Player Discussion Trevor Zegras : Part III

[Anaheim4ever]

It's stuff like this that makes me so doubtful that Verbeek actually wants to trade him, as opposed to just listening in on offers.

This is the exact type of player Verbeek wants on this team.

Maybe Zegras reads this forum (because his first fight happened after I posted the new nickname lol) and is embracing his new nickname The Greek Ball of Hate and now Verbeek can't possibly trade him cause he see's a young Pat Verbeek in him now.

 

[70sSanO]

I’m very happy the Ducks didn’t trade Zegras. I have no idea how many teams really wanted him, but I’m guessing the return was not worth it. Teams don’t want creativity, they want production. And the lack of it isn’t rewarded.

Next year will be a big test for Trevor. I have no doubt Cronin hasn’t helped the situation, but Zegras has to start producing again. These numbers with a real NHL coach, would border on being a bust.

Zegras has to put it together. I still think he can, but I can’t place all the blame on Cronin for his lack of production. Zegras wouldn’t be the first professional athelete to start off hot and never get back there.

John

 

[zegrassyknoll]

I’m very happy the Ducks didn’t trade Zegras. I have no idea how many teams really wanted him, but I’m guessing the return was not worth it. Teams don’t want creativity, they want production. And the lack of it isn’t rewarded.

Next year will be a big test for Trevor. I have no doubt Cronin hasn’t helped the situation, but Zegras has to start producing again. These numbers with a real NHL coach, would border on being a bust.

Zegras has to put it together. I still think he can, but I can’t place all the blame on Cronin for his lack of production. Zegras wouldn’t be the first professional athelete to start off hot and never get back there.

John

Yeah I wanted us to keep Z not because I'm certain he'll put it all together, but because if he does put it all together, I want it to be here.

 

[70sSanO]

Yeah I wanted us to keep Z not because I'm certain he'll put it all together, but because if he does put it all together, I want it to be here.

He has 2 more years to do it. After next year he will be an RFA. I would guess Verbeek will sign him for a year, or more depending on results.

At that point the potential clock might be ticking away if he’s not at 60+ points.

John

 

[duckpuck]

He has 2 more years to do it. After next year he will be an RFA. I would guess Verbeek will sign him for a year, or more depending on results.

At that point the potential clock might be ticking away if he’s not at 60+ points.

John

If it doesn't happen next year, then the ducks likely move him. You don't want to sign a RFA to a short term deal that leads to UFA. Either the ducks commit long term to Zegras in the next 18 months, or you have to trade him.

 

[70sSanO]

If it doesn't happen next year, then the ducks likely move him. You don't want to sign a RFA to a short term deal that leads to UFA. Either the ducks commit long term to Zegras in the next 18 months, or you have to trade him.

You are probably right.

But if it doesn’t happen and Verbeek wants to keep Zegras for another year, it won’t cost much to keep him.

John

 

[anezthes]

First 15 games: 3 points.
Last 12 games: 10 points.

Last 26 games: 18 points. ~57-point pace over 82 games.

 

[GunnarStahl]

Last 26 games: 18 points. ~57-point pace over 82 games.

the plays he has been attempting have shown more of his famous spunk and flair lately too. Curious if Cronin has extended his leash, Zegras has decided it needs to be brought back to his game, or if he had shaky confidence that he is regaining. or just back into his flow following many injuries.

 

[Coffee]

I know it’s kind of random, but, dude when Zegras got Rasmussen high and Dryish said this

That's what you get for skilling it up!

...wait.

Still one of the funniest moments since I been here

 

[Son of Gib]

Really hoping Mac and Z stick. He needs to find a more permanent spot on the roster. I'm a huge Z fanboy admittedly, but he needs to stay on this team long term and keep giving the guys that X factor he has whenever he's on the ice.

 

[Sean Garrity]

You know he’s feeling it when he’s making between the legs perfect passes. We hadn’t really seen it all season, but (I think) two games ago we did. It’s easy to see when he’s on or confident and I want those plays out of him even if they don’t work every time.

 

[Vipers31]

You know he’s feeling it when he’s making between the legs perfect passes. We hadn’t really seen it all season, but (I think) two games ago we did. It’s easy to see when he’s on or confident and I want those plays out of him even if they don’t work very time.

You’re right and it really is important to his efficiency, because he just can execute these plays, just like michigans et al, so it’s really just about him utilizing his arsenal the way he sees fit. Hopefully our Coaching recognizes that and doesn’t insist on simplified plays that are just worse plays on account of being more easily read by the defense.

 

[LuGBuG]

Him and McTavish seem to work well. I like it. Wouldn’t hate giving Terry at least a look there considering Strome, Frankie and Terry have completely sucked lately after carrying us through long stretches earlier in the season.

 

[70sSanO]

Right now Zegras needs to get stronger. He gets knocked off the puck too easily.

Lately he has been flicking the puck around too much instead of making those definite passes.

I just want more intensity from Zegras. The rest of the team really ramps it up and he seems to float too much.

John

 

[robbieboy3686]

Right now Zegras needs to get stronger. He gets knocked off the puck too easily.

Lately he has been flicking the puck around too much instead of making those definite passes.

I just want more intensity from Zegras. The rest of the team really ramps it up and he seems to float too much.

John

Couldn’t agree more

 

[Mr Rogers]

Right now Zegras needs to get stronger. He gets knocked off the puck too easily.

Lately he has been flicking the puck around too much instead of making those definite passes.

I just want more intensity from Zegras. The rest of the team really ramps it up and he seems to float too much.

John

I agree but I feel like it’s been this way for each of the last 3 or 4 years. I’m wondering if he’ll ever be able to acquire that level of strength. Still there are guys smaller than he is who make it work. Could be a matter of commitment honestly.

 

[Bergey37]

I agree but I feel like it’s been this way for each of the last 3 or 4 years. I’m wondering if he’ll ever be able to acquire that level of strength. Still there are guys smaller than he is who make it work. Could be a matter of commitment honestly.

Could be; he was not focused tonight.

 

[Mr Rogers]

Could be; he was not focused tonight.

I thought he was alright tonite and obviously made a very nice play on the Colangelo goal. I didn’t think he was great or anything but he was fine. By this season’s standards, he probably was above average tbh.

I just see a player who’s incessantly getting stifled out there and a lot of times it does look like he’s simply lacking strength.

 

[Boo Boo]

9 points in last 11 - not exactly a Carlsson or Mctavish level heater but still decent production recently

 

[ohcomeonref]

9 points in last 11 - not exactly a Carlsson or Mctavish level heater but still decent production recently

I wonder if Z (my favorite Duck since he entered the league) will be one of those players that always leaves you wanting more.

 

[snowave]

I wonder if Z (my favorite Duck since he entered the league) will be one of those players that always leaves you wanting more.

I have a feeling he will be, as much as I'd hate to see it.

 

[70sSanO]

9 points in last 11 - not exactly a Carlsson or Mctavish level heater but still decent production recently

It isn’t production. And it isn’t just last night.

I don’t know what it is. Zegras anticipates quite well, but I wonder if that draws him away from real time or ???

I imagine the move to wing has put him in no man’s land. I always look at Patrick Kane as a wing that was not fast, but his legs were so strong and had such great puck handling. But he just knew what to do in the moment.

Zegras is not the same type of player, but he has the skills. I just don’t see him utilizing those skills. And I can only blame some of it on Cronin.

I can’t figure it out.

John

 

[HanSolo]

I think, assuming he stays healthy, Z should have a better season next year for a number or reasons but all of them stemming from, it's the last year of his bridge contract.

There was as long a delay because he and his agent felt he'd shown enough promise to deserve more money and term.

Thus far, whatever the reason is, be it injuries, lack of development, lack of growth in strength and muscle mass, he hasn't shown enough improvement to be deserving of a raise. The production just hasn't been there.

I do think Trevor enjoys playing and living here and he seems to genuinely enjoy his teammates. But he's losing a lot of leverage to be able to argue that he's a key piece of this offense's youth core. Mac's game has turned a corner as the intended 2c for the future, Leo appears to be breaking out as the intended 1 C of the future, Gauthier is showing that he is on track to be an integral piece of the top 6 as a speedy winger with goal scoring ability and good two way play. Even someone like Colangelo is starting to perform really well and Sennecke is waiting in the wings. That's not to say Zegras' recent stretch of production hasn't been good in its own right. But add in Lacombe is trending towards superstardom, and we're in a situation where Zegras looks on track to provide more of a support role while younger guys than him are trending towards being the stars he, the team, and the fans were hoping he would be. And there won't be as much money when all of Carlsson, Gauthier, Lacombe, McTavish are paid, unless he earns it.

I agree that at age 24, Zegras still doesn't look strong enough in body and it might be contributing to his softer/less impactful plays with the puck. His vision, IQ, and skill offensively are still evident but he hasn't been as consistent as you'd hope he'd be right now. Next season will be a huge incentive to take his game to the next level. As much as might love his teammates and enjoy seeing them thrive, when it comes to career earning potential, next season he's going to be competing to earn a proper raise. He doesn't have much racetrack to build strength and get even more serious about his game, so I think he'll do it out of necessity. It'll be interesting to see how much that motivates him.

 

[JAHV]

Zegras has incredible hands and vision, but he's just not completing as many plays as he should. He had that ridiculous move to the backhand in the first and then put the puck off the outside of the post. Later he had a nice drive to the back post and Mac hit him perfectly with a pass, but he wasn't strong enough on his stick and so the deflection went wide. I think he definitely needs to get stronger to succeed long-term.

One play that stood out to me as an obvious example of Zegras' defensive issues: the penalty he took in the second period. Possibly because of a pinch, he was the second defender coming through the neutral zone when Toronto counter-attacked. He had decent position on his man who was driving to the net from the right while the puck was on the left wing. Zegras could have skated hard to establish position between the puck carrier and his man, forcing the guy to either settle for a back post position or try to make a move into the middle some other way. But Zegras just coasted, which allowed the guy to get goalside, and Zegras was forced to haul him down when the play came in front.

I have no idea why Zegras would not have skated hard for a couple of strides to get position. Surely he knows that's what he needs to do to play proper defense there. I don't think he's lazy overall. My speculation is that he just doesn't care about defense. His brain simply doesn't work that way. He's thinking offense first, second, third, etc. I think if you pound it into his head, he'll try...until he starts thinking about the next pass he's going to make to spring a guy on a breakaway. And I think he'll backcheck on a puck carrier to try to steal the puck, since he can't play offense without having it. But when it comes to off-puck positioning, he just doesn't concern himself with it.

I believe Cronin when he says Zegras has worked very hard at the things they're trying to get him to do. But I think Zegras is ceiling on defense is like a 3 out of 10. If the Ducks want the most out of him, they'll realize that and try to free him up to do more of the things he loves doing. I don't think Cronin is the coach for that.

 

[2faded]

It isn’t production. And it isn’t just last night.

I don’t know what it is. Zegras anticipates quite well, but I wonder if that draws him away from real time or ???

I imagine the move to wing has put him in no man’s land. I always look at Patrick Kane as a wing that was not fast, but his legs were so strong and had such great puck handling. But he just knew what to do in the moment.

Zegras is not the same type of player, but he has the skills. I just don’t see him utilizing those skills. And I can only blame some of it on Cronin.

I can’t figure it out.

John

I have it figured out. He's not a winger. It's been tried for at least two years and outside of a stretch or two of decent games, it hasn't worked. Every time he has been moved back to center he's looked like the Zegras we all expect. It's so painfully obvious I just can't wrap my head around why they are forcing him to play wing.

I just don't see Zegras on this team long term because of that. He's been forced into a position that isn't working, and that he doesn't like. Unless Verbeek builds a third scoring line (which I doubt because we would have seen it already) then where does he fit?

I wish they would at least try Zegras at center and McT at wing.