C Mason McTavish - Peterborough Petes, OHL (2021, 3rd, ANA)

[canuck2010]

I find this whole playing against men thing a bit of a stretch. Playing against lesser hockey players because they are men won't necessarily do anything for him.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Generally, if you are too good for the OHL to benefit your development, you are good enough to be a full-time NHLer.

Mic drop.

 

[Static]

I think this too good for the OHL stuff is greatly exaggerated. I don't think looking at the CHL guys who've gotten into the AHL early is really a great track record. It doesn't look like the AHL has accelerated the development of guys like Byfield and Perfetti. It sure didn't work in the case of Alex Nylander and Honka. Going back to Europe to play against men instead of spending his d+2 season in the OHL sure as hell didn't work for Juolevi.

Playing at a lower level allows you to focus on weaknesses more/tinker with your game. I don't think Marner for example would have turned into the 90-point player he's turned into any faster if he played in the AHL instead of destroying the OHL for the 2nd year in a row.

Also, someone like McTavish benefitted from being able to play against elite 18 and 19 year olds as a 16 year old, who this new rule would have likely had out of the OHL. Generally, if you are too good for the OHL to benefit your development, you are good enough to be a full-time NHLer.

The players who would benefit from moving on from junior level competition to AHL are usually those who are more physically mature than their peers, like McTavish. Sure he can still work on things, but it would be beneficial for him to play consistently against bigger bodies.

Just from an Anaheim perspective, we have seen guys like Nick Ritchie, Emerson Etem, and Max Jones create bad habits in junior because they could manhandle their competition, rather than having to create problem-solving skills that would have benefited them greatly in the jump to pro hockey.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

The players who would benefit from moving on from junior level competition to AHL are usually those who are more physically mature than their peers, like McTavish. Sure he can still work on things, but it would be beneficial for him to play consistently against bigger bodies.

Just from an Anaheim perspective, we have seen guys like Nick Ritchie, Emerson etem, and max Jones create bad habits in junior because they could manhandle their competition rather than have to create problem solving skills that would have benefited them greatly in the jump to pro hockey.

Another excellent point.

 

[Peasy]

The players who would benefit from moving on from junior level competition to AHL are usually those who are more physically mature than their peers, like McTavish. Sure he can still work on things, but it would be beneficial for him to play consistently against bigger bodies.

Just from an Anaheim perspective, we have seen guys like Nick Ritchie, Emerson etem, and max Jones create bad habits in junior because they could manhandle their competition, rather than have to create problem solving skills that would have benefited them greatly in the jump to pro hockey.

None of those guys are anywhere near the level McTavish is. Weird comparison. I really don't think playing in the AHL right out of the draft would have drastically changed their careers. Tough point to prove otherwise.

And Ritchie was in the AHL his d+2.

 

[Static]

None of those guys are anywhere near the level McTavish is. Weird comparison. I really don't think playing in the AHL right out of the draft would have drastically changed their careers. Tough point to prove otherwise.

And Ritchie was in the AHL his d+2.

I wasn't comparing their skill level, I was comparing their physical dominance over their peers in junior.

 

[KaseMeOutside]

I find this whole playing against men thing a bit of a stretch. Playing against lesser hockey players because they are men won't necessarily do anything for him.

Except the AHL is not a lesser league

 

[canuck2010]

Except the AHL is not a lesser league

I went back to my post and realized I didn't exactly say what I meant to say. I wasn't really thinking about McTavish or where he should play or shouldn't play nor was I thinking about the A. It certainly isn't a lesser league than junior.

 

[Wackster]

1. I think he will play with Zegras quite a bit

2. Verbeek has insisted he will not rush players so it's entirely possible he's back in junior

He would probably be traded to another wagon if that's the case...

 

[bsu]

Wild year... and we still got Memorial Cup, WJC coming up... again

 

[Jeffrey Pedler]

People, their is nothing left for him to do at the CHL level. The kid has the size and IQ for the NHL. It's best he works on his weaknesses with NHL coaches. With any prospect their is growing pains, but leaving him in juniors to dominate might end up hurting his development.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

People, their is nothing left for him to do at the CHL level. The kid has the size and IQ for the NHL. It's best he works on his weaknesses with NHL coaches. With any prospect their is growing pains, but leaving him in juniors to dominate might end up hurting his development.

Also, it's not like Anaheim is gunning for the Cup next year, so they can afford to focus on development more than a Cup contender can.

 

[Jeffrey Pedler]

Also, it's not like Anaheim is gunning for the Cup next year, so they can afford to focus on development more than a Cup contender can.

Exactly let McTavish, Zegras, Comtois and Drysdale grow together. Add in Perreault and maybe Tracey and this team's rebuild might go smoother.

 

[tomd]

People, their is nothing left for him to do at the CHL level. The kid has the size and IQ for the NHL. It's best he works on his weaknesses with NHL coaches. With any prospect their is growing pains, but leaving him in juniors to dominate might end up hurting his development.

Agree as long as he proves he's ready with a good training camp. PV won't hand him a job this summer...he'll have to earn it in TC. I don't want him coming to camp feeling entitled and like a spot is already reserved for him.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

People, their is nothing left for him to do at the CHL level. The kid has the size and IQ for the NHL. It's best he works on his weaknesses with NHL coaches. With any prospect their is growing pains, but leaving him in juniors to dominate might end up hurting his development.

You could have said the same thing one year ago.

 

[Beckett]

I dont think there's any question he'll be in Anaheim next season. The hope is he proves in camp/preseason that he can play Center at that level. I think most likely he's thrown on the wing with a limited role season 1.

Ideally he'd be centering the top line in San Diego though

 

[ps241]

I think this too good for the OHL stuff is greatly exaggerated. I don't think looking at the CHL guys who've gotten into the AHL early is really a great track record. It doesn't look like the AHL has accelerated the development of guys like Byfield and Perfetti. It sure didn't work in the case of Alex Nylander and Honka. Going back to Europe to play against men instead of spending his d+2 season in the OHL sure as hell didn't work for Juolevi.

Playing at a lower level allows you to focus on weaknesses more/tinker with your game. I don't think Marner for example would have turned into the 90-point player he's turned into any faster if he played in the AHL instead of destroying the OHL for the 2nd year in a row.

Also, someone like McTavish benefitted from being able to play against elite 18 and 19 year olds as a 16 year old, who this new rule would have likely had out of the OHL. Generally, if you are too good for the OHL to benefit your development, you are good enough to be a full-time NHLer.

Great post.

 

[wetcoast]

The players who would benefit from moving on from junior level competition to AHL are usually those who are more physically mature than their peers, like McTavish. Sure he can still work on things, but it would be beneficial for him to play consistently against bigger bodies.

Just from an Anaheim perspective, we have seen guys like Nick Ritchie, Emerson Etem, and Max Jones create bad habits in junior because they could manhandle their competition, rather than having to create problem-solving skills that would have benefited them greatly in the jump to pro hockey.

You make a fair point and perhaps Mctavish is the exception to the original point?

also maybe the other 3 guys you mentioned were bad habit players, junior doesn't necessarily create "bad habits."

It might be more of a these guys got taken high because they were physically mature and teams thought they could improve the parts of their games like skating, hockey IQ ect to compete in the NHL when it was never really in the cards anyways.

Jake Virtanan is the classic Canuck example of this.

 

[bsu]

 

[Peasy]

Such a deadly release. He and Zegras are going to love playing the opposite half walls on the PP together.

 

[barriers]

 

[Lavar Ball]

Great one timer lol

 

[NA Hockey]

I am not sure I have seen too many players like him. Shift to shift almost invisible, very rarely makes any plays and goes shifts without touching the puck, and then BAM, changes the entire game with his shot or a great pass. If you watch every one of his shifts in ISO, you would be left very underwhelmed in this tournament until in that split second when he scores a goal.

 

[bsu]

I am not sure I have seen too many players like him. Shift to shift almost invisible, very rarely makes any plays and goes shifts without touching the puck, and then BAM, changes the entire game with his shot or a great pass. If you watch every one of his shifts in ISO, you would be left very underwhelmed in this tournament until in that split second when he scores a goal.

Yes, I have said the same thing and I watched his last 15 games in FULL other than todays game (started a new job) I think he's going to end up being a goal scoring winger right next to Zegras. It's hard to think of a prospect thats skillset matches Zegras so perfectly. The one timer, the heavy game, the hands in the blue paint including rebounds and deflection. I wanna see those two together.

 

[bsu]

I am not sure I have seen too many players like him. Shift to shift almost invisible, very rarely makes any plays and goes shifts without touching the puck, and then BAM, changes the entire game with his shot or a great pass. If you watch every one of his shifts in ISO, you would be left very underwhelmed in this tournament until in that split second when he scores a goal.

I'm surprised you haven't been hit with a 5 paragraph post from @Hockey Duckie yet.