Talent was there. It's just now, Ana has added MacTavish, Carlsson at C. Gauthier played switched to C in college from W during is Nat Dev team days. Plus, Gaucher is a C who is developing. Just no room long term at C for Zegras.
Player Discussion Mason McTavish
- Thread starter Ducks DVM
- Start date
This makes no sense. The only con of Z at center is his lack of a 2-way game. McTavish has not shown he is any better at the NHL in terms of a 2-way game.
To me its a no brainer that McT should be on the wing before Z.
I think I'm officially on the McTavish on wing team. It's not working at center and he needs less responsibility. I'm not sure what's going on with him but I was expecting a big step forward and this has been a big step back this year. It's like he's forgotten what his strengths are.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
Or it's being coached out of him? Mac looks bigger and skates faster, but something just isn't clicking. Maybe he is playing the dump & chase scheme and his teammates aren't on the same page like last season? On the PP, he's no longer the one-timer specialist, which is his strength on the PP.
I do like him at center b/c he's the only top-9 center we have that's somewhat physical. He's also similar to Z such that Mac's more engaged at center. When team Canada played Mac at wing for the Olympic games, his gameplay was neutralized.
Or two years ago this team had vets and the opposition did not game plan for him. Now teams are gameplanning on the kids and theres a scouting report on them
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
Or... teams know how simple Cronin's offensive and defensive AHL scheme that they can easily stymie our players. Mac isn't the only one struggling. Cronin said in the Chicago post-game interview that he is still experiencing the same problem with his team in game #93 about not prioritizing the "shot after the shot". That mean 82 games from last year and 11 games so far this season. That isn't the only issue plaguing the Ducks for 93 games under Cronin.
You have a bunch of 21 -22 year olds who weigh 170. You cannot expect them to go after the shot after the shot. The opposing teams have players at 6'3" 220-230 lbs standing in front of the goal. You think these kids can outmuscle them?
Thats why they call it old-man strength. 30 year old Kesler would eat these kids for breakfast. Then imagine Getzlaf and Perry out there as well. These kids stand no chance.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
What are you talking about?
Terry was a 60+ point scorer before Cronin. Z was a 60+ pt scorer before Cronin. Mac looked like he was breaking out last year with a ppg rate in the first 20 games of the season until he succumbed to several injuries. Fowler set career highs in scoring prior to Cronin. The only players that have looked good to great this season are G Dostal and F Terry.
The Ducks scored fewer 5v5/ES goals last year than Eakins' last year here with a shit roster. And we're continuing to see the lack of 5v5/ES goals scored this season. We are currently ranked 31st in 5v5 goals for with 13 goals, which is one more than last place NYI. (Source = Natural Stat Trick)
Mac actually lasted 80 games under Eakins and PIM of 44. Last year, Mac played 64 games and a PIM of 86. This year, 11 games played and a PIM of 12. Mac is 6'0 and 214 lbs this year. He's bowling ball who also looks faster this year. He already has outmuscled many. Something isn't clicking not only for Mac, but for the rest of the team too.
You point to the players as the failure and I just proved those players were more productive under a different coach.
Ducks DVM
sowcufucakky
My issue isn’t his production, it’s his play. He’s too frequently lost on the ice, and the stupid penalty meme is a real thing.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
I'm frustrated with Mac too. You can see him assessing and processing, but maybe he's doing it too much to his detriment. How can Cronin get Mac to last year's Mac while also making him responsible?
Cronin's coaching x stubbornness to adapt = Clarity by Zedd.
"Walk on through a red parade
and refuse to make amends.
It cuts deep through our ground
and makes us forget all common sense."
"Cause you are a piece of me
I wish I didn't need.
Chasing relentlessly,
still fight and I don't know why?"
"If our love is a tragedy,
why are you my remdy?
If our love's insanity,
why are you my clarity?"
Hamilton Bulldogs
Registered User
- Jan 11, 2022
- 4,183
- 5,941
It's hard to judge Mac or any of the other young guys from what weve seen since last season. I hope they dont move any of these guys before trying another system/staff
The point is you are asking the kids to do something they are physically unable to do. Its nearly impossible for them to fight for second chance shots in front of the net if they cannot outmuscle the opponent. I chalk this up to poor coaching.
You have guys that are outweighed by 50 pounds and are going 20 mphs hitting you against the boards. The kids cannot withstand something like that 3 times a week. Its like expecting Drysdale to be injury free when he gets outweighed by opponents by 50 pounds.
To counteract this is to use speed and pin point passing in open ice. You draw quick penalties and get break away goals. However, this coaching staff doesn't have us do any of that. The players cant even make proper passes in the blue line.
Then we have Sennecke who will be coming in next year. This kid's arms are thinner than the stick he is holding.
ORRFForever
Registered User
- Oct 29, 2018
- 19,754
- 11,021
NHL teams are brining kids into the NHL at too young an age. I'm not sure if it is to :
1) Save money or
2) Because they want to be credited for producing a young star player or
3) Because they want to sell tickets
...but they are ruining careers. Look at LAF in NY or Byfield in LA or even Bedard in Chicago. What does it serve to have these KIDS in the NHL at such an early age?
Let the kids either play in Junior or the NCAA or the AHL. Give them a chance to develop before throwing them to the wolves.
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70sSanO
Registered User
McTavish has had a bad start. The worst part are his penalties. Especially since most are bad/lazy ones.
I’m also not sure of his hockey IQ as this year his game seems off in general.
While I think Cronin had really screwed up this team, but each player needs to take responsibility to make adjustments and find their game.
Zegras has made adjustments, whether good or bad, to fit into a scheme. McTavish needs to do the same.
John
I’m also not sure of his hockey IQ as this year his game seems off in general.
While I think Cronin had really screwed up this team, but each player needs to take responsibility to make adjustments and find their game.
Zegras has made adjustments, whether good or bad, to fit into a scheme. McTavish needs to do the same.
John
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
You are agreeing with me that our current coaching staff are misusing our youths because they're forcing the team to play "dump & chase" when they're talents are not designed for that type of play. If our GM hired a coach to play "dump & chase", then maybe he should acquire players that fit that type of grinding play - specifically veteran players.
And this is where the GM comes into play. You cite Drysdale as an example, but Drysdale was able to play 81 games as well as put up 32 points while playing next to Lindholm for most of the 2021-22 season. Our GM got rid of our physicality and hasn't surrounded our youths with replacement, top-end veterans to shelter the youths. We lost two of our best defensive forwards in Rico and Silf after last season. All the veterans acquired by Verbeek haven't been up to snuff for an extended period such as we have no top-6 veteran forwards of note - all of our top-6 forwards types are youths.
To bring this back to Mac, he was drafted by our previous GM because he was different from recent forward draft picks who were finesse types in Zegras, Tracey, and Perreault. Mac had an NHL body in his draft year as a 17-year old and has continually added muscle year after year. Mac doesn't get pushed around this year as he's like a tank out there.
As for Sennecke, he's a January baby and currently still only 18 years old. He is in that gray area for top-end prospects who cannot qualify for the AHL in their D+2 season. While I would prefer Sennecke stay in juniors for next season, Verbeek might pull another Luneau "load mgmt gimmick" and eventually return him to juniors and WJC to bulk Sennecke up.
