Player Discussion Mason McTavish

[Hockey Duckie]

Zegras and Drysdale really benefited in the AHL, both showed they can dominate there and here they are now in the NHL looking very promising. Wish Mac could spend some time there but like you said the agreement sucks.

Drysdale is an example the Ducks will follow. Drysdale's talent was better last year than many other defensemen, which is why he was never sent to the AHL when he really needed that AHL time. McTavish is in the same boat. We really need top-6 offensive talent and we don't have a lot of top-6 options that can push McTavish down even if we had the AHL option.

But McTavish is different b/c at the AHL level, he'd be playing center, not wing.

Things I've learned about him so far are that he has playmaking skills that i didn't know he had and is much more raw defensively than i had expected. Part of that could be because he's a C, but he's looked clueless a lot of the time. let's see if he can turn it around a bit against SJ and Van this week.

Remember how Z looked out of place as a winger in his first stint with the Ducks during COVID season? When he was brought back up a second time with the Ducks as a center, his play took off. I'm wondering if a similar thing is occurring with McTavish. After playing center for most of last season, playing wing isn't ideal for McTavish, I suppose. The only time McTavish played wing for an extended time was at the Olympics. And he didn't fare well there.

 

[Kalv]

"Fellas, let's Sam Steel him" -our management, probably

 

[Anaheim4ever]

"Fellas, let's Sam Steel him" -our management, probably

Also our management: Cause Drysdale is bad defensively lets turn him into a 2way specialist like Fowler when he's healthy again, lets coach away any creativity and aggressiveness in the offensive zone out of him.

 

[Kalv]

Also our management: Cause Drysdale is bad defensively lets turn him into a 2way specialist like Fowler when he's healthy again, lets coach away any creativity and aggressiveness in the offensive zone out of him.

Mahura, Montour, Lindholm when they leave the Ducks:

 

[Deuce22]

Mahura, Montour, Lindholm when they leave the Ducks:

View attachment 602134

Lindholm was an absolute beast last night. Left me thinking, "why didn't the Ducks deploy him this way?"

 

[70sSanO]

Lindholm was an absolute beast last night. Left me thinking, "why didn't the Ducks deploy him this way?"

The Ducks run their organization like Delta Tau Chi. Once they assign a role to the pledges it stays with them as long as they are here.

John

 

[bsu]

The Ducks run their organization like Delta Tau Chi. Once they assign a role to the pledges it stays with them as long as they are here.

John

Lundestrom is crying somewhere.

 

[cheesymc]

MacTavish would be better served getting premium opportunities and max minutes in the AHL. He's really not showing his puck skills at the NHL level and playing on such a shitty soft team doesn't help his development. If they moved Regenda to "protect" him from this negative environment I really don't understand why you would keep a top prospect here who is critical for the organization's future. Since he can't go to the AHL can he be loaned to SHL or other professional league?

 

[Ducks DVM]

MacTavish would be better served getting premium opportunities and max minutes in the AHL. He's really not showing his puck skills at the NHL level and playing on such a shitty soft team doesn't help his development. If they moved Regenda to "protect" him from this negative environment I really don't understand why you would keep a top prospect here who is critical for the organization's future. Since he can't go to the AHL can he be loaned to SHL or other professional league?

No, because he played in the CHL. It’s either here or back to juniors.

 

[Mr Rogers]

Interesting potential wrinkle for mctavish too I guess, although I wouldn’t want to scratch him for 5 straight games.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Interesting potential wrinkle for mctavish too I guess, although I wouldn’t want to scratch him for 5 straight games.

I thought that was for the extended conditioning stint? Hmmm... learn something new. Wouldn't the scratching of 5 consecutive games occur while he's down in the AHL? I believe that's what happened with McTavish last year on his conditioning stint. He was listed on the NHL roster all the while he was in the AHL b/c technically he couldn't be a part of the AHL due to the CHL-NHL agreement.

 

[Leonardo87]

I thought Mac looked much better last night, even picked up an apple, His line-mates are not giving him any justice. He should not be on a 4th line like this, he is supposed to be in the Top 6 and get mins.

Can he go to the AHL for 14 days and play Top line mins? Ducks need to do this if they can. Frigging hate the guidelines .

They are Sam Steeling him right now. Lol.

Even Terry and Zegras who are producing and looking legit, both benefited by being sent back to the AHL.

 

[McDonald19]

I thought Mac looked much better last night, even picked up an apple, His line-mates are not giving him any justice. He should not be on a 4th line like this, he is supposed to be in the Top 6 and get mins.

Can he go to the AHL for 14 days and play Top line mins? Ducks need to do this if they can. Frigging hate the guidelines .

They are Sam Steeling him right now. Lol.

Even Terry and Zegras who are producing and looking legit, both benefited by being sent back to the AHL.

Kraken likely to keep Wright, may loan F to AHL, WJC - TSN.ca

"Now, here's an interesting sidebar to this story because there is a clause inside the agreement between the NHL and the CHL that allows junior-eligible players like Shane Wright to be loaned to the American Hockey League. Now, to qualify, Wright would have to be a healthy scratch in the NHL for five straight games. He can only be loaned once to the AHL and can only stay for a maximum of 14 days.”

 

[DavidBL]

I'm actually curious to see how McTavish might do centering Carrick and Jones. Carrick seems to have a tendency to help young players find their footing.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I thought Mac looked much better last night, even picked up an apple, His line-mates are not giving him any justice. He should not be on a 4th line like this, he is supposed to be in the Top 6 and get mins.

Can he go to the AHL for 14 days and play Top line mins? Ducks need to do this if they can. Frigging hate the guidelines .

They are Sam Steeling him right now. Lol.

Even Terry and Zegras who are producing and looking legit, both benefited by being sent back to the AHL.

I'm actually fine with the process knowing full well we can't send McTavish down to the AHL for an overextended period of time, like half the season. He's far too dominant to return to Juniors.

Eakins has finally put McTavish in at center for the past two games. The first game, his line didn't get much of a burn, but he was able to play center again. That line of Leason-McTavish-Jones was non-descript in the first game. The second game, both McTavish and Leason looked more lively. You can see both having more confidence in their game. I think Leason will be looking to shoot more after being surprised that McTavish can make close, tight-knit passes to him in a prime shooting location. That's a paring I would want to keep together if McTavish continues to play center.

McTavish looks more involved at center and is much more active defensively too, which Hazy often pointed out during the last game.

Knowing how poorly the roster has been constructed and how we started the season, my brain just thinks of developmental year. I'm not impatient for wins, but looking forward to how Eakins is able to get this rag-tag of a roster working together knowing full well we're deficient in defensive D talent. Apparently, Z is going to be inconsistent all year. Right now, I'm just satisfied that McTavish is getting burn at center. And if continues to improve, then maybe Eakins will keep him there.

We can call McTavish's line the energy line. I know Getz-Perry started off as third liners with the Ducks, but that's because we had a lot more talent that pushed them down. Similarly, Zegras and Strome are our centers in the top-6. Let McTavish continue to earn the minutes and trust at center.

 

[Deuce22]

So laughable to me that we are putting a top prospect center at wing because we are worried about his defensive responsibility. With this D corps and goaltending. Astonishing that he looks better at center (see Zegras, Trevor).

 

[Kalv]

I thought Mac looked much better last night, even picked up an apple, His line-mates are not giving him any justice. He should not be on a 4th line like this, he is supposed to be in the Top 6 and get mins.

Can he go to the AHL for 14 days and play Top line mins? Ducks need to do this if they can. Frigging hate the guidelines .

They are Sam Steeling him right now. Lol.

Even Terry and Zegras who are producing and looking legit, both benefited by being sent back to the AHL.

Perhaps they started with a little responsibility for him on center on purpose and will gradually increase the ice time and responsibility.

That being said, I'm cautious now of assuming any reasonable move by our coaching staff

 

[Leonardo87]

Perhaps they started with a little responsibility for him on center on purpose and will gradually increase the ice time and responsibility.

That being said, I'm cautious now of assuming any reasonable move by our coaching staff

He’s certainly has looked better at C. 5 points in 11 games is really not too bad for a 19yo rookie and considering the ice time he has been getting. He also made a nice defensive play to keep the puck out of danger that was sliding in the crease. If the Ducks had more crease clearers would not be having this nightmare of giving up 4 plus goals every night. Lol.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

So laughable to me that we are putting a top prospect center at wing because we are worried about his defensive responsibility. With this D corps and goaltending. Astonishing that he looks better at center (see Zegras, Trevor).

I don't know if it was defensive responsibility, but the ability to re-wet his feet again in the NHL since he's been out for a year. It's just to get accustomed to playing a faster game against men. A lot of people point to the Olympics and McTavish not doing much against men, but he was playing wing there instead of center.

I was an advocate for starting McTavish at center, but I'm okay with starting him off at wing first. Remember, he was still recovering from an injuring in pre-season. Also, our team is still figuring itself out on the ice still. We have too many variables at play to settle our team. I hope Eakins continues to play McTavish at center so he can used to the speed and nuances there. Maybe it'll all click in 20 or some games.

We're in a development season with an unbalanced roster. I'm fine with McTavish earning that trust at center.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

He’s certainly has looked better at C. 5 points in 11 games is really not too bad for a 19yo rookie and considering the ice time he has been getting. He also made a nice defensive play to keep the puck out of danger that was sliding in the crease. If the Ducks had more crease clearers would not be having this nightmare of giving up 4 plus goals every night. Lol.

iirc, I think it was McTavish's fault for not getting the puck out and he made that save. Or maybe it was another play, but it had me cringe a bit. whenever he loses possession in the defensive end.

McTavish isn't often known for being a defensive stalwart, but he's effective down low. I wouldn't want him playing point-forward on the PK b/c he doesn't have that big burst to fall back into the passing lane to disrupt passes. Maybe in time, he can get that burst to play that attacking forward who can drop back as fast.

I'm trying to temper my excitement now that McTavish is at center since he started out on wing instead of center. Seeing McTavish not being consistent as a top-6 forward has me much more humbled. It could be he needed to be at center to be more dynamic (I said this before) and be more engaged. I just hope he can figure it out sooner so he can help the team score at ES and on the PP.

 

[Goose of Reason]

So laughable to me that we are putting a top prospect center at wing because we are worried about his defensive responsibility. With this D corps and goaltending. Astonishing that he looks better at center (see Zegras, Trevor).

I've actually missed the last 2 games due to work being nuts, but I think I'm starting to turn on that "wing is inherently easier for players" theory between watching Z, Tage Thompson and reading about Mac looking a lot better. Some guys are just centers and it should stay that way.

 

[Kalv]

Perhaps we will let him go to the WJC?

 

[Ducks in a row]

McTavish 1st goal of the season

 

[bsu]

Great game tonight

 

[Kalv]

Has looked better every game at C