1. I know they can do that. Why would Zegras agree to that? Why would he accept anything less than an ELC? The whole point is you're trying to reward Zegras and get him to join the organization ASAP so that he can work full time on getting better - starting today. You are offering an inducement for him to do so. You are not going to insult him with at PTO. You're going to offer him the same ELC you gave to Brayden Tracey several months ago.
2. Even if the Duck's NHL team is garbage, developmentally Zegras is much better off in the AHL then college. The training, level of competition, and number of games is much better in the AHL than College. And the ducks can keep close tabs with him in SD. I"m not sure why you feel its easier to gain size in college but, again, that is your opinion more than a provable fact.
3. That's your opinion. But you state it as if its a fact. Based on the reporting, my guess is the ducks disagree with the entirety of your point 3 (for the reasons I stated in 2). If the ducks agree with you, this whole conversation is irrelevant and they aren't signing him. But this conversation started on an opposite premises - that the ducks would sign him. I happen to agree with you that Zegras is better off not playing in the NHL next year. But the AHL seems like a better option than College.
4. Of course burning an ELC year ends up costing more money. The point is that the money is well spent if you want to sign Zegras now and get him NHL caliber training right away. It is a cost/benefit. There is a cost and no one is denying that. And for the record, Zegras won't play more than 10 games because: (i) he will sign late at a point when there are almost certainly less than 10 games remaining; and (ii) the ducks can scratch him if need be to manage to that.
5. I'll disagree. Your posts speak for themselves and you never miss an opportunity to bash BM and put the most negative spin on his moves, often with the benefit of 20-20 hindsight. Criticizing the handling of Lundestrom last year is a perfect example. The ducks were trying to win and literally had no forwards to play. The decision might have been different in hindsight, but at the time, no one said a word about playing him (and Comtois) early. There are plenty of reasonable things to criticize BM about. Signing Zegras ASAP is not one of them.
6. You're very generous with Zegras' money. If you don't think a six figure signing bonus and NHL salary is a difference maker to a college student, then you are seriously out of touch. TODAY, that money is very important to Zegras and not very important to the ducks, which is exactly why they ducks should offer it.
1 - Tracey is in juniors. That ELC doesn’t kick in until he’s old enough. It’s apples and oranges. Do the Ducks want Zegras to only play one season, or does Zegras only want to play one season of college hockey? I’ve seen zero reports of the Ducks wanting him to leave now. Please provide links if you’ve seen otherwise, I’d be more than happy to say I’m wrong.
2 - high skill players need to be cost controlled as long as possible in the current CBA - thats not controversial. It isn’t hard to find examples of teams that have screwed themselves overpaying young talent because they started them off too early. Because I think he’s too small (#3), I think it’s doubly stupid for the Ducks to be pushing him to start his pro career this year.
3 - as far as building muscle goes, you’re patently wrong. It’s virtually impossible to build muscle in-season for an AHL/NHL player, in fact it’s pretty well documented that many players struggle to simply maintain weight and not lose it. Yes, it’s my opinion he’s too light. That means my opinion isn’t shortsighted, which was your assertion. If anyone feels he isn’t, they can agree to disagree.
4 - I don’t have your crystal ball.
5 - plenty of people criticized BM last year over Lundestrom. It was glaringly obvious he was protecting RC with his roster moves, and Lundestrom clearly wasn’t really ready. Plenty of people also said that Comtois had no NHL game outside his shot and needed to be sent down. I’m very far from the biggest BM hater around him. I just found his loyalty to RC to the obvious detriment of the team to be unacceptable, as was his lying to my face and wasting my money.
6 - you said that paying Zegras now will build good faith. I pointed out that giving him an extra 50K now want mean beans when he wants 2-5M/year more than BM wants to pay him. Absolutely zero. Don’t move the goalposts. Also, I’m a long term season ticket holder. That’s partially my money, and it buys me the right to an opinion on how it’s spent.
edit - I’m out of this conversation. It’s all opinion, and you won’t change mine about him being ready or it being a good idea. I would appreciate actually links about the Ducks intent if you have them though.