What’s going on with Zegras?

[FiveTacos]

But you want your Centers to be able to win FO's, and play some defense.

Would you rather have a 60+ point center who's mediocre in the dot, or would you rather turn that same player into a 30 point winger? Which brings more value to a team?
As mentioned, defensively he's much improved. 90% of it starts with effort, and he's got that.

McTavish is better at faceoffs but worse defensively, and objectively worse than Zegras at nearly all other aspects of being a scoring line center, so why isn't he the candidate for being moved to wing? Hell, Carlsson is down at like 25% on his draws, no one's talking about moving him.

Its not like those things aren't important, but you also would never choose to play a checking line center with stone hands as a scoring line player, just because he plays defense and wins faceoffs. There's other aspects to being a center.

 

[anezthes]

Z looked good with Carlsson and Terry at the start of last season, but aside from that, he's been much better at center than on the wing.

 

[Fatass]

Would you rather have a 60+ point center who's mediocre in the dot, or would you rather turn that same player into a 30 point winger? Which brings more value to a team?
As mentioned, defensively he's much improved. 90% of it starts with effort, and he's got that.

McTavish is better at faceoffs but worse defensively, and objectively worse than Zegras at nearly all other aspects of being a scoring line center, so why isn't he the candidate for being moved to wing? Hell, Carlsson is down at like 25% on his draws, no one's talking about moving him.

Its not like those things aren't important, but you also would never choose to play a checking line center with stone hands as a scoring line player, just because he plays defense and wins faceoffs. There's other aspects to being a center.

I like Zegras and would love having him on my club. But he’s not as hard to play against as MacTavish. Zegras has 3 points and is a dash 4. That’s a negative total. MacTavish has 5 points and is a minus 1. That’s a plus 4. Clearly he’s just doing better with and without the puck.
Imo Zegras needs to move on to get his game going again. I see a great fit in Boston. They need young, elite skill at centre.

 

[Confucius]

Flash in the pan more or less. Some guys get 15 minutes of fame some get a 20 year career. He got 4 years it’s over

 

[Riggins]

He's a rich man's Rob Schremp

 

[67 others]

I just stumbled upon this post on Twitter and went on to check his stats this year. I get that last year he was injured but he seems to have an incredible slow start again this year. Is this the case of a player playing like he wants out? A fresh start?

https://x.com/i/web/status/1850669158582698013

Cronin coaching happened

 

[Peasy]

Cronin coaching happened

Yeah dudes an awful coach.

 

[FiveTacos]

I like Zegras and would love having him on my club. But he’s not as hard to play against as MacTavish.

McTavish is not nearly as physical as his reputation suggests. He's good on puck protection, but that's about it as a physical player. He's not been a wrecking ball type thus far.

Zegras has 3 points and is a dash 4. That’s a negative total. MacTavish has 5 points and is a minus 1. That’s a plus 4. Clearly he’s just doing better with and without the puck.

McTavish has gotten PP1 time while Zegras was stuck on PP2 with the lesser guys. 3 of McT's 5 points were on the PP, none for Zegras, and McT has ZERO goals (which is supposed to be his strength moreso than playmaking). So at ES Zegras is outscoring him.

And forget +/- ... Ducks fans will tell you McTavish constantly misses defensive assignments and takes lazy penalties from being out of position. He does not give half the effort Zegras does defensively. It's not a fatal flaw for a 21 yo, but he is not what people around here seem to think he is. A budding Rod Brindamour he is not (yet). He shows flashes of being a good 2C (most notably early last year), but unlike Zegras hasn't managed it for an extended period.

Further proof of how they're playing, McTavish was the one who got demoted to the 4th line this year, while Zegras has been promoted back to 2C.

Imo Zegras needs to move on to get his game going again. I see a great fit in Boston. They need young, elite skill at centre.

I don't think Boston has assets a rebuilding team would want.

 

[Osakahaus]

Zegras is a really meh player. I feel like that "Kyle Palmieri" comparison TSN or NBC gave him on draft day is spot on, but the dude has been rattled ever since some guy on Arizona rocked his shit. You really dont have a guy thats great and there are players who are arguably better on Anaheim's future long term. If anyone has watched baseball, he reminds me of a pitcher who used to be dominant just in his rookie season, then tapered off into being mediocre. Chris Coghlan rings a bell for Zegras TBH.

 

[Fatass]

McTavish is not nearly as physical as his reputation suggests. He's good on puck protection, but that's about it as a physical player. He's not been a wrecking ball type thus far.



McTavish has gotten PP1 time while Zegras was stuck on PP2 with the lesser guys. 3 of McT's 5 points were on the PP, none for Zegras, and McT has ZERO goals (which is supposed to be his strength moreso than playmaking). So at ES Zegras is outscoring him.

And forget +/- ... Ducks fans will tell you McTavish constantly misses defensive assignments and takes lazy penalties from being out of position. He does not give half the effort Zegras does defensively. It's not a fatal flaw for a 21 yo, but he is not what people around here seem to think he is. A budding Rod Brindamour he is not (yet). He shows flashes of being a good 2C (most notably early last year), but unlike Zegras hasn't managed it for an extended period.

Further proof of how they're playing, McTavish was the one who got demoted to the 4th line this year, while Zegras has been promoted back to 2C.



I don't think Boston has assets a rebuilding team would want.

If on the trade block MacT costs a small fortune to acquire. Zegras costs a lot less.
I think though Zegras, because his stock is so low, would be a steal for good club. He’d get to play second fiddle to good players, which is a better role for him.

Zegras is a really meh player. I feel like that "Kyle Palmieri" comparison TSN or NBC gave him on draft day is spot on, but the dude has been rattled ever since some guy on Arizona rocked his shit. You really dont have a guy thats great and there are players who are arguably better on Anaheim's future long term. If anyone has watched baseball, he reminds me of a pitcher who used to be dominant just in his rookie season, then tapered off into being mediocre. Chris Coghlan rings a bell for Zegras TBH.

Wasn’t the Jay Beagle? I think Beagle beat up Zegras’s buddy that game too. That’s another reason why Zegras needs a change. He needs to move on.

 

[Osakahaus]

Wasn’t the Jay Beagle? I think Beagle beat up Zegras’s buddy that game too. That’s another reason why Zegras needs a change. He needs to move on.

Somehow I forgot Jay Beagle was on Arizona, so thank you

 

[FiveTacos]

If on the trade block MacT costs a small fortune to acquire. Zegras costs a lot less.

IMO, Zegras has shown himself to be more of a play driver. McT is 21 so it's mostly potential, but by 21 Zegras was on his 2nd 60+ point season, despite playing with less talent around him than McTavish has now.

If McTavish can develop his defense AND score 60+ he'd be worth more for sure. But at this point he has nothing on Zegras besides more runway due to age.

I think though Zegras, because his stock is so low, would be a steal for good club. He’d get to play second fiddle to good players, which is a better role for him.

If the Ducks future 1st line ends up being Gauthier-Carlsson-Sennecke, guys like Zegras and McTavish WILL be second fiddle. And for a successful rebuild they will need both those two to become good 2nd liners, or they'll be shopping for more.

 

[StumpyTown]

The sample size of games that I've watched this kid isn't that big, but there is no question he has an exceptional skill level. I don't want to lump him in with PLD with attitude, but they are similar only in that Zegras, when he wants to be, can take over games and has the skill to do it, just like PLD. The problem is that he simply looks like he doesn't feel like it far more often than not.

 

[Fatass]

IMO, Zegras has shown himself to be more of a play driver. McT is 21 so it's mostly potential, but by 21 Zegras was on his 2nd 60+ point season, despite playing with less talent around him than McTavish has now.

If McTavish can develop his defense AND score 60+ he'd be worth more for sure. But at this point he has nothing on Zegras besides more runway due to age.



If the Ducks future 1st line ends up being Gauthier-Carlsson-Sennecke, guys like Zegras and McTavish WILL be second fiddle. And for a successful rebuild they will need both those two to become good 2nd liners, or they'll be shopping for more.

MacTavish would be first fiddle in a matchup role. The point is MacTavish and Carlsson are first fiddle players and suited to that role, whether as a 1 or 2 C. Zegras would be far better off on a new club where he can just play and not have the pressure of being a leader.

 

[FiveTacos]

MacTavish would be first fiddle in a matchup role.

Maybe that's what he PROJECTS to be. But right now he's nowhere near that.

 

[Boo Boo]

MacTavish would be first fiddle in a matchup role. The point is MacTavish and Carlsson are first fiddle players and suited to that role, whether as a 1 or 2 C. Zegras would be far better off on a new club where he can just play and not have the pressure of being a leader.

Why would mctavish be first fiddle in any matchup role when he’s not good defensively and also has lazy defensive tendencies

 

[FiveTacos]

Why would mctavish be first fiddle in any matchup role when he’s not good defensively and also has lazy defensive tendencies

I really think it comes down to him being a good ol' Canadian boy who made a game saving play in the WJC, and Zegras being the cocky flashy USA kid. So Zegras must be bad defensively and soft, McTavish must be good defensively and gritty.

McTavish may yet develop into a gritty scorer who's good defensively (in fact I'd say odds are good), but right now all 3 of those things are inconsistent or lacking completely. It's not as if he's a great defensive grinding player who's working on his offense. He's a bad defensive player who's inconsistent physically, who's also working on his offense.

Right now the only "matchup role" he should have is against other teams' weaker offensive lines.

 

[CellyHard]

I like Zegras and would love having him on my club. But he’s not as hard to play against as MacTavish. Zegras has 3 points and is a dash 4. That’s a negative total. MacTavish has 5 points and is a minus 1. That’s a plus 4. Clearly he’s just doing better with and without the puck.
Imo Zegras needs to move on to get his game going again. I see a great fit in Boston. They need young, elite skill at centre.

MacTavish would be first fiddle in a matchup role. The point is MacTavish and Carlsson are first fiddle players and suited to that role, whether as a 1 or 2 C. Zegras would be far better off on a new club where he can just play and not have the pressure of being a leader.

Bruins could really use someone of Zegras skill level. Pastrnak needs a linemate that can make plays and create. They have the leadership group where Zegras can slide in and be himself.

Out of curiosity, what would be a realistic ask from Boston?

 

[Bouboumaster]

Would still try him on the Habs, why not

 

[FiveTacos]

Out of curiosity, what would be a realistic ask from Boston?

There really isn't one. What Anaheim needs in terms of age/position is almost exactly the kind of players the Bruins would want to keep themselves. And picks aren't likely to be of much interest.