Zegras feels like another square peg in a round hole. He's playing atrociously, is something wrong there?
Nashville Predators Talk - 2024/2025 Season
- Thread starter AtlantaWhaler
- Start date
Zegras got moved from center to wing for numerous games this year. Hes playing out of position that’s the reason I believe his numbers are down.
Bringer of Jollity
Registered User
Still trying to get rhythm after injuries last season, bad team, being asked to play more of a two-way game (the whole Ducks team really), needs to strengthen up, lacks confidence. I don't see him being utilized here in a way that would get the most out of him, judging by our handling of some of our other young players. He needs a place where he can play his preferred center without having a lot of defensive responsibilities and can freewheel offensively.
Armourboy
Hey! You suck!
I think you move Sissons, Nyquist and anyone else you can move off this roster come the trade deadline, or before if the value is good enough. Sissons past will get someone to cough up a decent pick, GM's will just use the excuse that he was on a bad team. If someone wants Carrier or Lauzon then you move them, same for Smith, McCarron, Schenn, heck frankly anyone that isn't under the age of 30.
At seasons end you sit down with Josi, Forsberg, Stamkos, Marchessault and Saros and see if they want to stick around for what could be a rough couple of years. If the answer is yes then you just keep on, if the answer is no then you get what you can for them and move along. If you can't move one of them reasonably then tough luck.
Despite the signings Trotz has a window where he can still do some things to make some moves. I honestly think the only contract that would be almost impossible to move is Stamkos, but I think even that one is moveable if you are willing to eat some of that cap.
At seasons end you sit down with Josi, Forsberg, Stamkos, Marchessault and Saros and see if they want to stick around for what could be a rough couple of years. If the answer is yes then you just keep on, if the answer is no then you get what you can for them and move along. If you can't move one of them reasonably then tough luck.
Despite the signings Trotz has a window where he can still do some things to make some moves. I honestly think the only contract that would be almost impossible to move is Stamkos, but I think even that one is moveable if you are willing to eat some of that cap.
getting Zegras is a move that I would not be opposed to. He’s 23 years old, already proven that he can be an effective 2C and could develop into a 1C in a few years. That’s something this organization does not have and desperately needs. He’s got speed and skill also something the organization desperately needs.
Does he have some defensive liabilities? Yes but if Brunette wants to play this run n gun breakout style of offense, is the defensive liability a big deal? He would be expected to jump out of the zone for a clearing pass as soon as a defender touches the puck like our forwards do now, he can just do it faster.
His addition would make Novak expendable, with Parsinnen’s play, one of McCarron or Sissons would become expendable as well leaving the other to take over as 3rd line center. Svechkov comes up when O’Reilly leaves and plays 2C, if he comes up this year or next he can play 3C moving Pars to 4C for the next year or two. When O’Reilly leaves, Zegras to 1C, Svechkov to 2C and Oars at 3C. BAM done.
think when they complete my interviews and the hiring process for me to take over as GM, you guys are gonna like what I’m cooking here.
Does he have some defensive liabilities? Yes but if Brunette wants to play this run n gun breakout style of offense, is the defensive liability a big deal? He would be expected to jump out of the zone for a clearing pass as soon as a defender touches the puck like our forwards do now, he can just do it faster.
His addition would make Novak expendable, with Parsinnen’s play, one of McCarron or Sissons would become expendable as well leaving the other to take over as 3rd line center. Svechkov comes up when O’Reilly leaves and plays 2C, if he comes up this year or next he can play 3C moving Pars to 4C for the next year or two. When O’Reilly leaves, Zegras to 1C, Svechkov to 2C and Oars at 3C. BAM done.
think when they complete my interviews and the hiring process for me to take over as GM, you guys are gonna like what I’m cooking here.
Bringer of Jollity
Registered User
I think Zegras has shown he can be a productive center when given minutes on very bad hockey teams. I'm not convinced he can be an effective 2C on a competitive team. Granted, we're not that either.
glenngineer
Registered User
I worry about Zegras turning into another Joey, a 1C but at the lower end of the scale. I like the vision. Don't forget about Surin at some point down the line too. I like that the kid has a bit of a nasty streak.
I haven’t done any sort of comparison of Zegras and Johansen from 19-23 years old so I’m not sure how they stack up against each other stats wise but I don’t think that they are even remotely close to the same style of player. He’s 23 and played in a losing environment on a tanking team since he was drafted. Will he turn into Johansen 2.0? Possibly. With his offensive skill set, I’d be willing to take a risk that he becomes more than that.
I think Surin has the potential to become a really good 3C or 4C for this organization some day down the road.
Bringer of Jollity
Registered User
I don't think he's Joey. He's more Kyle Turris with more technical skill and creativity.
Predsanddead24
Registered User
- Mar 7, 2019
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I haven’t watched Zegras in any detail and I know he’s had injury issues but the numbers last year and this year are pretty rough. If they’re trading him for cheap I’d consider it but if they are asking for the return you’d expect for a young top six C I’d be a bit worried.
Agreed. If we can toss a 2nd rounder + Carrier/Sissons or something to get it done, I'm in, but if they are asking for a 1st++ I'd stay away.
I was amazed last night that Brunette actually broke up Lauzon and Carrier. Of course it was two games after they sent Fabbro down the road so you had Del Gaizo pulling minutes with Josi (with Josi playing right side...)
Here's the thing with this bit, I think; Forsberg and Josi are the best players we've ever had on this team, and they've been around for over a decade. They have a presence on this team. If they both tell you, yes I want to stay, then you have to keep Stamkos, Saros, Marchessault and continue to try to win. If even one of them tells you "no, I want to be traded" then you have to trade them both, along with the other spare parts + Saros, and keep Stamkos and O'Reilly around. You can't do a complete tear down of selling all the leadership and let the young locker room turn into what's happened in Buffalo or Detroit. Stamkos and O'Reilly are exactly the guys that you want to keep around as mentors - I don't think I would trade them only let Josi and Forsberg lead another rebuilding group, and that's not a knock on Josi or Fil as leaders, I would just rather the proven winners be the top voices in the locker room that the kids look up to
His numbers last year were way down because he suffered a major injury. He ended up having surgery on his broken ankle. Not sure that’s the type of injury that would be considered a long term issue. His numbers are down this season because they moved him to wing. They have McTavish and Carlson both of which are probably 1C on any other roster. He finds himself as odd man out when it comes to too 6 center in Anaheim. (A situation he definitely would not be facing in Nashville as Nashville doesn’t have anything close to the caliber of center as Carlson and McTavish).
The Kyle Turris comparison is pretty be I never thought about. I’m not sure I’d agree with it but it’s definitely one to look into. If I’m not mistaken Turris took a nose dive after a foot issue that plagued him after he got here and basically ended his career. Not sure Turris ever showed the offensive upside that Zegras has proven to have at such an early age either.
