Pucks of a Feather
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Anaheim Ducks: Reaching for Mason MacTavish is a Good Thing

By Ben Thomasian

SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - JULY 23: With the third pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the Anaheim Ducks select Mason McTavish during the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at the NHL Network studios on July 23, 2021 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - JULY 23: With the third pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the Anaheim Ducks select Mason McTavish during the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at the NHL Network studios on July 23, 2021 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Anaheim Ducks
OSHAWA, ON – DECEMBER 13: Ryan Gagnier #67 of the Oshawa Generals and Mason Mctavish #23 of the Peterborough Petes skate up the ice during an OHL game at the Tribute Communities Centre on December 13, 2019 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images) /

Versatility

I personally love a team that has numerous paths to win. If every line plays the same brand of hockey, then countering the systems they use becomes far easier for opposition coaches. Line matching may be less talked about today than in years past, however, one only has to look at the Ducks team of the past.

On one line you had Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry playing their heavy behind-the-net cycle, and on another, Andy MacDonald and Teemu Selanne playing a high-tempo rush game. Which defensemen do you have on the ice for which forward line? What systems do the blueliners have to remember in order to counter each? The more decisions which are made means the more mistakes will be made in addition.

Suddenly, the McTavish drafting creates a hard to play against line in addition to the high-skill line that will be built around Zegras. Options are created. Consider a line of Max Comtois, Max Jones, and Mason McTavish for now. Both Comtois and Jones draw their share of calls.

They’re both big-bodied players who can bang around the net. Jones has the wheels for puck retrieval and Comtois has a scoring touch. Add another big aggressive body to the mix and all of a sudden that’s a nightmare fuel line to contain. Particularly given that additional body can really shoot the puck.

Perhaps most interesting, is that with his playstyle, McTavish can slot in alongside Zegras on the power play. This unique forward pairing would present the opportunity for the Ducks to experiment with forward placement. Perhaps on one play, Zegras lines up at the center with McTavish on his wing and they run a more standard umbrella play. On the next play perhaps McTavish takes the draw and they attempt to run a 1-3-1 with Zegras making plays from behind the net and Drysdale from the point.

Perhaps more interesting, having two strong centers allows the Anaheim Ducks to run a 2-1-2 with Zegras and Drysdale deep taking one-timers, and the big-bodied McTavish in on the net. While the 2-1-2 typically is played at 5-on-3, it’s very plausible for a heavy team to make this play at 5-on-4. Max Comtois and now McTavish present two of the forwards with big hips to throw their weight around on this type of set-up and Drysdale fires off more than enough one-timers to be a threat from there. They simply need one more big boy on this unit and all of a sudden the Ducks’ heavy and oppressive style of play is making a comeback.

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