5 Takeaways: Let Zegras Play
The Anaheim Ducks extended their win-less streak to six games on Saturday night, falling to the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in overtime. Here are 5 takeaways from another disappointing night of Ducks hockey.
1. Let Trevor Zegras Play
Zegras had the second lowest ice time of any Duck on Saturday, once again nailed to the bench in late period situations. Head coach Dallas Eakins has shown that he barely trusts him to be much more than a power play-only guy. Given that obvious lack of faith, how beneficial is it for Zegras to be in the NHL right now?
Eakins has been hailed as a developmental coach in the past, but his handling of Zegras puts that into severe doubt. Sure, Zegras had his worst game so far as a Duck against Vegas, being caught out of position on the Alex Pietraneglo goal, but how can he learn from that if he’s not given a real opportunity to work through the adversity? Anaheim’s playoff chances are all but dead in the water, so let the future of the franchise get his feet underneath him, and maybe then this season won’t be seen as yet another wasted year.
2. Max Jones is Good
Jones continued his rapid ascent up Anaheim’s pecking order against the Vegas Golden Knights. He led all Ducks’ skaters in shots on goal at five-on-five with four, and notched an impressive 76.65 xGF%. Essentially, when Jones was on the ice, the Ducks had the better of the run of play. The sample size is not the biggest, but the former first-round pick has unquestionably been a plus-contributor this season:
3. Derek Grant Needs to be Scratched
Grant, brought back to Anaheim in the off-season as a free agent, has been one of the worst players in the NHL this season. Typically, I try to stay away from strong, declarative statements, but there is no sugar coating how bad Grant has been this season. Against Vegas, he was once again shelled defensively, with the Ducks allowing four high-danger opportunities at five-on-five with him on the ice. Given his costly turnovers in the preceding games, and an awful momentum-sapping penalty versus the Golden Knights, there simply is no justifying keeping him in the lineup.
Perhaps Eakins is starting to wise up to Grant’s missteps, as he had the third least ice time of any Ducks skater in the contest. Either way, Grant has not been up to speed at all this season, and it’s high time the Ducks move on from him as a regular in their lineup.
4. Adam Henrique Revenge Tour
Remember Henrique? The guy that the franchise essentially declared it could do without when they placed him on waivers? Well, a week later, with Carter Rowney on injured reserve, and with a trade yet to materialize, the Ducks were forced to put him back in the lineup. He would go on to have a great night at the office, drawing a penalty and scoring a huge third period goal. Henrique was never the problem for this team, and his overall game on Saturday was fairly similar to how he’s played all season. The difference, of course, is that he got a puck into the back of the net. After hearing him describe the week between being waived and playing again as “brutal”, all I can say is: good for Adam Henrique.
5. What’s going on with Sam Steel?
Another key decision by Eakins against Vegas was to move Steel off his customary line with Zegras and Jakob Silfverberg, as Henrique slid into that spot while Steel was left to center Grant and Nicolas Deslauriers. Predictably, his numbers were below break-even both in terms of shot quantity and quality. On the whole, it’s been a rough season from Steel:
The 2016 first-round pick doesn’t generate much of any offense when he’s been on the ice, but his defensive metrics have been all right. He turned 23 this season, an age where players tend to start really hitting their stride at the NHL level. 107 games into his Anaheim career, the ceiling for him as a second line center might still be there, but it’s looking likelier he eventually becomes a solid depth center. No one wants to write a guy off too soon, but the clock is ticking for Steel.
Statistics courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Evolving Hockey