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
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- 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.
It's always tough as fans to say who the great leaders are - it ends up being speculation and reputation. I agree we need leaders, I just don't know if we can say with confidence who they are or that Schenn, Smith, Sissons, etc couldn't fill that role as well as ROR or Stamkos.
Either way, I think Stamkos in particular isn't going anywhere, even if he wants to, based on his contact. Unless we retain half, who would take him right now and give us back something of value?
GoldOnGold
Registered User
We got some pretty good seasons out of Joey, although he was mailing it in at the end for sure. Even if he stays at that level, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world
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How long ago was that? We shouldn't be considered a playoff contender at this point.
Armourboy
Hey! You suck!
I don't think you tie any of them to anything as far as one another. If one wants out you move him, if he doesn't then you have no option but to keep him, but they will need to understand what their role will be going forward. My only goal is to gain assets and make sure guys are happy with where they are both here and with their career. If they aren't moveable then tough imo, you signed the contract and no one thinks you are worth it, that's on you.
I don't think we can say any are bad leaders, but some guys enjoy being in a mentor role like that more than others do. I think ROR would, but I don't know guys like Stamkos nor Marchessault well enough to know where they stand, thus the meeting. Saros, well its simply a matter of being able to move him before the NMC kicks in, and that one is more or less just how things are.
The goal is to rebuild the team, and that means gaining assets and Vets that are willing to work with the kids. Same goes for the coaching. If wins and losses are going to be your only concern, its time for you to get the heck out of dodge. Personally I think Brunette needs to go either way and you bring Taylor up.
After seeing him after leaving here I think the mailing it in narrative needs to be toned down. He may have, but I think he also was a guy dealing with injuries and trying to make it from one day to the next.
It usually takes a bit for the whole story to come out. Wilson and his issues with OCD is a good example. Weber and just how bad his feet/ankles were is another.
Bringer of Jollity
Registered User
Agreed. Thanks for everything Josi and Forsberg, but they've tried to build this thing for you guys multiple times and this team just sucks. If you want to stay, stay and we'll co tinue to cheer you on, if you want to go, best wishes and we look forward to the tribute video--you'll always be Preds for us. But no more f***ing catering to these guys that haven't won squat in 6+ seasons and feeling like something is owed to them beyond their very sizeable contracts (and the protections therein).
Armourboy
Hey! You suck!
Yep as I said on the trade boards there is absolutely no reason to throw good money after bad. Trotz made a gamble, it didn't work, and it will probably mean a real rebuild drags on a bit longer now. Gambling and losing has consequences.
I think there is enough good will left from the fans that if you frame it that way they will be ok with it. The worst thing Trotz could do right now is burn up a bunch of assets and still not be good. The fans are willing to go through a rebuild if you make good decisions. Keep making the ones he has and they are going to be sitting around looking at an empty building in less than 2 years.
Kat Predator
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- Nov 28, 2019
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Ditto.
He's having a very rough time. If we're stats watching, we can be disgusted and easily say he's not a 2C. And while there is a lot of merit to that, the entire 2nd line just plain sucks. Stamkos and Marchessault were signed to big contracts and they are not scoring and don't pretend to play defense. It's time to start calling out these new guys. Giving these guys 19-20 minutes a game while kids like ZLH, who is hustling his ass off when he does get his occasional shift, barely see any ice time is nuts.
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glenngineer
Registered User
A couple of thoughts.
My comment about Zegras becoming another Joey was a mixed comment. Yes, Joey helped us in his time here and we almost got it done that year. If he and Fiala don't go down, we take the Pens. I was a big proponent of his and thought he did well while here. The point I was trying to make was that while Joey was a good player for us, he was a low end 1C as opposed to those dominant types of 1Cs. That's more of the comparison I was trying to make and while having a great center like that is wonderful, they're not always going to drive play like the top guys will.
With that said, we always talk about needing to draft high to be able to get a player like that. We had two guys like that here at the same time, Joey who was a 4th overall pick and Duchene who went 3rd overall. So while you can have centers who were high picks, it doesn't always amount to them being the studs you hope they'll be. And yes I know, we didn't draft them, it doesn't change the fact of where they went in the draft.
My last point is move Saros before the NMC kicks in. There will be teams that would trade for him if they're in a win now mode and they'll figure out how to deal with the consequences of his contract later on. A team like the Avs, who may be getting healthy and getting some of their players back may be a backstop away from being one of those dominant teams again. If Landy comes back and Nishushkin can be what he was, they become a threat again and the only thing holding them back is a goalie. I think they'd make a move for Saros if he became available. The trick is, what do they have to offer and even if it's picks and so so prospects, we're getting out from under that albatross of a contract and freeing up cap space. If we weren't hasty and kept Askarov, this is much easier to do but you make that move and whoa nelly, a team strength since the Vokoun years becomes a big weakness.
Enjoy the game!!
My comment about Zegras becoming another Joey was a mixed comment. Yes, Joey helped us in his time here and we almost got it done that year. If he and Fiala don't go down, we take the Pens. I was a big proponent of his and thought he did well while here. The point I was trying to make was that while Joey was a good player for us, he was a low end 1C as opposed to those dominant types of 1Cs. That's more of the comparison I was trying to make and while having a great center like that is wonderful, they're not always going to drive play like the top guys will.
With that said, we always talk about needing to draft high to be able to get a player like that. We had two guys like that here at the same time, Joey who was a 4th overall pick and Duchene who went 3rd overall. So while you can have centers who were high picks, it doesn't always amount to them being the studs you hope they'll be. And yes I know, we didn't draft them, it doesn't change the fact of where they went in the draft.
My last point is move Saros before the NMC kicks in. There will be teams that would trade for him if they're in a win now mode and they'll figure out how to deal with the consequences of his contract later on. A team like the Avs, who may be getting healthy and getting some of their players back may be a backstop away from being one of those dominant teams again. If Landy comes back and Nishushkin can be what he was, they become a threat again and the only thing holding them back is a goalie. I think they'd make a move for Saros if he became available. The trick is, what do they have to offer and even if it's picks and so so prospects, we're getting out from under that albatross of a contract and freeing up cap space. If we weren't hasty and kept Askarov, this is much easier to do but you make that move and whoa nelly, a team strength since the Vokoun years becomes a big weakness.
Enjoy the game!!
BigFatCat999
First Fubu and now Pred303. !@#$! you cancer
I have a rule that have been learning about this team lately first 20 games don’t count yes a problem we’re heading towards the end of those first 20 games in this team is not jiving
