Player Discussion Mason McTavish

[WhatTheDuck]

I wonder what the Ducks' record is for a 19-year old and younger?

Unless I'm missing something, I think McTavish now has the best U20 season in franchise history, with his 41 points surpassing Fowler's 40 from his rookie year.

Most of the top forward rookies over the years, have been in their age 20 or older season (ie no longer WJC eligible).

McTavish - 41 and counting
Fowler - 40
Drysdale - 32
Lindholm - 30
Chistov - 30
Tverdovsky - 22
Zegras - 13
DSP - 13
Tverdovsky - 12
Kilger - 12

Ten highest season point totals by Ducks players who were still WJC eligible at the time.

Edit - and if we are talking total points in age 18/19 seasons, McT would have just recently passed not just Fowler but also Drysdale who had 40 total points in 105 games.

 

[DuckDuckGetz]

I wonder what the Ducks' record is for a 19-year old and younger?

I can’t imagine it’s that great, right? It feels like throwing players into the league at 19 is more of a recent trend

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I can’t imagine it’s that great, right? It feels like throwing players into the league at 19 is more of a recent trend

Under GM Murray, here's what I recall:

- D Fowler was thrown in at age 18, turned 19 on Dec 5th. (2010-11)
- D Lindholm was 19 years old to start his NHL career, but turned 20 years old on Jan 20. (2013-14)
- C Lundestrom was pushed up at 18 years old because we had a slew of injuries down the middle. (2018-19)
- C Zegras got a 24 NHL game stint as a 19 year old. (2020-21)
- D Drysdale got a 24 NHL game stint as an 18 year old. (2020-21)
- C McTavish started as a 19 year old and turned 20 in Jan. (2022-23)

If we... sorry, when we land Bedard, then he'll join that group.

 

[MMC]

Not practicing today, so his season may be over

43 points, 17 goals in his rookie season

 

[All Mighty]

Not practicing today, so his season may be over

43 points, 17 goals in his rookie season

I was expecting around 35 before the season started. He's been a very effective player for most of the season, and that one-timer on the PP is deadly.

 

[Leonardo87]

I was expecting around 35 before the season started. He's been a very effective player for most of the season, and that one-timer on the PP is deadly.

If we can get the PP run better, both Z and Mac are going to see their production go up significantly.

 

[TopShelfWaterBottle]

If we can get the PP run better, both Z and Mac are going to see their production go up significantly.

Offensive defenseman will help tremendously

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Offensive defenseman will help tremendously

Coaching will help tremendously. Biggest difference between last year and this year. We had only one game plan, set it up for McTavish for a one timer.

We need a superior PP coach. Maybe we can lure Geoff Ward back if everyone on his personal side is right?

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

Coaching will help tremendously. Biggest difference between last year and this year. We had only one game plan, set it up for McTavish for a one timer.

We need a superior PP coach. Maybe we can lure Geoff Ward back if everyone on his personal side is right?

Ive heard rumblings Backbock is in town... Can you imagine if they let Eakins go and hire backcock

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Ive heard rumblings Backbock is in town... Can you imagine if they let Eakins go and hire backcock

I used to like Babcock until his tenure with the Leafs. I'm good moving on from him.

A coach I'd like to bring in that also knows our players is Kevin Dineen. He's coached Z and Drysdale in 2020-21 season as well as Terry in the 2019-20 season. Lundy was with him for two seasons.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

I used to like Babcock until his tenure with the Leafs. I'm good moving on from him.

A coach I'd like to bring in that also knows our players is Kevin Dineen. He's coached Z and Drysdale in 2020-21 season as well as Terry in the 2019-20 season. Lundy was with him for two seasons.

What was the story on Dineen leaving the org? I don't really remember anything.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

What was the story on Dineen leaving the org? I don't really remember anything.

GM Murray wanted something different and with a coach who could relate to the younger prospects. Joel Bouchard was available from Montreal's AHL system and his plan with Anaheim was to eventually supplant Eakins. It didn't work out with Bouchard, but also we had a new GM to not give him a longer burn... not that he deserved it.

It sucked for Dineen, but we haven't been good for the past two seasons since his departure. Dineen's had NHL coaching experience before with Florida and probably is itching to get back.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

GM Murray wanted something different and with a coach who could relate to the younger prospects. Joel Bouchard was available from Montreal's AHL system and his plan with Anaheim was to eventually supplant Eakins. It didn't work out with Bouchard, but also we had a new GM to not give him a longer burn... not that he deserved it.

It sucked for Dineen, but we haven't been good for the past two seasons since his departure. Dineen's had NHL coaching experience before with Florida and probably is itching to get back.

Oh, OK. I remember the big deal about bringing in Bouchard. Didn't remember that's what got Dineen fired. I do recall people speaking highly of him before.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Oh, OK. I remember the big deal about bringing in Bouchard. Didn't remember that's what got Dineen fired. I do recall people speaking highly of him before.

Dineen got lots of praise back when he coached our prospects back in Portland. He coached the same system in the AHL as what was being taught at the NHL level, way back in 2005. The transition was smoother for the prospects. When we switched AHL affiliates, Dineen didn't want to leave Maine and his family, so we went our separate ways. I remember being in Cincinnati and the Iowa Pork Chops, but I digress. I guess Dineen's family has grown to where he can pursue chasing a dream to coach in the NHL again.

Dineen was only with us for two seasons in San Diego. He made Groulx look amazing in 2020-21 that Groulx won a starting C spot at the 2021-22 season. Also, in 2020-21, when Lundy was being transitioned to wing, Lundy didn't look good to start the NHL season at wing and was sent down. In a short amount of time during the AHL pre-season, Dineen must have coached Lundy up b/c he was flying up and down like a mad-man on the wing and got promoted to the NHL before playing a single, regular season AHL game.

Of course, Dineen had Z and Drysdale. Drysdale won rookie of the month and Z looked great on his second stint in the NHL as a centerman in 2020-21.

 

[KaseMeOutside]

Ive heard rumblings Backbock is in town... Can you imagine if they let Eakins go and hire backcock

If Babcock didn't turn into such a douche it would be great to have him back but it seems like he grew a massive ego after leaving

 

[Mr Rogers]

I'm agnostic on Babcock but curious to hear what he had to say on with Brewster last night. Plan to listen in just a little bit.

 

[Mr Rogers]

Early on in the interview but man i have to say, i agree with almost everything Babcock has said.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

Early on in the interview but man i have to say, i agree with almost everything Babcock has said.

He's a good coach but I worry he's too much of an asshole to have around the kids.

 

[DavidBL]

Early on in the interview but man i have to say, i agree with almost everything Babcock has said.

Link to the interview?

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

Link to the interview?

Ditto. Need it

 

[Kalv]

Idk why but once or twice a question crossed my mind "what if McTavish somehow goes the Ritchie route"? Idk why.

McTavish just scored more points than Ritchie ever did in a season. In a comparable age season, Ritchie had 4 (McTavish had 40).
Idk what to do with this information but forgive me as this is a long offseason

Now have to hope McT doesn't have the Commtois experience where he scored a lot of points on a bad team and then disappeared. The offseason continues, thank you for coming to my TED talk.

 

[Gliff]

Idk why but once or twice a question crossed my mind "what if McTavish somehow goes the Ritchie route"? Idk why.

McTavish just scored more points than Ritchie ever did in a season. In a comparable age season, Ritchie had 4 (McTavish had 40).
Idk what to do with this information but forgive me as this is a long offseason

Now have to hope McT doesn't have the Commtois experience where he scored a lot of points on a bad team and then disappeared. The offseason continues, thank you for coming to my TED talk.

McTavish would be similar to Ritchie if Ritchie could actually skate and was born with an iq about 100 higher.

Seriously. I don’t have any concern of that happening to him. I doubt he ever becomes a ppg #1 center, but he will likely be a ROR level guy that will probably be captain.

 

[Trojans86]

McTavish actually has explosive legs. He is big and heavy so he isn’t a burner but there is a huge amount of pop in his legs. Ritchie was the exact opposite. Not to mention, Mctavish is a much better scorer, playmaker, forechecker….I never understood the Ritchie hype. That guy is not an nhler to me.

 

[lwvs84]

To add, McTavish also seems to have a great work ethic. I think there were quotes posted about how he's dragging coaches into the video room to watch video and learn and is one of the first on/ last off the ice? I don't remember anything like that said about Ritchie.

 

[Arthuros]

To add, McTavish also seems to have a great work ethic. I think there were quotes posted about how he's dragging coaches into the video room to watch video and learn and is one of the first on/ last off the ice? I don't remember anything like that said about Ritchie.

Probably never crossed Ritchie's mind to actually give a shit.

I'd wager quite a lot doesn't cross Ritchie's mind besides taking bad penalties.