What’s going on with Zegras?

[StreetHawk]

I think they should go the Detroit route with mid level vets shorter term to surround the kids and just let it roll till they click. Zegras does look like a new start wouldn’t hurt him but I don’t think you’re getting the value you got from the last trade. I like Zegras though, the talent is there and I think there’s more to him than the flash.

Ducks have more kids on the roster than Det did when they signed those vets. Going to need to add to really turn it around. Probably not just via Free Agency. Going to need to make a trade.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

doesn't matter what coach is there.

Of course it does lmao.

I don’t agree with that. I think Anaheim are a year away from competing for a playoff spot. If they can somehow get their offense going a bit this year, they can probably already still be in the mix in Feb-March

you cant be serious right?

 

[Baaaaaaaaaaaaah]

Anaheim is still one of the worst teams I have ever seen. Can't fully blame Z for his team's inability to finish literally anything he creates.

He does look slightly uncomfortable trying to be more responsible. Bad luck for him he ended up on a Pat Verbeek team. He wasn't drafted to be some unicorn two way forward, but is now being tasked with just that.

 

[ViD]

He’s basically an overhyped Sonny Milano

 

[thammias]

Amazing hockey skills. Just not very good at playing the game of hockey itself.

 

[LuGBuG]

He is definitely much better defensively but it’s hurt his offense no doubt. He also isn’t given as many chances from the coaching staff as some of the other young players which I think is silly.
Some shift looks amazing and some invisible. There’s still no doubt in my find he figures it out this year.

Nobody on the team can score except Terry (who looks exceptional) and Carlsson.

 

[Mr Rogers]

Amazing hockey skills. Just not very good at playing the game of hockey itself.

I’m not sure how to interpret this. Are you referring to his hockey IQ (ie he’s all tools “skills” and no toolbox). Completely disagree if so. He’s a very bright player.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

It's certainly plausible that he's not a legit star who got the spotlight with highlight reel goals playing on a team without much else to talk about.

Sure, his offensive production was nice for a couple years there at that age, but nothing a 2nd liner playing top line all year couldn't achieve, and at the same time, I feel like his issues have been a microcosm of the teams issues.

I'm sure his production goes up as the year progresses, but Zegras being a PPG+ guy feels so far away at this point.

 

[lwvs84]

He needs to play C and needs to play with someone that can finish. He's been put on the wing with guys that keep whiffing or hitting posts. Ducks are dead last in the league in goals... the whole team is ice cold right now. Part of that is probably the system, but Ducks seem to hit posts extremely often relative to the number of shots they take. One hot streak this early in the season and he's back on track, though.

 

[TGWL]

He needs to play C and needs to play with someone that can finish. He's been put on the wing with guys that keep whiffing or hitting posts. Ducks are dead last in the league in goals... the whole team is ice cold right now. Part of that is probably the system, but Ducks seem to hit posts extremely often relative to the number of shots they take. One hot streak this early in the season and he's back on track, though.

It's always everyone else to blame.

 

[Leksand]

I’m surprised to see so much negativity from fans about the team as a whole. 0.500 so far isn’t great with the extra point but it’s not bottom of the barrel awful either. I have barely watched any Duck hockey this season, so maybe it’s just luck, goal tending, weak schedule so far etc.?

 

[mightyquack]

Quite a few stupid posts from the usual suspects in this thread.

Anyone who has actually watched any amount of Anaheim games will see Zegras being used as a winger, and his game is just not suited for that at all. Not to mention the team's entire top 6 has been extremely inconsistent so far. The rare times Zegras is in the middle of the ice he's looked good.

Have zero doubt once Zegras is moved back to centre, he'll start producing. Hopefully that is with Anaheim and not another team.

 

[Trojans86]

He needs to get stronger and more powerful.
He needs to play center and not wing.
He needs better talent around him.
He needs an offensive coach. Ducks play a very defensive system which doesn’t suit him.

 

[RedWhiteBlackGold]

Makes sense why his name has been on the trade rumors the last few years.

 

[Another Empty Netter]

Lots of elite skills. And he can play a bit of a rat role too. When he is traded, which (imo) will happen this year, he will excel on his new club. A team like Boston would be the ideal spot for him.

Yeah let’s just put a bookmark in this thread until he’s traded. Cronin seems super old school and Z will be in the dog house on the team - unless building trade value and put in better spots

Although Cronin and co seem to have been sharp to ship out Drysdale -

 

[Brookbank]

Eh, I think in the right situation he coulda hit EP sorta peaks, but obviously that hype train has run into its own issues.

But ya, I think he was allowed to free wheel a bit, then got asked to play an all-around game and has just struggled with both aspects since. He was hurt last year, but the production has been decreasing regardless. Hope he can turn it around, fun player and it’d be a cool example of how you can “skill it up” and still do all the requisite little things.

Ehhh EP. You don't mean Elias Petterson do you ? He has 412 points in 407 games.

 

[Brookbank]

Skillin’ it up!

 

[Rcknrollkillnmachine]

If there was a hockey equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters/Savannah Bananas Zegras would flourish.

 

[bringbacktheskate604]

I mean he was literally voted “most overrated player” in the NHL by his peers

His problems from the NCAA are just as noticeable in the NHL
1) insanely dumb penalties
2) allergic to backchecking

You think by now young players would realize that responsible 2way play actually leads to more offense.

As

 

[Pavels Dog]

He was always overrated. National "experts" probably still would rank him ahead of Seider in a redraft.

 

[John Mandalorian]

If there was a hockey equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters/Savannah Bananas Zegras would flourish.

Was thinking And 1 and Hot Sauce or the Professor. Not ruling him out though. But as of now, these comparisons are kind of fair.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I’m surprised to see so much negativity from fans about the team as a whole. 0.500 so far isn’t great with the extra point but it’s not bottom of the barrel awful either. I have barely watched any Duck hockey this season, so maybe it’s just luck, goal tending, weak schedule so far etc.?

It’s dostal lol

He’s prob won 3 games we didn’t deserve to win

 

[newfy]

He was definitely overrated quite a bit but with that being said, I wouldn't be shocked at all if he has a Middlestadt type of breakout. Hits 25 or so, gains a bit of weight and all of a sudden the points start coming again.

I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him get moved, and the team that picks him up be pleasantly surprised with what they end up getting. The Ducks have too many players ready to pass him with how he's been playing lately though

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

The hockey knowledge on these boards continues to degrade.

The same way that there was an hfboards wide manhunt for Toews for being on the top 100 over Malkin, people can't stand Zegras because he can do flashy things and was on the cover of NHL 23.

I haven't watched a Ducks game yet this year, but he's got incredible vision and hands and has shown that he can create things out of nothing.

He may not be in the right situation, and is also trying to get back on track after a serious injury, but I would bet hundreds of dollars that he will have multiple 70+ point season in his career and that might be conservative.

 

[LuGBuG]

The hockey knowledge on these boards continues to degrade.

The same way that there was an hfboards wide manhunt for Toews for being on the top 100 over Malkin, people can't stand Zegras because he can do flashy things and was on the cover of NHL 23.

I haven't watched a Ducks game yet this year, but he's got incredible vision and hands and has shown that he can create things out of nothing.

He may not be in the right situation, and is also trying to get back on track after a serious injury, but I would bet hundreds of dollars that he will have multiple 70+ point season in his career and that might be conservative.

This guy hockeys.

He will be fine. He’s still young and learning. Now that he’s back at Center I think we will see a big difference as he can control the game more off the rush. Too driven with too much talent and brains for it not to work out. Had some great shifts last night let’s hope he builds off it. The entire team can’t score except Terry and Leo sometimes. Pucks will start going in and Zegras will be at the forefront offensively.

I like they tried him with Cutter. I think that’s going to pay off big for both players.