GDT: Gm 50: Ducks at Kings, @ 7pm on KDOC

[The Duck Knight]

As an outsider I don’t understand how steel doesn’t get more ice time with better line mates. He’s not built to play a bottom 6 role. He has put up huge numbers in junior and amazing stays in the AHL for a kid

It's not like we exactly have those "better linemates" you speak of. Outside of Comtois and Rakell our wingers can't score. Steel's gotten looks with those 2 and didn't take advantage of it.

 

[shaner8989]

It's not like we exactly have those "better linemates" you speak of. Outside of Comtois and Rakell our wingers can't score. Steel's gotten looks with those 2 and didn't take advantage of it.

Just figured he would be given a better chance. He’s to good for 4th line

 

[The Duck Knight]

Just figured he would be given a better chance. He’s to good for 4th line

I'm a big believer in Steel still, but he's getting the opportunities he deserves at this point. He's been the team's 4th best center at best this year. Getzlaf/Henrique/Lundestrom have outplayed him.

 

[Leonardo87]

Lundestrom has 9 points in a not-so-small sample size. Now, as I've said before, I do think there are traits that he exhibits that lead me to believe he'll have a poor man's Couturier type of breakout in a couple years, in that he's one of our best puck carriers through the neutral zone and enters the zone with speed (which is why it's confusing that Eakins has barely used him on the PP this season, but I'm not getting into his special teams again) and he's one of our best forwards in the cycle game. I think he's an excellent puck possession forward already and I think he's going to be a very good middle 6 NHL center for a long time.

But "what exactly does Lundy need to do "to take the next step to secure himself as a top-6 center""? He needs to produce. And it's surprising to me that you're the poster asking this question; from everything I've seen, you value tangible, quantifiable production more than almost everyone on this forum.

Everything about the Ducks PP is beyond confusing and mind-boggling, lol.

 

[Goose of Reason]

Just figured he would be given a better chance. He’s to good for 4th line

We have a bad roster but that doesn't mean there isn't competition for spots. Steel has been given time with Rakell, Terry, Silf, and Comtois and outside of having a decent start to the year hasn't really taken advantage of it. Lundestrom passed him this year and now Zegras is taking reps at center so Steel needs to show that he's capable of taking a bigger offensive load. Those other guys are developing and need linemates too.

I think Steel has played better since coming back from injury but he's still far from a consistent shift to shift presence.

 

[Mr Rogers]

Just figured he would be given a better chance. He’s to good for 4th line

probably best suited on the wing ultimately. He doesn't have the size, strength or speed to be a shutdown/checking line centre - would have to make some huge strides to become that. he isn't a play driver at all. I don't see him ever being that effective at C regardless of the role he is playing there.

 

[Terry Yake]

all the kids except for steel have showed signs of progress this season. and it's not like the rest of them are playing with great linemates

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Just keep doing what he is doing more consistently and start hitting the score-sheet more, then I don't see any reason he should not be the 2C. I also think you are putting too much thought in those lines I posted. Someone has to move to wing next season, and it should not be Zegras or Lundestrom. So if the lines are more like...

Comtois - Zegras - Rakell
Henrique - Lundestrom - Terry

or

Comtois - Lundestrom - Terry
Henrique - Zegras - Rakell

so be it.

Lundestrom has 9 points in a not-so-small sample size. Now, as I've said before, I do think there are traits that he exhibits that lead me to believe he'll have a poor man's Couturier type of breakout in a couple years, in that he's one of our best puck carriers through the neutral zone and entering the zone with speed (which is why it's confusing that Eakins has barely used him on the PP this season, but I'm not getting into his special teams again) and he's one of our best forwards in the cycle game. I think he's an excellent puck possession forward already and I think he's going to be a very good middle 6 NHL center for a long time.

But "what exactly does Lundy need to do "to take the next step to secure himself as a top-6 center""? He needs to produce. And it's surprising to me that you're the poster asking this question; from everything I've seen, you value tangible, quantifiable production more than almost everyone on this forum.

Zegras is brilliant in flashes, but not much else. I'm happy he is engaged enough to throw his body into players, despite not really having any effect. Yet, people are already announcing him to be our 1C after one NHL game as a center? With Lundestrom, he was very productive with Comtois-Rakell. Why is this fact lost to @TheGoodShepard1 ? I think the query went over your head because you think only producing on the score sheet is the only thing that matters. Is Steel a superior player than Lundestrom?

Lundy's game is the most well rounded out of Steel and Zegras down the middle of the ice. In the 9 games (I recorded... there could be more games) he was paired with Rakell and Comtois, Lundy only notched 2 goals, but his effect on the ice translated to Rakell and Comtois catching fire. He's mobile and stronger away from the puck to where it improves the team's play. In separating Comtois from Rakell-Comtois, Lundy hasn't had the benefit of being paired with better talents as Steel would be. Steel was put on a line with Rakell-Comtois and nothing.

Right now, it's foolish to exclude Lundy because of one NHL played by Zegras at center? It's like grading on a curve for Zegras and Steel, but not for Lundy. Lundy is 21 years old. Younger than Comtois. Younger than Steel. Younger than Jones. Younger than Terry. He's our default 1C, but it appears Eakins has strayed away from utilizing him like one. But, hey, someone like @TheGoodShepard1 would know this from watching all the games, right? I guess you too have already pegged Zegras as 1C after one NHL game at center. Did you also think that Zegras was amazing playing wing with the Ducks too? He's scored points. He produces. But he really was more like a liability outside of those flashes. But hey, only numbers count. LMFAO.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I'm a big believer in Steel still, but he's getting the opportunities he deserves at this point. He's been the team's 4th best center at best this year. Getzlaf/Henrique/Lundestrom have outplayed him.

I'd put Backes and Grant above Steel as well. I am still a big fan of Steel, but he looked overwhelmed last year and just weak this year. He has scoring prowess, as seen in his junior play, but he really needed the AHL this season to help out his progression as a scoring centerman. I don't mind Steel taking a longer route to the NHL, but the org has decided against it. I don't blame Steel, though. I blame the coaching staff for keeping him up, which might include GM Murray. But Lundy got sent down and Rico got waived. That's why I'm thinking it's the coaching staff.

 

[Frosted Tips]

Man, I'm absolutely in love with Fowler when he pulls stuff like that. Didn't he just do something like two weeks ago or so? He's such a tease for pulling moves like that. Really consistent production over the years and actually #30 in points for defencemen in the last 10 years. Not the flashiest, not the hardest point shot, not the top notch offensive instincts, but all around solid. I do tend to fail to appreciate him as a Duck but I'm glad he's with the Ducks and part of this core.

 

[Masch78]

Man, I'm absolutely in love with Fowler when he pulls stuff like that. Didn't he just do something like two weeks ago or so? He's such a tease for pulling moves like that. Really consistent production over the years and actually #30 in points for defencemen in the last 10 years. Not the flashiest, not the hardest point shot, not the top notch offensive instincts, but all around solid. I do tend to fail to appreciate him as a Duck but I'm glad he's with the Ducks and part of this core.

The problem I have with Cam is, he leaves the desire to want more. I also think he may be able to do it but something holds him back.

 

[Frosted Tips]

The problem I have with Cam is, he leaves the desire to want more. I also think he may be able to do it but something holds him back.

I think this is pretty accurate.

 

[bsu]

If Fowler keeps making aggressive moves like that I'd be a fan.

 

[Mr Rogers]

The reason I think Fowler could’ve put up more points than he has in his career is because when he does make those aggressive plays, they almost always create quality chances. Everything is on a spectrum, but generally I don’t think it’s a lack of offensive instincts really, rather an unwillingness to use them. He is a very cautious player.

 

[KyleJRM]

Just figured he would be given a better chance. He’s to good for 4th line

Is he?

Maybe he's just bad

 

[shaner8989]

Is he?

Maybe he's just bad

If you wanna right off a player who has excelled at every level and absolutely dominated the WHL.. go ahead. Would be the stupidest thing ever tho.

 

[Big Fat Rebound]

If you wanna right off a player who has excelled at every level and absolutely dominated the WHL.. go ahead. Would be the stupidest thing ever tho.

I don't think anyone who responded to you is writing him off, they're just telling you how it is: he hasn't had a good season and the situation he's in is of his own making. They've tried moving him up the lineup, giving him PP duties, scratched him a few times to try and get him to learn and nothing's really worked. And I say that as probably the biggest Sam Steel defender on this board.

Not that you asked, but me personally? I think he's playing out of position (he's a winger, not a center) and I think even though he has his physical limitations, a lot of his problems are confidence-related because for someone who has his level of hockey IQ, he's taking way too long to make decisions with the puck and then overcompensates by trying to do too much. I'd give him another year to see if his stock rebounds.

 

[Big Fat Rebound]

Tried to figure out how to respond to this and it might be too late given that this might close off if @Hockey Duckie makes the GDT soon, but I figured I'd give it a shot

I think the query went over your head because you think only producing on the score sheet is the only thing that matters... But hey, only numbers count. LMFAO.

I think this is where the disconnect is: both of us kind of got crossed up in how much we actually value numbers (although I would contend numbers count for something if you're a top-6er). Kind of an innocuous, throwaway comment that started this more than anything else lol.

Zegras is brilliant in flashes, but not much else. I'm happy he is engaged enough to throw his body into players, despite not really having any effect. Yet, people are already announcing him to be our 1C after one NHL game as a center? I guess you too have already pegged Zegras as 1C after one NHL game at center.

I do not. In fact, I would actually prefer that if the organization start him in San Diego next season if they don't think he's ready for prime time (as many on this board like to point out, no one's career was ever ruined by staying in the AHL too long) or until he's dominated the AHL (which he's on the verge of doing but is not quite there yet). But I know they won't do that and he's a near lock to be on the opening night roster next year, so as you said, maybe on a subconscious level, I am guilty of grading Z and Steel on a curve compared to Lundy (I'd like to think that I'm fair, but maybe not).

But, hey, someone like @TheGoodShepard1 would know this from watching all the games, right?

I honestly don't know what the development curve is for some of these guys. I will defend Lundestrom (who I still like a hell of a lot, by the way) in this regard: they want Z to get reps at center to see how he develops away from the puck. OK fine, whatever, but how come the opposite isn't true? Lundestrom getting no time on the power play is ridiculous (Eakins can't tell me he's not one of the 8 best forwards this team has when he throws a guy like Grant out there), especially when he's one of our best puck carriers and is strong on the puck down low and a huge amount of this team's problems stem from entering with possession and maintaining it once they do.

Lundy is 21 years old. Younger than Comtois. Younger than Steel. Younger than Jones. Younger than Terry.

I decided to end with this because this fact legitimately blew my mind. Sometimes I forget just how young he still is given how well-traveled his early career has been.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

Again, might be a TL;DR for you, but I figured I'd clarify my thoughts some.

Umm.

 

[Big Fat Rebound]

Umm.

It took me longer than I would like to admit to understand where you were going with this, but I think I got it.

EDIT: Or maybe not, maybe that line makes me seem too much like a simp for a message board lmao.

 

[KyleJRM]

If you wanna right off a player who has excelled at every level and absolutely dominated the WHL.. go ahead. Would be the stupidest thing ever tho.

I never understand what "writing someone off" means. It's some kind of weird overreaction to the idea that not every single prospect is guaranteed to pan out.

 

[KyleJRM]

If Lundestrom spent the next 15 months getting smaller, slower and worse at hockey, he would be where Steel is now at the same age

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

It took me longer than I would like to admit to understand where you were going with this, but I think I got it.

EDIT: Or maybe not, maybe that line makes me seem too much like a simp for a message board lmao.

No, you got it.