Player Discussion Mason McTavish

[Hockey Duckie]

I still say his hockey sense is not at the level everyone thought. He just doesn’t seem to have a feel for the game. Maybe it’s Croninitis but it will prevent him from being what we all hoped he would be. He’s not Ritchie level dumb but I just don’t see him as a cerebral player.

I think Mac is a "Yes" man. He's trying to implement what Cronin wants from him and it's not working, but he's still being a good trooper for Cronin. Cronin's coached the game out of him just like Cronin coached the game out of all of our young forwards.

 

[KelVarnsen]

I think Mac is a "Yes" man. He's trying to implement what Cronin wants from him and it's not working, but he's still being a good trooper for Cronin. Cronin's coached the game out of him just like Cronin coached the game out of all of our young forwards.

I hope you’re right or we picked a 3rd line player at 3rd OA.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I think Mac is a "Yes" man. He's trying to implement what Cronin wants from him and it's not working, but he's still being a good trooper for Cronin. Cronin's coached the game out of him just like Cronin coached the game out of all of our young forwards.

I wasn’t a super big fan of the mctavish pick at time of draft…

He’s shown flashes of upside… but also gives off nick Ritchie/comtois vibes at times(albeit better version).

Id like to see all the young guys under a new coach…. But mctavish has been overall very disappointing

 

[Goose of Reason]

Mac's so interesting because he was playing at a very high level for the first 25ish games last season, then slowed right down and looked like he was hurt and was chasing the play. Then Verbeek made his comments about guys needing to learn to play hurt and he just sort of bumbled around out there the rest of the year, and he looks the exact same this season. I wonder if there's an underlying injury there, because his IQ looked like a strength until he slowed down and now he's just chasing the play. He's only really effective directly around the net at this point, and his one timer has seemed to disappear.

 

[Rasp]

I bet he is playing through injuries. Ever since those back issues he had Iv felt like he has been told that he needs to learn to play through it

 

[ohcomeonref]

He's terrible. I hate to say it

 

[Deuce22]

A lot of cope in this thread. McTavish has me wondering if he’ll ever be a top 6 scorer. Defense first coaching is a factor, but at some point he has to step up. Other young guys at least create chances or shoot the puck once in awhile.

 

[DavidBL]

I feel like he does have moments still. Still worried about him. I don't think anyone thought he'd be as offensively talented as Z and look at what the coaching has done to him. Look at Leo, I was told he should be in the range of first overall picks and in the same their as a guy like celebrini. He doesn't look like it right. It. I feel like all 3 are producing in tiers below what you would have expected.

 

[ohcomeonref]

I feel like he does have moments still. Still worried about him. I don't think anyone thought he'd be as offensively talented as Z and look at what the coaching has done to him. Look at Leo, I was told he should be in the range of first overall picks and in the same their as a guy like celebrini. He doesn't look like it right. It. I feel like all 3 are producing in tiers below what you would have expected.

We have two young players playing as expected or above what was expected: Dostal and Zel. Helleson could be argued as well. Everyone else is either underperforming or severely underperforming.

 

[freikugel]

We have two young players playing as expected or above what was expected: Dostal and Zel. Helleson could be argued as well. Everyone else is either underperforming or severely underperforming.

This team is the perfect development team for goalies, god knows you'll get enough practice shots against playing for this team

 

[Anaheim4ever]

He's terrible for sure but this is only his first season of being terrible, it hasn't been back to back seasons barely producing half a point a game like Zegras. Cronin has to go.

2021, 2020, 2019. All three of those drafts the Ducks should now be getting production from those high drafted guys. Look at Minnesota, they got Boldy and Rossi putitng up alot of points for them.

 

[Ducks DVM]

I feel like he does have moments still. Still worried about him. I don't think anyone thought he'd be as offensively talented as Z and look at what the coaching has done to him. Look at Leo, I was told he should be in the range of first overall picks and in the same their as a guy like celebrini. He doesn't look like it right. It. I feel like all 3 are producing in tiers below what you would have expected.

Carlsson was always supposed to be a project. Fantilli was supposed to be better immediately and Carlsson better after 3-4 years.

That’s always the case with bigger players. They need to be in their early 20’s to fill that frame out.

 

[anezthes]

Look at Minnesota

Kaprizov.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

We have two young players playing as expected or above what was expected: Dostal and Zel. Helleson could be argued as well. Everyone else is either underperforming or severely underperforming.

I actually think all of our D-men have been playing as expected or above expectations.

Minty has slowed down a bit recently, but still adapting to top-pairing/top-4 role. He struggled with it last year when promoted and then got injured to close out the season. This year is a continuation of the development of a future top-pairing D. This is Minty's 2nd season.

LaCombe has played from expected to above, but his few mistakes do standout to make believe he's a terrible d-man. This is LaCombe's 2nd season.

Zell's offense play is above expectations, but his defense remains a work a progress. Zell has the highest OZone start% on the team at nearly 60.5%. His pairing with LaCombe has helped coverup some of Zell's defensive miscues. First 13 games with Fowler: 2g + 2a = 4pts (0.31 ppg) and a -1 rating. Last 12 games with LaCombe: 2g + 4a = 6pts (0.50 ppg) and a +4 rating.

Helleson has been playing above expectations based upon his play in the AHL to the NHL. At the NHL level, his game has been simplified to a shutdown d-man who can chip in offensively from the point. At the AHL level, he was being developed as an all-around, top-pairing D. That isn't who Helleson was before going to San Diego b/c he was known more for being a shutdown guy first.

 

[Anaheim4ever]

We have two young players playing as expected or above what was expected: Dostal and Zel. Helleson could be argued as well. Everyone else is either underperforming or severely underperforming.

Maddens area of strength Dmen and goalies
Or is there something wrong with how this team develops forwards ? Like the personel are better at working with Dmen and Goalies.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I bet he is playing through injuries. Ever since those back issues he had Iv felt like he has been told that he needs to learn to play through it

I hope that's the case, but he's been mostly bad this season. The other hope is that he might be trying to do too much to where it's affecting his game. Mac went from 42.3% FO wins two seasons ago to 51.7% FO wins last year and down to 46.7% this season. Maybe his year 3 in the NHL is his sophomore slump?

The positive trait about Mac this year is he is always willing to crash the net or stay in front of the net. We don't have enough players willing to do that. The only other person that comes to mind that crashes the net often is D-man LaCombe, which is very weird in itself. Three of LaCombe's goals were from in front of the net. Shit. LaCombe has scored more goals than Mac!!!

 

[Mr Rogers]

Maybe this road trip will get him going a bit since it’s a homecoming of sorts

 

[HabsAddict]

What the heck happened to McT? I remember him for the juniors game and I thought, "why didn't we draft him" because he was going to be the next Perry, instead he's invisible.

It's the first time I watched him the entire game and this isn't the rambunctious kid who would bowl over his mother to score.

If he needs a change of scenery I would take that chance, but like Z, I'm sure the price is sky high.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

What the heck happened to McT? I remember him for the juniors game and I thought, "why didn't we draft him" because he was going to be the next Perry, instead he's invisible.

It's the first time I watched him the entire game and this isn't the rambunctious kid who would bowl over his mother to score.

If he needs a change of scenery I would take that chance, but like Z, I'm sure the price is sky high.

He had a brief peak last year where he looked great, like he’d arrived. And then he left again. Injuries, coaching, mental capacity, we’re not sure what it is. A lot of our kids aren’t doing much so it may not be entirely his fault.

 

[HabsAddict]

We have the same problem with some of ours.

We got Mailman (Mailioux) in yhe AHl and he seems to be flying...backwards. Suppose to be our top RHD prospect and now he's off the first PP into the second and no PK at all. Scores 4 pounts when he got demoted and now is a point here and there.

Developmant is not linear but sometimes i wonder how much they want it.

99% it's between their ears

 

[Hey234]

We have the same problem with some of ours.

We got Mailman (Mailioux) in yhe AHl and he seems to be flying...backwards. Suppose to be our top RHD prospect and now he's off the first PP into the second and no PK at all. Scores 4 pounts when he got demoted and now is a point here and there.

Developmant is not linear but sometimes i wonder how much they want it.

99% it's between their ears

The interesting though is that McTavish did show for a big stretch last season that he does have it somewhere. He has enough hockey sense and natural ability to be successful. Development is definitely not linear and it's normal for young players to struggle at times especially when the team isn't great around you.

IMO, he seems to trying to do different things and go to different places on the ice. McTavish has has a reputation of being very coachable. This indicates to me that it's a coaching issue and he's being utilized incorrectly and being told to do things incorrectly. I think with a different coach utilizing him correctly, his confidence and his play will improve.

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

I would love to see him with a coach that isn’t Dallas Eakins or Greg Cronin.

 

[JonathnTaylorTavares]

I would love to see the puck stay on his stick and not roll or bounce off. Cant blame that on a coach

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I would love to see him with a coach that isn’t Dallas Eakins or Greg Cronin.

Eakins had Mac for his rookie season, D+2. Developed Mac from 2LW to 1C all within a year. Mac had to earn his way to 1C from 4C and a 6:32 game, iirc. He was also more disciplined and didn't cheat much offensively. And Mac was better utilized on the PP with his big shot to where he had 7 PP goals under Eakins. Mac scored 43 points in 80 NHL games for his rookie season, a 0.54 ppg rate.

Just for reference of developing forwards offensively, we can use Z as a good example.

Z
D+2, Eakins: 24 games, 3g + 10a = 13 pts (0.54 ppg) (part-time winger and part-time center)
D+3, Eakins: 75 games, 23g + 38a = 61 pts (0.81 ppg) (rookie season)
D+4, Eakins: 81 games, 23g + 42a = 65 pts (0.80 ppg)
D+5, Cronin: 31 games, 6g + 9a = 15 pts (0.48 ppg)
D+6, Cronin: 24 games, 4g + 6a = 10 pts (0.41 ppg) <--- Current season.

Hell, Eakins helped Terry become a legit scoring, top-line winger and Fowler break career highs in scoring twice. I would love to see Mac develop his offense under Eakins, tbh.

Speaking of Eakins, he has his DEL club, Adler Mannheim in 4th place with a record of 13-2-2-7 (45 pts). Eakins is Mannheim's GM and coach. Eakins took over GM and coaching duties halfway through last season to help Mannheim get into the playoffs as a 7th seed. He's in a 3-year extension with Adler-Mannheim.

I just want a coach who's good with developing offense for our forwards. Cronin is not the man.

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

Eakins had Mac for his rookie season, D+2. Developed Mac from 2LW to 1C all within a year. Mac had to earn his way to 1C from 4C and a 6:32 game, iirc. He was also more disciplined and didn't cheat much offensively. And Mac was better utilized on the PP with his big shot to where he had 7 PP goals under Eakins. Mac scored 43 points in 80 NHL games for his rookie season, a 0.54 ppg rate.

Just for reference of developing forwards offensively, we can use Z as a good example.

Z
D+2, Eakins: 24 games, 3g + 10a = 13 pts (0.54 ppg) (part-time winger and part-time center)
D+3, Eakins: 75 games, 23g + 38a = 61 pts (0.81 ppg) (rookie season)
D+4, Eakins: 81 games, 23g + 42a = 65 pts (0.80 ppg)
D+5, Cronin: 31 games, 6g + 9a = 15 pts (0.48 ppg)
D+6, Cronin: 24 games, 4g + 6a = 10 pts (0.41 ppg) <--- Current season.

Hell, Eakins helped Terry become a legit scoring, top-line winger and Fowler break career highs in scoring twice. I would love to see Mac develop his offense under Eakins, tbh.

Speaking of Eakins, he has his DEL club, Adler Mannheim in 4th place with a record of 13-2-2-7 (45 pts). Eakins is Mannheim's GM and coach. Eakins took over GM and coaching duties halfway through last season to help Mannheim get into the playoffs as a 7th seed. He's in a 3-year extension with Adler-Mannheim.

I just want a coach who's good with developing offense for our forwards. Cronin is not the man.

Bruce