Player Discussion Trevor Zegras : Part III

[Quack Shot]

Nov 12 they play against the Sharks, that should get him out of the slump

 

[Leonardo87]

Should we start to be worried? Verbeek looking like a genius for bridging him, with how Mac has looked.

 

[Sean Garrity]

Should we start to be worried? Verbeek looking like a genius for bridging him, with how Mac has looked.

I don’t think so, if he’s under like a 60 pt. pace come Christmas I’ll be worried.

 

[70sSanO]

I agree with others who think Zegras should play on the 3rd line. I’m not sure if he should be a wing or a center, but putting him ona line that gets less intense defensive pressure will hopefully help.

On our first 4 on 4 the extra room helped not only the Ducks in general, but it gave Zegras more space to operate.

A major change Cronin has established is the bull rush to the goal. Zegras seems to have a tougher time getting in those dirty spaces. A more finesse center having a difficult time.

Even though he has tried to bulk up, he doesn’t yet have the strength not to get knocked off the puck too often.

There is no 1C/2C option for him on the Ducks anymore, barring injuries.

John

 

[anezthes]

Should we start to be worried?

He made some plays last night that could've "easily" netted him a couple of assists. His shot accuracy seems to have taken a hit from last year though.

I’m not sure if he should be a wing or a center...

He's definitely more effective at center IMO.

 

[70sSanO]

Zegras has been more effective at center but there is no case for him to be the future 1C or 2C. Things will need to drastically change to displace Carlsson or McTavish.

The issue is 3rd line center or wing. 3rd line is a good move to get him producing, but a long term decision will need to be done at some point in time.

I think the push to wing is to try and get Zegras in a top 6 role.

John

 

[Quack Shot]

I really think 3C can be a long term solution for him. He has developed his defensive play already and has more room to grow there. If he can be Datsyuk lite our center depth would be crazy good.

Pens built with Crosby-Malkin-Staal when Staal really was a 2C if not a 1C for some teams.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I really think 3C can be a long term solution for him. He has developed his defensive play already and has more room to grow there. If he can be Datsyuk lite our center depth would be crazy good.

Pens built with Crosby-Malkin-Staal when Staal really was a 2C if not a 1C for some teams.

I dont mind the idea, the hardest part is keeping 6 solid wingers around all 3 centers.

 

[Quack Shot]

Can someone edit this but with Zegras as the air ball player?

 

[Tokioduck]

I am hoping he can be Datsyuk lite as well -a puck magician who excels at stealing pucks from opponent.

Correct me if I am wrong as i’ve never played hockey and this may be more a soccer thing, but what Zegras seems to be lacking is “off the puck movement and positioning as a winger”. Zegras isn’t strong along the boards either, so when he is not a center/distributor on the line(He is now the third guy after Carlson/Terry on the 1st line) he cannot hold on to the pack enough to show his strength. He is still showing his defensive ability to take away pucks like Datsyuk and that is encouraging, but in long term I think he excels most as a center that can step in as the “third guy” when needed(3rd period when trailing)/plays on the 1st power play unit.

So why cannot we roll 3 lines with 3 no.1 centers! In my dream scenario all of the 3 centers become impact players that resemble HHOFs below…in terms of play style or the impact. Obviously we’re lucky if one center becomes anywhere close to these players, but either way 3 lines with 3 strong centers would be a nightmare for the other team.

1-A Malkin / Kopitar lite(Carlson)
1-B Messier / Toews lite(MacT)
1-C Datsyuk light(Zegras)

 

[MMC]

 

[Sean Garrity]

I love how much Cronin is challenging him. A player like Z seems to really respond to that kind of coaching. He’s been great in almost very game, and could have multiple points in most of them as well. Like I said above, I’ll be concerned if points aren’t there come Christmas time.

 

[DavidBL]

I dont mind the idea, the hardest part is keeping 6 solid wingers around all 3 centers.

I think this is the greatest challenge in the cap era. I do think we can manage right now but once we start having to pay the kids real wages that ability diminishes rapidly. I don't think its forgone that Z is behind both Calrsson and McTavish. If Z is significantly better at C and either of those 2 move to the wing with less drop off in play I could see one of them moved to wing. Ie if we get more out of three by moving one of the other 2 long term I don't see why they wouldn't assuming of course Z isn't a liability at C.

 

[Leonardo87]

I love how much Cronin is challenging him. A player like Z seems to really respond to that kind of coaching. He’s been great in almost very game, and could have multiple points in most of them as well. Like I said above, I’ll be concerned if points aren’t there come Christmas time.

If he learns to play a full 200 foot game, but sacrifices some production this season in the process, then I’m all for that.

 

[70sSanO]

I hate to say it, but I’m not sure on what planet Zegras is even remotely close to Datsyuk, lite or any other qualifier.

Datsyuk won the Selke multiple times and Zegras is just learning to spell defense.

John

 

[Vinegar Strokes]

I hate to say it, but I’m not sure on what planet Zegras is even remotely close to Datsyuk, lite or any other qualifier.

Datsyuk won the Selke multiple times and Zegras is just learning to spell defense.

John

Zegras is actually a very good disrupter and pickpocket, which is why people see the Datsyuk comp. Zegras has a long way to go to match Datsyuk's positioning, spatial awareness, and especially his physicality/body position.

I absolutely think Z can become Datsyuk-lite if he really wants it and has the right coaching.

 

[Ducks DVM]

I hate to say it, but I’m not sure on what planet Zegras is even remotely close to Datsyuk, lite or any other qualifier.

Datsyuk won the Selke multiple times and Zegras is just learning to spell defense.

John

Keep in mind that Datsyuk didn’t break out until he was 27 and didn’t win a Selke until he was 30. Early years Datsyuk wasn’t Datsyuk either.

 

[OCSportsfan]

I hope he does find a spot on this team, but I dont think it will be a third line center. I think he is going to have to change his game around quite a bit, but Cronin will make him a better player IMO. But if he cant find some chemistry with Carlsson or MacT then i dont think the Ducks will pay him to be a 3rd line center.

 

[70sSanO]

Keep in mind that Datsyuk didn’t break out until he was 27 and didn’t win a Selke until he was 30. Early years Datsyuk wasn’t Datsyuk either.

I don’t want to argue, but early Datsyuk was a force.

Even if he wasn’t winning awards, he was tough, strong, so solid on his skates. He was built with super lower body strength. For his size he didn’t get pushed around.

John

 

[Ducksforcup]

I do think he is doing a lot of good things...I think the points will come.

 

[Ducks DVM]

I don’t want to argue, but early Datsyuk was a force.

Even if he wasn’t winning awards, he was tough, strong, so solid on his skates. He was built with super lower body strength. For his size he didn’t get pushed around.

John

Yes, and at the end of the 4th year after his draft, he had played 70 games and had 35 points. Zegras has 139 in 180.

Zegras can bulk up, get better at defense, and improve in the next 5 years too. Yes, it’s exceedingly premature to say he can be Datsyuk-lite. But it’s also exceedingly premature to say he can’t.

 

[KyleJRM]

I still don't understand why we have to force him at center. Is he better distributing the puck from center ice? Then let him do that as a wing, modern NHL offenses don't play three rigid lanes.

I'm not worried about him, he just is who he is, a middle-6 wing who specializes in offensive zone starts and power plays. Improving his defense is a nice touch and I'll take it, but that's not what he's our there for.

Maybe a point slump will bring his price down to where it belongs by time he hits free agency and makes it more palatable to keep him

 

[TopShelfWaterBottle]

Middle six wing?

 

[DavidBL]

I still don't understand why we have to force him at center. Is he better distributing the puck from center ice? Then let him do that as a wing, modern NHL offenses don't play three rigid lanes.

I'm not worried about him, he just is who he is, a middle-6 wing who specializes in offensive zone starts and power plays. Improving his defense is a nice touch and I'll take it, but that's not what he's our there for.

Maybe a point slump will bring his price down to where it belongs by time he hits free agency and makes it more palatable to keep him

The same could be said for Carlsson and yet we seem hell bent at forcing him as a center. As for Z, imo we have now seen roughly 35 games at W and like 160 at center. The impact between those two samples is really night and day. I'm not sure what it is about the different positions and I get your argument about how guys move around so much but the results just don't bear it out. And if it doesn't matter who plays center, as the argument about lanes suggests, then why not move Carlsson to wing? Imo there is much more to these positions and what goes into them, even beyond the obvious defensive responsibilities. At the end of the day, we get great results with Z at C and not so great at W.

 

[KyleJRM]

Carlsson is a large man who projects to be an elite defensive forward and can eventually use his leverage to be excellent at faceoffs.

If carlsson were small and had a limited defensive ceiling, I'd be fine moving him to wing