Injury Report: 2024-25 Injury Report thread : Zegras (Out 6 weeks with torn meniscus)

[Dr Johnny Fever]

A quick recovery time for a meniscus surgery probably means that they've only done a little removal of tissue instead of a full repair. It's good temporarily, but very often leads to an arthritic knee later down the line.

I'm not sure this is as good as it sounds. Z might have significantly shortened his career.

If he's going to develop arthritis in that knee, it will be well past his playing career.

 

[Ducks DVM]

If he's going to develop arthritis in that knee, it will be well past his playing career.

The process has actually already started. The question is “when does it become clinically relevant”. That depends on the injury and the individual and what stresses they put on the joint.

 

[Ducks DVM]

Arthritis from injury is typically a cartilage condition. He had a ligament repair. These should have little in common. The only long term concern, during his playing career at least, should be that the ligament in question is slightly weaker now.

Of course it's not good, but it clearly could have been worse.

All joint inflammation can (does) cause cartilage damage. The keys are how much, how severe, and how long.

Also, the meniscus isn’t a ligament. It’s a piece of cartilage that sits between the femur and tibia and acts like a shock absorber. There’s one on both the inside and the outside of the joint.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

Third serious injury in the last two seasons for Z, on top of the negative impact Cronin has. I wouldn’t have thought it was possible a couple years ago, when Z was coming off his second back to back 60 point season, but there’s a chance he could bust.

Small chance, SMALL. I’m saying small. But two years ago I’d have said zero.

 

[MMC]

This team definitely has Kaiser Permanente insurance

 

[FlyingV09]

Third serious injury in the last two seasons for Z, on top of the negative impact Cronin has. I wouldn’t have thought it was possible a couple years ago, when Z was coming off his second back to back 60 point season, but there’s a chance he could bust.

Small chance, SMALL. I’m saying small. But two years ago I’d have said zero.

He was our best forward before he got hurt. I’m sure he’ll be fine.

This team sure feels a lot less dangerous offensively with him out.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

The process has actually already started. The question is “when does it become clinically relevant”. That depends on the injury and the individual and what stresses they put on the joint.

Yes. I'm living it.

 

[anezthes]

Third serious injury in the last two seasons for Z, on top of the negative impact Cronin has. I wouldn’t have thought it was possible a couple years ago, when Z was coming off his second back to back 60 point season, but there’s a chance he could bust.

Small chance, SMALL. I’m saying small. But two years ago I’d have said zero.

Big sad if that happens. I’ve almost resigned myself to the idea that the Verbeek era might be a huge failure. Wouldn’t be surprised if we fail to develop any of the young players into elite talents capable of carrying the franchise for the next 10+ years.

 

[anezthes]

"It was unfortunate he got hurt because he was starting to play really well," Ducks coach Greg Cronin said after a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. "Trevor is a very offensively gifted player, but I think he was playing hard defensively, too, and winning puck battles along the wall, which again is a compliment to his game, his compete level. It's a blessing to get him back in six weeks, not six months. We have a hard time scoring, so it's going to be good to get him back."

Zegras out 6 weeks for Ducks after knee surgery | NHL.com

Forward has 10 points in 24 games this season

www.nhl.com

 

[ohcomeonref]

Zegras out 6 weeks for Ducks after knee surgery | NHL.com

Forward has 10 points in 24 games this season

www.nhl.com

Just what I always wanted for Z: 10 points in 24 games but really great at "puck battles along the wall." Truly a master tactician, bravo.

 

[TheDarkWingThatDucks]

Just what I always wanted for Z: 10 points in 24 games but really great at "puck battles along the wall." Truly a master tactician, bravo.

I know you hate Cronin and are just obtuse sometimes to be obtuse…..we all want Zegras to not be a 30-40 pt grinder, but for development into a legit hockey player, puck battles along the wall do matter.

“Trevor is a very offensively gifted player…….and winning puck battles along the wall, which again is a compliment to his game….”

Like very clearly he is saying he’s offensively amazing, but he is even doing the small things better to compliment is overall game. Hopefully when things click he gets back to the near PPG pace with all the extra little things added to his game.

If he does that, he would become a top 30-40 ish player in the league, and not just a walking highlight reel on bad NHL teams losing 7-3.

You aren’t the only one, but people go player development waaaah, we suck at developing forwards. Then complain because we are trying to make Zegras more of a Pavel Datsyuk than a Mike Hoffman. The theory being that, once you add to your bag of tricks and stop having to “focus” on playing an overall better brand of winning hockey, the offensive output will come with it. Doesn’t always work, some people can not adjust, some people can’t get out of their own heads, some people just don’t care about winning.

Like we understand a lot of development is one step forward two steps back. You are focusing so hard on fixing the weaknesses in your game, that sometimes the things you do well take a backseat, the key is to get comfortable enough doing the weaknesses well, that it becomes second nature. This is where players take that “next step”. Sometimes it’s as simple as maturing physically. I played sports and I wasn’t some super tall athletic specimen, but I worked my ass off every game and practice whether it was I didn’t want to lose my starting job / or I wanted to take their starting job. But I didn’t have coaches going hey buddy, here are some of your weaknesses I think you should work on these / do these drills this offseason to take the next steps in your development as a complete “whatever sport” player.

All in all, you can be frustrated in the coach and want him gone because his system is stifling the offense output of this team. That’s fine. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, HCGC is here to instill a day in day out work ethic and change the culture to one of accountability and hard work. Hopefully our next head coach will be some offense genius that can have our team take the next step. Like maybe we get someone so smart…..like the first coach to be “hey maybe we should watch game film to scout our opponents”

And truly as far as Cronin is concerned, as long as he hasn’t lost the locker room (which none of us have any REAL insight too) then let him finish out the year and do his job. Which like I’ve said is to instil a work ethic and accountability into one’s self for the team. Then when the happy go lucky players coach who is an offensive genius comes in, the foundation is already laid for how players in this organization prepare on and off the ice.

And that’s my biggest problem with the fire Cronin chatter, advanced stats say this team is f***ing terrible / the eye test doesn’t say it’s much better. But Cronin wasn’t brought in to be some 10 year coach for us, he was brought in to (and I don’t know how many times I can say it) instil a work ethic and change the culture of an entire organization. You don’t fire that guy 1-2 months into his 2nd developmental year season (no matter what Verbeek said about playoffs), to try and win an extra 5 games and be an 80 pt team instead of 70 pts.

Yes it’s frustrating to watch, yes not enough young ducklings took major enough steps to push this team forward, yes we are probably missing the playoffs for the 8th straight year. But we are going to get some more Cutter and Leo time on the same line at some point, maybe Minty and Zelly some time together. We are doing small not so insignificant things that should have us better prepared for the future.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

I know you hate Cronin and are just obtuse sometimes to be obtuse…..we all want Zegras to not be a 30-40 pt grinder, but for development into a legit hockey player, puck battles along the wall do matter.

“Trevor is a very offensively gifted player…….and winning puck battles along the wall, which again is a compliment to his game….”

Like very clearly he is saying he’s offensively amazing, but he is even doing the small things better to compliment is overall game. Hopefully when things click he gets back to the near PPG pace with all the extra little things added to his game.

If he does that, he would become a top 30-40 ish player in the league, and not just a walking highlight reel on bad NHL teams losing 7-3.

You aren’t the only one, but people go player development waaaah, we suck at developing forwards. Then complain because we are trying to make Zegras more of a Pavel Datsyuk than a Mike Hoffman. The theory being that, once you add to your bag of tricks and stop having to “focus” on playing an overall better brand of winning hockey, the offensive output will come with it. Doesn’t always work, some people can not adjust, some people can’t get out of their own heads, some people just don’t care about winning.

Like we understand a lot of development is one step forward two steps back. You are focusing so hard on fixing the weaknesses in your game, that sometimes the things you do well take a backseat, the key is to get comfortable enough doing the weaknesses well, that it becomes second nature. This is where players take that “next step”. Sometimes it’s as simple as maturing physically. I played sports and I wasn’t some super tall athletic specimen, but I worked my ass off every game and practice whether it was I didn’t want to lose my starting job / or I wanted to take their starting job. But I didn’t have coaches going hey buddy, here are some of your weaknesses I think you should work on these / do these drills this offseason to take the next steps in your development as a complete “whatever sport” player.

All in all, you can be frustrated in the coach and want him gone because his system is stifling the offense output of this team. That’s fine. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, HCGC is here to instill a day in day out work ethic and change the culture to one of accountability and hard work. Hopefully our next head coach will be some offense genius that can have our team take the next step. Like maybe we get someone so smart…..like the first coach to be “hey maybe we should watch game film to scout our opponents”

And truly as far as Cronin is concerned, as long as he hasn’t lost the locker room (which none of us have any REAL insight too) then let him finish out the year and do his job. Which like I’ve said is to instil a work ethic and accountability into one’s self for the team. Then when the happy go lucky players coach who is an offensive genius comes in, the foundation is already laid for how players in this organization prepare on and off the ice.

And that’s my biggest problem with the fire Cronin chatter, advanced stats say this team is f***ing terrible / the eye test doesn’t say it’s much better. But Cronin wasn’t brought in to be some 10 year coach for us, he was brought in to (and I don’t know how many times I can say it) instil a work ethic and change the culture of an entire organization. You don’t fire that guy 1-2 months into his 2nd developmental year season (no matter what Verbeek said about playoffs), to try and win an extra 5 games and be an 80 pt team instead of 70 pts.

Yes it’s frustrating to watch, yes not enough young ducklings took major enough steps to push this team forward, yes we are probably missing the playoffs for the 8th straight year. But we are going to get some more Cutter and Leo time on the same line at some point, maybe Minty and Zelly some time together. We are doing small not so insignificant things that should have us better prepared for the future.

When and if Cronin turns Z into the player you describe I'll gladly give him credit for that. But since he's been here we haven't seen one young player take a permanent step forward. We just keep seeing occasional flashes of brilliance and a lot of stumbling and bumbling the rest of the time. And that applies to all of them.

On a macro level that doesn't give me a warm or fuzzy feeling that Cronin is going to succeed using his methods. People are right to have their doubts.

 

[TheDarkWingThatDucks]

When and if Cronin turns Z into the player you describe I'll gladly give him credit for that. But since he's been here we haven't seen one young player take a permanent step forward. We just keep seeing occasional flashes of brilliance and a lot of stumbling and bumbling the rest of the time. And that applies to all of them.

On a macro level that doesn't give me a warm or fuzzy feeling that Cronin is going to succeed using his methods. People are right to have their doubts.

I’m just confused as to what prospects didn’t take a step forward ?

Minty / Zelly / Leo / Luneau / Cutter / Colangelo all played their first NHL games last season. With the first three no longer Calder eligible this season, and the last three all technically still rookies. LaCombe + Dostal also were rookies last year.

So of the prospects who weren’t rookies last year we have 3 guys. Drysdale - got hurt and traded.
McT went from 43 pts in 80 games as a rookie, to 42 pts in 64 games under Cronin, this year he’s taking a step back, but he took a step forward 44 points per 82 / 54 points per 82. Zegras - whose scoring as suffered greatly but looks like an all around better player.

So truly he has made 1 prospect have worse stats, but look like a better player, and then a bunch of rookies and second year guys. I don’t know which coach if anybody going to turn 18/19/20 year olds to start seasons into amazing hockey players in 1-1/4 of 2 seasons.

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

I’m just confused as to what prospects didn’t take a step forward ?

Minty / Zelly / Leo / Luneau / Cutter / Colangelo all played their first NHL games last season. With the first three no longer Calder eligible this season, and the last three all technically still rookies. LaCombe + Dostal also were rookies last year.

So of the prospects who weren’t rookies last year we have 3 guys. Drysdale - got hurt and traded.
McT went from 43 pts in 80 games as a rookie, to 42 pts in 64 games under Cronin, this year he’s taking a step back, but he took a step forward 44 points per 82 / 54 points per 82. Zegras - whose scoring as suffered greatly but looks like an all around better player.

So truly he has made 1 prospect have worse stats, but look like a better player, and then a bunch of rookies and second year guys. I don’t know which coach if anybody going to turn 18/19/20 year olds to start seasons into amazing hockey players in 1-1/4 of 2 seasons.

It's not about measuring statistics and who is Calder eligible. It's about playing better more consistently, looking comfortable on a regularly basis (which should result in better team offense and a few more wins). The team had a brief burst last year and recently this year where they looked like maybe they figured it out. But those bursts didn't last.

I'm not saying they won't eventually get there but I am saying that right now I'm very unimpressed by what Cronin has done and I'd be quite unhappy if we start trading guys like Mac before firing the coach and trying that first.

And as far a Z goes, I'll repeat my self from another post somewhere....If we turn Z into another Silfverberg that will be a total failure. I'm not saying we will. and hopefully we won't, but we are far from proving Z hasn't lost a significant part of his offense. And his D is still far from Silf level.

Time will tell how it all plays out but for now I'm very much less than enamored with the coach.