at center. We just can’t.”​

​

“We don’t want to waste a year of this kid’s development,” Eakins said Saturday. “We can stick him on the wing. As we get healthier, the reality is that his minutes will go down and he’s not playing his position. We need him to develop into one of our four centermen. I think he understands that."​

It feels odd to let him develop as a centerman for a hockey season only to stick him at wing at the NHL level. Plus, it's a developmental season anyhow... especially if we don't address the blue line. Just keep Rico with McTavish to be his on-ice coach/mentor.

Again, it feels weird to me that people think letting him acclimate at wing for the same period that Zegras did is preventing him from playing there the other 85% of the season. If a player should have to earn their spot on the roster, then…he should probably start on Henrique’s wing and see how it goes.

As we are pretty clearly tanking, I’m not sure that burning a year off his ELC is the best move regardless.

 

[bsu]

Icing three 22 and under centers as your top 3 with this defense and our schedule to start the season seems like a good way to lower everyone's confidence even more than it will this year. Let McTavish get his feet wet... who knows maybe Verbeek will send him back to juniors after his whole "let prospects marinate and there's no rush" speech. I think he's NHL ready but would start him at wing on the 3rd line or with Zegras so he can play a simple game and get used to tempo.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Icing three 22 and under centers as your top 3 with this defense and our schedule to start the season seems like a good way to lower everyone's confidence even more than it will this year. Let McTavish get his feet wet... who knows maybe Verbeek will send him back to juniors after his whole "let prospects marinate and there's no rush" speech. I think he's NHL ready but would start him at wing on the 3rd line or with Zegras so he can play a simple game and get used to tempo.

Good thing Lundy turns 23 at the start of the season and will be a veteran on his third contract. Come on don't make me repeat my post, you read it.

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

Good thing Lundy turns 23 at the start of the season and will be a veteran on his third contract. Come on don't make me repeat my post, you read it.

It doesn't matter he doesn't actually believe it anyways. It has nothing to with what's actually best for the team and everything to do with him not wanting McTavish to play center, that's it.

 

[Kariya 9]

Lots of line combo options but I'd like to see:

Vatrano-Zegras-Terry
Comtois-Henrique-Strome
Jones-McTavish-Silfverberg
Grant-Lundestrom-Carrick

or

Vatrano-Zegras-Terry
Henrique-McTavish-Strome
Comtois-Lundestrom-Silfverberg
Jones-Carrick-Grant

 

[Mr Rogers]

I really like the Strome signing because you can just slot him in anywhere. 1C (if necessary) or 2C, and he would slot in well on the wing next to either Rico or MacT, as they are more of shoot-first centres. You can also load him up with Z at the end of games if we need a goal and not worry if one of them is tossed from the circle.

 

[bsu]

It doesn't matter he doesn't actually believe it anyways. It has nothing to with what's actually best for the team and everything to do with him not wanting McTavish to play center, that's it.

Wrong, I care what's best for the development of the player at this point of time with this team. Not just for McTavish but also Drysdale, Zegras and anyone else still developing. You don't put 3 kids out there as your centers on a shit team, they will learn bad habits and confidence is going to be at an all time low when your chasing around the zone and getting outshot 2 to 1 most games. It's much easier to play wing, I coach hockey and played it growing up, there's no way we go into the season with 3 under 23 year old's as our top 3 centers IMO, I'd bet money on it. I can say I've also seen McTavish play more than most... I know his strengths and weaknesses from watching him play not scouting reports from people that watched him once at WJC. The NHL is a hard league to play in and we don't even know if McTavish will make the team yet people are penciling him into 2C. We'll see who's right one way or another soon enough. They picked up Strome for a reason (Getzlaf gone and need a veteran center).