Player Discussion Mason McTavish

[Hinterland]

And that’s where his thirst for knowledge is unabated. McTavish is routinely among the last players to leave the ice after practice, if not the last. Once the regular workout is done, he’s taking faceoffs with Strome and Henrique and he seeks out the veterans for occasional advice. More than that, he’s watching them rather than bugging them. They’re not the only ones he studies.

Well, when it comes to faceoffs I hope he's asking and watching Henrique more than he does Strome...unless it's to learn how not to do it of course

 

[Ducks in a row]

4 point game for him tonight giving him 26 points in 40 games

 

[Leonardo87]

Safe to say he is now in the Calder discussion. If he remains hot, can maybe overtake Beniers.

 

[TheGoodShepard1]

Fly high, Barstool. It soured towards the end of your run here, but your final act may turn out to be arguably the most consequential one in franchise history.

 

[Anaheim4ever]

Safe to say he is now in the Calder discussion. If he remains hot, can maybe overtake Beniers.

Yeah, especially considering Beniers playing on a much better team that what McTavish is doing is quite amazing.

 

[Leonardo87]

Yeah, especially considering Beniers playing on a much better team that what McTavish is doing is quite amazing.

That GW goal was extra special, because he won a puck battle to get it to Terry. Something the Ducks really need to do more. Him breaking out would be huge, and also have this other kid named Zegras. It’s a really good feeling tonight Even if this team is tanking/rebuilding.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

That GW goal was extra special, because he won a puck battle to get it to Terry. Something the Ducks really need to do more. Him breaking out would be huge, and also have this other kid named Zegras. It’s a really good feeling tonight Even if this team is tanking/rebuilding.

It's actually more amazing than that. McTavish lost the puck in the offensive zone, but chased the man down, pinned him against the board and won the puck back to put it in the offensive zone. Then McTavish had to win another puck battle to get it to Terry.

I was getting WJC vibes with McTavish turning the puck over in OT. lol

 

[Hockey Duckie]

4 point game for him tonight giving him 26 points in 40 games

I forget which thread I denoted that McTavish likes to score in bunches in game, but he's increased it from five games to seven in the past two wins.

• Points as 1C: 2 games, 6 points

• Points not as 1C: 38 games, 20 points

The org was holding him back, I tell ya!

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Fly high, Barstool. It soured towards the end of your run here, but your final act may turn out to be arguably the most consequential one in franchise history.

I dunno about soured at the end because when Murray resigned, the Ducks were in the middle of an 8-game winning streak to the top of the Pacific without adding any new blood to the roster during the off-season. Terry, Zegras, and Lundy broke out in the NHL. That 2021 class might be the most impactful as well.

• 2021 Ducks draft class
  • Rd 1. C McTavish (signed, NHL)
  • Rd 2. D Zellweger (signed)
  • Rd 3. RW Pastujov (signed)
  • Rd 3. D Hinds (signed)
  • Rd 4. C Lopina (signed, AHL)
  • Rd 5. LW Tschigerl ... CHL
  • Rd 5. G Alexander (signed, ECHL)
  • Rd 6. C Kukkonen ... NCAA

 

[KaseMeOutside]

But i thought he couldn't pass? He is going to make alot of takes age poorly this kid is gonna be a big time player

 

[Kalv]

Dude was eligible for the WJC...
In 2023 he's on pace for 160 points in a full season, McDavid who?

 

[Leonardo87]

12 points in his last 10 games! On this team? Amazing . I woke up this morning and was still amazed. Lol

 

[Anaheim4ever]

His ceiling looks really high now.
40 goals + 40 to 45 assists.
What's different with him is that he isn't 'locked' towards only being a shoot first or pass first guy, he can do it all.
Had there been more tape of him before he was drafted such as OHL not shutting down he could have gone #2 overall or even #1 overall.

Captain material in him too.
He seems like a really intelligent/focused guy. Nothing rattles him.

 

[Quack Shot]

Glad to have been able to watch the 3rd period and overtime last night.

They need to keep him at 1C. He’s done everything that’s been asked of the coaching staff and has earned his spot.

 

[Sean Garrity]

It's actually more amazing than that. McTavish lost the puck in the offensive zone, but chased the man down, pinned him against the board and won the puck back to put it in the offensive zone. Then McTavish had to win another puck battle to get it to Terry.

I was getting WJC vibes with McTavish turning the puck over in OT. lol

It was a great read in the neutral zone to recognize that the Sharks player was going to try and turn it back.

 

[Kalv]

For a good while I thought that Eklund would be a better pick. Eklund is now in the AHL earning a slightly better PPG pace than McTavish is doing in the NHL, and McTavish obviously last night he exploded in ''their matchup'' but only one was playing in the NHL.

 

[Trojans86]

For a good while I thought that Eklund would be a better pick. Eklund is now in the AHL earning a slightly better PPG pace than McTavish is doing in the NHL, and obviously last night he exploded in ''their matchup'' but only one was playing in the NHL.

I preferred Eklund as well but I’m so happy we ended with a legit point producer that also offers some physical strength to our lineup. Eklund would have made our young core extremely slight.

 

[AngelDuck]

Serious Mark Stone vibes from him. His anticipation is just elite. Such an underrated hockey IQ

I’ve never been this wrong about a draft pick, Hampus Lindholm included

I could honestly see him being named captain this offseason

 

[Dirk316]

Very good player unfortunately the only quality lacking is a mean streak. Easily the most valuable player on this team. I wouldn't trade him for Zegras

 

[Leonardo87]

 

[AngelDuck]

Very good player unfortunately the only quality lacking is a mean streak. Easily the most valuable player on this team. I wouldn't trade him for Zegras

I have to be honest though. We’re better off with him not having the mean streak. Less injuries.

We can find the grit we need in other areas. There’s about 10 guys that bring nothing and need replacing, for starters

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Very good player unfortunately the only quality lacking is a mean streak. Easily the most valuable player on this team. I wouldn't trade him for Zegras

I think he has a bit more of that in him. He may never be the most punishing guy on the ice but when the games get bigger/more important, he'll battle through and do what it takes to win.

 

[ohcomeonref]

The dude is built like a brick shithouse, works hard, has a laser shot, and thinks the game at a high level. We have a good one here.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

His ceiling looks really high now.
40 goals + 40 to 45 assists.
What's different with him is that he isn't 'locked' towards only being a shoot first or pass first guy, he can do it all.
Had there been more tape of him before he was drafted such as OHL not shutting down he could have gone #2 overall or even #1 overall.

Captain material in him too.
He seems like a really intelligent/focused guy. Nothing rattles him.

- I'm the president of McTavish fan club, but he wouldn't have gone #1. Power is #1 and then there's a gap. Our own GM Murray acknowledged the gap.

- There was enough tape out there to rank him #2, which a couple of EP writers did. EP writers Cam Robinson and Mitch Brown raved about McTavish. Here's a podcast interview with Mitch Brown about the WJC.



Total time of interview: 1:06;26

-1:02:14 mark (+0:04:12): Talks about 2022 and 2023 guys; Best scorers of WJC and mentions McTavish​

-0:52:00 mark (+0:14:26): "best point getter" = Eklund love​

-0:50:26 mark (+0:16:00): "best shooters"; McTavish is the only true "dual threat"​

-0:49:06 mark (+0:17:20): "guy that does it all" = McTavish love​

-0:39:18 mark (+0:27:08) : More McTavish deep dive.​

- Central Scouting NA had McTavish ranked #2 prospect. There was enough tape of McTavish for both EP and CS to rank him #2. Everyone else didn't do much research and relied on McTavish's D-1 season. Here's THW's McTavish draft page and shows a couple of scouting firms ranking him in the late 20's and 32nd.

- Just my opinion, McTavish going to the NL-B Swiss league is a big reason for his massive jump in development. Playing against men on a bigger surface made playing at the WJC-18 look slower for McTavish. Also playing with fellow 2021 draftee Othmann (NYR) on the same NL-B team gave scouts talents to compare with for the 2021 draft.

The shutdown and McTavish not being able to travel to Switzerland until Feb allowed McTavish a lot of time to not only bulk up, but to improve his skills along with skating. Wheeler covered that aspect in his expose "From Switzerland and Back".

 

[Kalv]

- I'm the president of McTavish fan club, but he wouldn't have gone #1. Power is #1 and then there's a gap. Our own GM Murray acknowledged the gap.

- There was enough tape out there to rank him #2, which a couple of EP writers did. EP writers Cam Robinson and Mitch Brown raved about McTavish. Here's a podcast interview with Mitch Brown about the WJC.



Total time of interview: 1:06;26

-1:02:14 mark (+0:04:12): Talks about 2022 and 2023 guys; Best scorers of WJC and mentions McTavish​

-0:52:00 mark (+0:14:26): "best point getter" = Eklund love​

-0:50:26 mark (+0:16:00): "best shooters"; McTavish is the only true "dual threat"​

-0:49:06 mark (+0:17:20): "guy that does it all" = McTavish love​

-0:39:18 mark (+0:27:08) : More McTavish deep dive.​

- Central Scouting NA had McTavish ranked #2 prospect. There was enough tape of McTavish for both EP and CS to rank him #2. Everyone else didn't do much research and relied on McTavish's D-1 season. Here's THW's McTavish draft page and shows a couple of scouting firms ranking him in the late 20's and 32nd.

- Just my opinion, McTavish going to the NL-B Swiss league is a big reason for his massive jump in development. Playing against men on a bigger surface made playing at the WJC-18 look slower for McTavish. Also playing with fellow 2021 draftee Othmann (NYR) on the same NL-B team gave scouts talents to compare with for the 2021 draft.

The shutdown and McTavish not being able to travel to Switzerland until Feb allowed McTavish a lot of time to not only bulk up, but to improve his skills along with skating. Wheeler covered that aspect in his expose "From Switzerland and Back".

EP staff raving about someone is usually a good sign indeed. Those guys know their stuff, my favorite media for prospects for sure.