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

[Ryan Van Horne]

He’s a weak skater and not much of a playmaker either. The person I quoted compared him to Shanahan. He’s 3 inches shorter and 20+ pounds less.

Centers also get overrated every year. This seems like a good example of that where a guy who really has no business being any higher than a late first round pick, at best, is pushing into some top 5’s and top 10’s. My opinion, he’s not a lock to be a top 9 NHL’er. As I said, I think it’s a very risky pick. I think the comparable you look to is Shane Pinto, an early second round pick. Maybe he should’ve went late first, but it’s not a projection I think has much favorable potential in the top 5-10.

He is not a "weak skater." His skating is just fine and he is strong on his skates. Sure, others are faster, but it is definitely not a weakness. He is a strong two-way player who uses his teammates well and is a good playmaker.

Did you watch him at the recent U18 tournament? The weaknesses you describe are ones that I heard during his rookie year in the OHL. His game has developed since then.

2021 is a weaker draft year than 2019. McTavish will go in the top 15 and deservedly so. My bet is he goes top 10 and NOT just because of the position he plays, but because of the way he plays the game. He plays a heavy, pro-style game and has the skill to be a top-six player. The release and shot are already NHL calibre.

How will he fare compared to Pinto and in the NHL? Time will tell, but you are not giving McTavish the credit he deserves.

 

[Dominance]

He’s a weak skater and not much of a playmaker either. The person I quoted compared him to Shanahan. He’s 3 inches shorter and 20+ pounds less.

Centers also get overrated every year. This seems like a good example of that where a guy who really has no business being any higher than a late first round pick, at best, is pushing into some top 5’s and top 10’s. My opinion, he’s not a lock to be a top 9 NHL’er. As I said, I think it’s a very risky pick. I think the comparable you look to is Shane Pinto, an early second round pick. Maybe he should’ve went late first, but it’s not a projection I think has much favorable potential in the top 5-10.

I’m inclined to agree with your overarching sentiment. Beniers, a guy who some people have in their top-3, is more of a ~10 OA pick for me. I like McTavish, but I’d prefer to take him around 20 than 10.

 

[Hinterland]

I’m inclined to agree with your overarching sentiment. Beniers, a guy who some people have in their top-3, is more of a ~10 OA pick for me. I like McTavish, but I’d prefer to take him around 20 than 10.

Beniers is a good player without weaknesses but seems to be lacking high end skill and talent. I'm not surprised to see Central Scouting list him behind McTavish. I think the final McKenzie list could look similar.

 

[Dominance]

Beniers is a good player without weaknesses but seems to be lacking high end skill and talent. I'm not surprised to see Central Scouting list him behind McTavish. I think the final McKenzie list could look similar.

This draft is going to be an absolute mess. It’s fun to watch as a fan; for a lowly team’s head scout, not so much.

 

[kinghock]

I would add Eklund to the Beniers and Guenther grouping. Then Mason might be next up with Johnson. But I'd steer clear of Johnson in this case, as the Kings have a few of the same type of prospects he is.

I don’t think Johnson is similar to Turcotte or Kupari.
Who else do you have in mind?

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

Beniers is a good player without weaknesses but seems to be lacking high end skill and talent. I'm not surprised to see Central Scouting list him behind McTavish. I think the final McKenzie list could look similar.

FWIW, slots 2 through 7 are separated by a razor-thin margin, according to Dan Marr of Central Scouting in that article I linked to earlier in the thread.

"McTavish is at No. 2 for us not from one tournament but rather from the collective history, knowledge and evaluations we've had over the past two seasons watching him develop and mature," Marr said. "But any one of Johnson, Hughes, Eklund, Guenther or [Michigan forward Matthew] Beniers could be selected at the No. 2 spot.
"Our group views McTavish as that coveted power center that possesses the elite package of size, smarts, skills and compete which all NHL clubs look to add. But the next few names could also be selected in any order as each can be considered impactful franchise players."

 

[Juxtaposer]

Beniers is a good player without weaknesses but seems to be lacking high end skill and talent. I'm not surprised to see Central Scouting list him behind McTavish. I think the final McKenzie list could look similar.

I’m genuinely curious what you think McTavish does better than Beniers other than grit. You say Beniers doesn’t have high-end skill, but neither does McTavish and he has a lot more holes in his game than Beniers does. I really don’t see any justification for McTavish over Beniers.

 

[Hinterland]

I’m genuinely curious what you think McTavish does better than Beniers other than grit. You say Beniers doesn’t have high-end skill, but neither does McTavish and he has a lot more holes in his game than Beniers does. I really don’t see any justification for McTavish over Beniers.

I don't think McTavish offers more grit than Beniers but he does have much better hands, allowing him to have one of the best shots of this years draft and to be a master at deflecting shots at a very young age already. Again, his hand eye coordination is fantastic and reminds me a lot of Joe Pavelski. McTavish also has a great hockey IQ, allowing him to play any forward position or any style. I haven't watched a lot of McTavish prior to his stint over in Switzerland but he seemed to be more of a shooter. Then in Olten they put him at Center and he does drive play of his line pretty much from his first shift. When they started to play him with the imports, immediately he was able to adjust to his new role of playing the wing next to two possession players. Instantly, he started scoring goals from the slot off deflections or rebounds as well as being efficient as a screen. Then he goes to the WJC where he was more of a play driver again. Takes a lot of skill and hockey IQ to be able to learn and adjust this quickly. Whatever coaches ask him to do he brings it. Instantly and consistently. Over in Switzerland as well as at the World Juniors he hardly took a shift off. I think I saw maybe one or two giveaways all year long.

There's still lots of room for improvement and his skating is never gonna be elite but to me he's by far the best NA forward. I'd probably take Eklund and the top3 defenders over McTavish though and I could see a desperate team take Wallstedt inside the top5 as well.

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

I’m genuinely curious what you think McTavish does better than Beniers other than grit. You say Beniers doesn’t have high-end skill, but neither does McTavish and he has a lot more holes in his game than Beniers does. I really don’t see any justification for McTavish over Beniers.

For me it's the shot/finishing ability. Beniers shot is accurate but doesn't have the power that McTavish's does. Beniers has good hands to finish off plays in tight, but McTavish's shot/release is already NHL-calibre.

 

[Hinterland]

For me it's the shot/finishing ability. Beniers shot is accurate but doesn't have the power that McTavish's does. Beniers has good hands to finish off plays in tight, but McTavish's shot/release is already NHL-calibre.

McTavish does have a great shot...maybe the best of his draft class. But it wouldn't say it's what sets him apart from others. It's his versatility, his hockey IQ, his hands and his slot play I'm most impressed with. Again, I don't think I've ever seen an 18yo draft prospect play the slot like a seasoned NHL vet.

 

[JTeller97]

I don’t think Johnson is similar to Turcotte or Kupari.
Who else do you have in mind?

I think Tyler Madden would be our most comparable prospect to Johnson. Don't really see anyone else being similar.

 

[PlayersLtd]

I don't think McTavish offers more grit than Beniers but he does have much better hands, allowing him to have one of the best shots of this years draft and to be a master at deflecting shots at a very young age already. Again, his hand eye coordination is fantastic and reminds me a lot of Joe Pavelski. McTavish also has a great hockey IQ, allowing him to play any forward position or any style. I haven't watched a lot of McTavish prior to his stint over in Switzerland but he seemed to be more of a shooter. Then in Olten they put him at Center and he does drive play of his line pretty much from his first shift. When they started to play him with the imports, immediately he was able to adjust to his new role of playing the wing next to two possession players. Instantly, he started scoring goals from the slot off deflections or rebounds as well as being efficient as a screen. Then he goes to the WJC where he was more of a play driver again. Takes a lot of skill and hockey IQ to be able to learn and adjust this quickly. Whatever coaches ask him to do he brings it. Instantly and consistently. Over in Switzerland as well as at the World Juniors he hardly took a shift off. I think I saw maybe one or two giveaways all year long.

There's still lots of room for improvement and his skating is never gonna be elite but to me he's by far the best NA forward. I'd probably take Eklund and the top3 defenders over McTavish though and I could see a desperate team take Wallstedt inside the top5 as well.

IMO, the type of adaptability and coachability that you are describing is underrated as a marker for a prospects potential and ability to successfully transition to the NHL. Couple that with some elite skills and you have a very desirable prospect from a scouting and coaching POV.

 

[Hinterland]

IMO, the type of adaptability and coachability that you are describing is underrated as a marker for a prospects potential and ability to successfully transition to the NHL. Couple that with some elite skills and you have a very desirable prospect from a scouting and coaching POV.

I agree. He must be a coaches dream.

I actually thought Fredrik Söderström, his coach in Olten, was crazy to use McTavish as a net front presence on the PP as well as on the wing with the imports as Othmann has been doing well with them and seemed like the better fit. You don't usually put young kids in front of the net on the PP. I don't know how much of this McTavish actually did in the OHL. I know he was playing the wing but I don't think forechecking, puck retrievals, and slot work were necessarily what the focus was on. From what I saw and heard he really was mostly a shooter.

I was wrong though. Like I said, McTavish adjusted quickly to his new role. Even before that, he seemed to have no problems adjusting to the larger European ice after his arrival.

 

[tellermine]

Has he any of his fathers style?

I remember Dales first game in Finland. (not sure was it though)
He just used strong skating and power move to get past huge defender and then a lazer wrister to top shelf!

I was like:"Well well, we have player."

Really Interesting to follow his sons career.

 

[UrbanImpact]

He is going to get drafted higher than where most people have him projected.

Centres always do.

Just look some recent history:

Hayton
Dach
Kotkaniemi
Pettersson
Dubois

All went higher than they were projected. Same thing will happen to Mctavish. His skillset and ruggedness is going to be too much to pass up on in the top 8.



Rank these 3 and explain:

Mctacvish
Geunther
Johnson

 

[monix11]

I think he's gonna be better on the wing in the NHL.

Looks a lot like Gabriel Landeskog to me who, despite being a wing, takes a fair amount of draws in Colorado.

McTavish is supposedly a future captain as well....

 

[FlyguyOX]

I'm getting Bo Horvat vibes with this guy

 

[Hinterland]

He is going to get drafted higher than where most people have him projected.

Centres always do.

Just look some recent history:

Hayton
Dach
Kotkaniemi
Pettersson
Dubois

All went higher than they were projected. Same thing will happen to Mctavish. His skillset and ruggedness is going to be too much to pass up on in the top 8.



Rank these 3 and explain:

Mctacvish
Geunther
Johnson

You said it yourself...he's a Center...Guenther isn't...Johnson most likely won't be at NHL level. All three have huge upside but McTavish is the only one capable of playing Center and he's most mature and versatile of the three. I used to be very high on Guenther but the WJC18 tournament showed that he's not quite where many thought he is. His upside is still there of course. Big righty two way winger who can score as well and those don't grow on trees but he sure fell in the rankings lately. Johnson is a great player with great hands but I believe he was always behind McTavish who can do it all. He can play any forward role and any position. He plays the slot like a vet already, has great hands, a sensational hand eye coordination and a great shot. His skating is no more than average and not what you expect from a top 10 pick but I don't think it's gonna stop him from becoming a very good top6 forward in the NHL. He's got both high upside and a high floor. I think Columbus is gonna take him at 5.

 

[UrbanImpact]

You said it yourself...he's a Center...Guenther isn't...Johnson most likely won't be at NHL level. All three have huge upside but McTavish is the only one capable of playing Center and he's most mature and versatile of the three. I used to be very high on Guenther but the WJC18 tournament showed that he's not quite where many thought he is. His upside is still there of course. Big righty two way winger who can score as well and those don't grow on trees but he sure fell in the rankings lately. Johnson is a great player with great hands but I believe he was always behind McTavish who can do it all. He can play any forward role and any position. He plays the slot like a vet already, has great hands, a sensational hand eye coordination and a great shot. His skating is no more than average and not what you expect from a top 10 pick but I don't think it's gonna stop him from becoming a very good top6 forward in the NHL. He's got both high upside and a high floor. I think Columbus is gonna take him at 5.

I can CBJ liking Mctavish at 5 as well because Mctavish has drawn some comparison to Pierre Luc Dubois and we all know CBJ took PLD early as well.

 

[cheesymc]

I can CBJ liking Mctavish at 5 as well because Mctavish has drawn some comparison to Pierre Luc Dubois and we all know CBJ took PLD early as well.

I can see that as well... CBJ drafts off the board and Mctavish fits their MO for sure.

 

[HockeyWooot]

I agree, he could be taken further up. Pro game, very projectable.

 

[majormajor]

I can see that as well... CBJ drafts off the board and Mctavish fits their MO for sure.

He fits their M.O. 100%. But I think we can stop calling a McTavish pick "off the board" at this point. He could just as easily get picked before #5.

 

[GetFocht]

Hes going to be a top 5 pick but if he's there where Canucks are picking then I hope they get him.

I think wingers like Guenther and Johnson will slip farther.

 

[Buresflyingelbow]

I'm getting Bo Horvat vibes with this guy

9th overall?

 

[Hinterland]

He fits their M.O. 100%. But I think we can stop calling a McTavish pick "off the board" at this point. He could just as easily get picked before #5.

Not impossible at this point. But I think Eklund goes before him and so will the top3 defenders. Most likely outcome for me is McTavish goes 5th to the Bluejackets. But we'll see.