Player Discussion Trevor Zegras : Part III

[Mr Rogers]

Z getting benched when nobody else does for mistakes everyone else is making definitely is playing on his mind imo.

Yeah, Cronin’s benching/scratching isn’t consistent. Seems likes who he wants to send messages to is selective.

I agree and I think I was one of only a few people who was annoyed in the summer of 2023 at how much Cronin was talking about Zegras on podcasts and stuff. All I’m saying is I think he’s got to put in a lot of work off the ice. He doesn’t look any stronger or faster since he entered the league which is incredible tbh.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

Totally agree. Just curious to see how much it really has to do with the coach. On the margins for sure, but I’m not convinced it’s like this huge road block for him.

I'm willing to say there's probably some of both going on there. But ultimately isn't a coach supposed to understand that and help players reach their potential? Unless Z is just mailing it in (and I don't feel he is) he needs help he isn't getting. I think he may just be frustrated (which can/will affect his play) with nowhere to turn to for help.

 

[Deuce22]

This is interesting because the players he gets compared with most consistently are mostly wingers (Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin, Clayton Keller)

I’m not saying you’re wrong that he’s better at center and every player is different, it’s just interesting to bring up the skillset thing here.

Good point. I think those guys would struggle under Cronin, as well. He wants to play dump and chase, relying on wingers to get in on the forecheck. Kane and Panerin aren’t winning any puck battles along the boards, Keller can be a bit more scrappy. Z could produce more if the power play was somewhat competent.

 

[duckpuck]

The issue is that even his hot streaks are worse offensively than he was when he was 21

Pretty disappointing at this point.

And yes, I believe the coaching staff is partly to blame

Part of the lack of offense was him being pushed down in the lineup for long stretches. He's been far more productive higher in the lineup.

I'm starting to think Zegras is the Garrett Anderson of the ducks. His body language and play often give the impression he's not giving full effort - even when he does. But sometimes he does coast, particularly in skating. The skating skill is there, but he doesn't seem to have a high motor.

The other day he was chasing down a play and just stopped skating at the end and coasted as the opponent scored on a break away. Could he have caught the player? Not likely. But it was frustrating he didn't give the effort to get closer.

 

[Boo Boo]

I agree and I think I was one of only a few people who was annoyed in the summer of 2023 at how much Cronin was talking about Zegras on podcasts and stuff. All I’m saying is I think he’s got to put in a lot of work off the ice. He doesn’t look any stronger or faster since he entered the league which is incredible tbh.

How Cronin managed to take a player who was instantly dynamite at the nhl level and make him look like early career Terry amazes me - savant level coaching

 

[Mr Rogers]

How Cronin managed to take a player who was instantly dynamite at the nhl level and make him look like early career Terry amazes me - savant level coaching

Yeah I don’t think it’s fair to blame that entirely on Cro even if he’s a bad coach

 

[Anaheim4ever]

One thing I've wondered about is, what happens when he decides that a change of scenery would do him best. Looking at how well Fowler is doing has me wondering if that is gonna eventually happen with Zegras.

This is interesting because the players he gets compared with most consistently are mostly wingers (Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin, Clayton Keller)

I’m not saying you’re wrong that he’s better at center and every player is different, it’s just interesting to bring up the skillset thing here.

This. Kane is terribly defensively but generates offense from the wing. Imagine if Kane played Center and Toews played on the Wing during the Hawks 2010s teams.
When the Ducks drafted Z the only other center with top6 upside they had was Steel so it made sense they wanted him to be Center then but now with Carlsson and McTavish they could move him to the Wing.

 

[70sSanO]

Zegras gets a pass from me for the rest of the year. I want him healthy going into the off season ready hit it next year.

Clayton Keller was considered a bust after a hot start. He was plagued by injuries. Tourigny challenged him to get stronger on the puck and become a 2 way player. He turned his game around. I remember Tourigny was criticized here for his use of Fantilli during the 2023 IIHF championships.

Right now it is all on Zegras. While I don’t think Cronin is a good coach, especially for Zegras, Trevor is 24 and needs to step it up.

The one thing that separates Zegras from his comparables is they are stronger on the puck and don’t get pushed around so easily; maybe not Panarin.

John

 

[zegrassyknoll]

I agree and I think I was one of only a few people who was annoyed in the summer of 2023 at how much Cronin was talking about Zegras on podcasts and stuff. All I’m saying is I think he’s got to put in a lot of work off the ice. He doesn’t look any stronger or faster since he entered the league which is incredible tbh.

I have to imagine his injuries have played a part in that - hard to get stronger/faster if you can't do things like squats or sprints because of a broken ankle/whatever core injury he had.

 

[Mr Rogers]

I have to imagine his injuries have played a part in that - hard to get stronger/faster if you can't do things like squats or sprints because of a broken ankle/whatever core injury he had.

Yeah idk we'll see.

He didn't look any stronger/faster in 22-23 and there wouldn't have been an injury involved there. At the beginning of this season, same story, and he would've had all summer.

 

[zegrassyknoll]

Yeah idk we'll see.

He didn't look any stronger/faster in 22-23 and there wouldn't have been an injury involved there. At the beginning of this season, same story, and he would've had all summer.

Yeah time will definitely tell and assuming he (hopefully) stays injury-free this season, this off-season will be a big test for him.

I'm not so sure he had all summer, though. Knowing he only came back for ~a dozen games at the end of last season, it's entirely possible he was good enough to return but not quite 100%. It wouldn't surprise me if he went into the off-season still not 100% and used that time to fully recover as opposed to trying to get stronger.

 

[KaseMeOutside]

I'm pretty happy with were Zegras is at. I honestly think next year he's going to show he's put it all together especially if we can upgrade the talent level of the team more. You need 3 scoring lines

 

[Rasp]

Z has been putting it all together he just isnt doing the flashy goals as much.

Since January he is on 0.7ppg which is on pace for a 58 point season. Give him a full season and let him build up chemistry with McTavish and watch them both take off next year.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

i don’t mind his season personally, has kinda got back on pace.

I do wonder bout off season tho, contract is up next off season…. If negotiations were not great the first time…. I can’t imagine they’ll be good this time.

Guessing PV is going to have to be proactive in offseason and figure out if he fits long term plan and if not I won’t be shocked if he’s moved to a team desperate for a center with upside (Vancouver, flyers, Montreal, Bruins, avs etc). But if you move him you need to find a lot of offensive help in offseason

 

[LuGBuG]

Z has been putting it all together he just isnt doing the flashy goals as much.

Since January he is on 0.7ppg which is on pace for a 58 point season. Give him a full season and let him build up chemistry with McTavish and watch them both take off next year.

If they keep that line together with Him, Mac, Colangelo all a year older, stronger, faster and smarter with already having some chemistry there is zero doubt in my mind he’s over 75 points next year if healthy.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

i don’t mind his season personally, has kinda got back on pace.

I do wonder bout off season tho, contract is up next off season…. If negotiations were not great the first time…. I can’t imagine they’ll be good this time.

Guessing PV is going to have to be proactive in offseason and figure out if he fits long term plan and if not I won’t be shocked if he’s moved to a team desperate for a center with upside (Vancouver, flyers, Montreal, Bruins, avs etc). But if you move him you need to find a lot of offensive help in offseason

Unless Z has it in his mind to want out, I'd like to think both sides learned something from the first time around that block.