Speculation: The Athletic-“So, it’s easy to imagine a scenario in which the Ducks move on from Zegras..."

[bleedgreen]

Bad teams have players that do well and then go to good teams and don’t hold those type of numbers. It’s because they don’t have the opportunities on the PP and such as the team has better options or they get held accountable for poor decisions and see less ice time. It’s not uncommon. Not saying this is the case with Zegras, just players on bad teams that excel and then can’t replicate.


I look forward to him being a core player on a great team and being reminded of this comment. You have less proof that he is a winner than I do that he isn’t.

I agree production can go down with a reduced role, but Zegras drove his line and got those points. He created or finished the plays on the pp. They aren’t inflated. It requires a certain skill level to achieve those points, especially when you’re the playmaker or finisher of the plays. It makes no sense to say he’s not a very good player when he’s had that kind of production twice. You can’t fake that level of skill.

The not replicating on a better team is usually a function of the different role which usually is a more restricted one….this is typically not a fault of the player that’s been outed. Zegras has never been on another team so…..Im not getting it. I’m talking to multiple posters here so I know this isn’t exactly what you’re saying.

Assuming Zegras is one of these players before it happens is comical. As is saying he isn’t a very good player when he drove that level of offense at such a young age. You can’t say he’s not a very good player. He’s already proven he’s a good player. You can’t say you can’t win with him, he’s never been close to being tested in the playoffs.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

this is starting to feel a lot like the debrincat rumors out of ottawa situation. a bunch of fans claiming that it will never happen and if it does happen the cost will be through the roof. more smoke means even more vehement denial. and then when it does happen for a lot less than they claimed it would, the same people will start talking about how he isn't that good anyway.

id tread carefully if I were an anaheim fan, the internet has a long memory

Oh no not the internet!

 

[Pavels Dog]

How does a not very good player get 60 plus pts on a mediocre to flat out bad team?

60 points isn’t amazing for a purely offensive player who contributes nothing in other areas.

 

[DustyDangler]

Full quote:

"Despite Zegras’ offensive skills and charisma, he’s prone to penalties and undisciplined defensive play, which doesn’t fit into the style of game general manager Pat Verbeek wants his team to play.

Which NHL GM wants a style of play where a center is prone to penalties and undisciplined defensive play?

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

60 points isn’t amazing for a purely offensive player who contributes nothing in other areas.

He’s def taken steps this season working on his defense…. But I suppose if he hadn’t done it by 22 we should just assume it’s never coming

 

[bleedgreen]

60 points isn’t amazing for a purely offensive player who contributes nothing in other areas.

Amazing wasn’t what was said. He’s not a very good player was the wording. 60 pts at the NHL level is at the very least good.

Which NHL GM wants a style of play where a center is prone to penalties and undisciplined defensive play?

When it comes with this much skill I think all of them would be interested enough to check the price. I get curious why so many think this guy can’t figure out what every young offensive guy has to figure out?

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Which NHL GM wants a style of play where a center is prone to penalties and undisciplined defensive play?

It's a good question. Some GMs think that with enough seasoning/the right coach a player can mature.

 

[Pavels Dog]

He’s def taken steps this season working on his defense…. But I suppose if he hadn’t done it by 22 we should just assume it’s never coming

He’s also on pace for like 20 points which negates the value of any defensive improvements.

 

[oceanchild]

I agree production can go down with a reduced role, but Zegras drove his line and got those points. He created or finished the plays on the pp. They aren’t inflated. It requires a certain skill level to achieve those points, especially when you’re the playmaker or finisher of the plays. It makes no sense to say he’s not a very good player when he’s had that kind of production twice. You can’t fake that level of skill.

The not replicating on a better team is usually a function of the different role which usually is a more restricted one….this is typically not a fault of the player that’s been outed. Zegras has never been on another team so…..Im not getting it. I’m talking to multiple posters here so I know this isn’t exactly what you’re saying.

Assuming Zegras is one of these players before it happens is comical. As is saying he isn’t a very good player when he drove that level of offense at such a young age. You can’t say he’s not a very good player. He’s already proven he’s a good player. You can’t say you can’t win with him, he’s never been close to being tested in the playoffs.

I’m not saying he isn’t good, I am saying I don’t believe he is a player you win with. Plenty of players have had this type of dynamic over the years Semin from Washington is a guy I think compares well for the point I am trying to make.

 

[bleedgreen]

I’m not saying he isn’t good, I am saying I don’t believe he is a player you win with. Plenty of players have had this type of dynamic over the years Semin from Washington is a guy I think compares well for the point I am trying to make.

I think I get where you’re going. I just don’t understand why Zegras gets that tag. They haven’t played in the playoffs yet is obviously he hasn’t gone invisible in them.

Curiously, Semin had some good playoffs years. I don’t know if he deserved the tag.

Someone else said Zegras wasn’t a very good player.

 

[oceanchild]

I think I get where you’re going. I just don’t understand why Zegras gets that tag. They haven’t played in the playoffs yet is obviously he hasn’t gone invisible in them.

Curiously, Semin had some good playoffs years. I don’t know if he deserved the tag.

Someone else said Zegras wasn’t a very good player.

When I watch him play I see a selfish player and a hot dog. It seems that the ducks organization sees the same thing. (To put it differently)

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

He'd be the perfect 2C in Colorado.

 

[DeltaSwede]

Rob Schremp getting traded?

 

[TheNumber4]

I could definitely see the Ducks trading him. It would be smart to sell high while the Michigan hype is still there and before the League realizes he’s very one dimensional. At best an Eberle type career but not a franchise player except with PK Subban-like annoying “charisma” that rubs people the wrong way.

 

[JKG33]

He'd be the perfect 2C in Colorado.

I feel like he could be, either Mac tunes him up or Mac murders him

 

[dirtydanglez]

zegras for slafkovsky. change of scenery trade

 

[Avs44]

He'd be the perfect 2C in Colorado.

Would be a great situation for him for sure...and would potentially fill the Avs' biggest need for a very long time. Would happily move Byram+

 

[JKG33]

Would be a great situation for him for sure...and would potentially fill the Avs' biggest need for a very long time. Would happily move Byram+

Has Byram fallen off that much? I feel like his potential is still far greater than Zegras

 

[Sendhelplease]

He’s def taken steps this season working on his defense…. But I suppose if he hadn’t done it by 22 we should just assume it’s never coming

Do you think that his defensive improvements are coming at the cost of his offensive production or is his lack of point production this year for other reasons?

 

[Avs44]

Has Byram fallen off that much? I feel like his potential is still far greater than Zegras

I wouldn't say "fallen off" -- but his health is a concern; he's never going to get an opportunity to be 'the guy' on defense in Colorado with Makar and Toews clearly ahead of him; he has yet to settle into being the steady high end second pairing defender the Avs want him to be (and I'm not sure he wants to be that guy, it's not his playstyle -- he really wants to be far more of a rover); and the Avs desperately need a quality #2 center (and ideally one who is a 2+year solution) since Ryan Johansen is utterly useless. I'd happily move Byram and more for the right #2 center -- and Zegras would pretty much be perfect.

 

[BertCorbeau]

The Ducks don’t have to trade him but they’ve done well to position themselves to move him if a deal makes sense and have other high end talent there on the roster.

Kinda like with Drysdale where they didn’t have to move him but a deal made sense to bring in a player they’re high on while still having other quality options on the blue line in the system.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Has Byram fallen off that much? I feel like his potential is still far greater than Zegras

I think you're underselling Zegras quite a bit...


I'm not even a huge Zegras fan by any means but he's produced 60+ points on some awful Anaheim teams, and this year was making legitimate strides in his defensive game before the injuries hit.


He's easily still got 70-80 point upside. Especially on the Avs where he may get to spend time on the Top PP with Mackinnon/Makar or might get a winger like Rantanen or Nichushkin or even Landeskog playing with him.


Byram has regressed, but I don't think offering him up in a Zegras deal is an indication of that regression by any means.

If anything I would say Byram+ for Zegras would be very similar to the Drysdale+ for Gauthier deal we just saw except involving two more NHL established players essentially.

 

[FiveTacos]

60 points isn’t amazing for a purely offensive player who contributes nothing in other areas.

60 points is perfectly fine for a 21-22 year old kid, on a team with very little help. Last year was particularly notable, as he managed to put up those numbers while on a team where the ice was tilted the wrong way most nights. They may have been the most incompetent d corps at breakouts and transitioning that I have ever seen.

 

[Sparksrus3]

Full quote:

"Despite Zegras’ offensive skills and charisma, he’s prone to penalties and undisciplined defensive play, which doesn’t fit into the style of game general manager Pat Verbeek wants his team to play.

Duhatschek suggested that Zegras could have value in a slumping market like San Jose that needs an attraction. “So, it’s easy to imagine a scenario in which the Ducks move on from Zegras, if the right deal came along.”

link:

NHL Rumor Mill – January 12, 2024 | Spectors Hockey

I heard a couple of comments from Justin Bourne/Sam McKee recently. Calling him a "special kind of player", and this was not a compliment. They recognize him as an offensive talent, but that he's on his own wave when it comes to team play.

Do you think ANA will move on from Zegras?

The comments describe exactly Mat Barzal from years past . He just keeps getting. better.. NO DEAL HOWIE

 

[bleedgreen]

When I watch him play I see a selfish player and a hot dog. It seems that the ducks organization sees the same thing. (To put it differently)

Why does it seem that? They benched him for the defensive end of things from what I understood. I’ve never heard the team say or do anything that says they thinks he’s selfish either to be honest. Why do you think they agree with you?