Prospect Info: 6th Overall Pick: Pavel Zacha

[HenriquesJawLine]

You're brilliant for this GIF.

But it was at this moment, with this move, that I realized that Zacha had to be our pick. Absolutely wicked stuff.

Haha I just googled "pavel zacha gif." Crazy thing is two other goals he scored in that tournament were more impressive.

 

[Classic Devil]

I'm not sure if that's more impressive by Zacha or an indictment on the Swiss defense.

Kid definitely has a lot of tools. I loved when he said he tries to play like Getzlaf. If he can even come close to that, I think I'm gonna like him just as much as that other guy we had who had "Zach" in his name.

Hard to believe it's been 12 years since we drafted that other guy.

 

[glenwo2]

I'm not sure if that's more impressive by Zacha or an indictment on the Swiss defense.

Kid definitely has a lot of tools. I loved when he said he tries to play like Getzlaf. If he can even come close to that, I think I'm gonna like him just as much as that other guy we had who had "Zach" in his name.

Looked like I was watching a bunch of disconnected X-Box Controllers ala Ovy there.

 

[LuvTheDevs]

there is abaolutely nothing about this kid that suggests he needs time back in juniors... He stated he would love to play in the NHL, he is big fast and physical (top 3 skills needed to play in the NHL young)...

people who are willing to swnd him back for a year if need be, I agree. Think he should go to camp and do very well, then do great in his five game stint to stay around. But to those saying 'this kid cannot touch NHL ice for 2-3 years'... I say there is literally nothing pointing towards that from what we have seen.

i fully expect him to come in as an immediate impact player, and if not that is okay, 5-6 games and juniors for a year isnt that bad of an outcome.

I completely agree, guys like him arent going to learn anything more in juniors. Remember he has already played with professional men in Europe. Juniors for him was just to experience the NA style, Ice, etc. He has the size and speed already and would be much better served learning here, with our staff and Patty mentoring him. Also, the way he is talking he is eager to start and might grow complacent if he is forced to return. Now im all for development years for players who are not used to the speed and the size of the game, but like I said, it seems like he could hold his own. I think his development comes on the ice against the Malkins and the Ovechkins not anyone in Juniors.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

"Pavel Zacha has nothing more to learn," unless the whole "can't even score in Juniors" thing throws a wrench in the works... He hasn't proven he can even be a top JUNIOR forward yet, why does everyone want to see him in Jersey for a full season? He'll be the next Brandon Sutter before you know it.

 

[MadDevil]

Just because Zacha looks physically ready for the NHL doesn't mean he should be in the NHL. The kid has played all of 42 games in North America. I don't think it would harm his development at all to spend the year in Sarnia. If we want to give him the 9 game look to start the season, that's fine. But unless he 100% looks ready, send him back to Sarnia, let him (hopefully) dominate the CHL, and then reassess where he is next year at this time. We absolutely can not afford to rush this kid.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

He's the victoria secret box your GF brought home last week. Don't push the subject and don't rush to get a look. Let it unfold naturally at the right time. It'll so much better when it shows up unexpectedly and makes your day.

 

[JimEIV]

I need to get this off my chest...

Any GM that would let Gomez walk because he is making room for the 18 year old he just drafted or a guy who has 36 career point in almost 200 games is a moron.

I'm hoping the was just a political way to say Sorry Scott you Suck.

 

[GhostofKenKlee]

I need to get this off my chest...

Any GM that would let Gomez walk because he is making room for the 18 year old he just drafted or a guy who has 36 career point in almost 200 games is a moron.

I'm hoping the was just a political way to say Sorry Scott you Suck.

I agree with this, I get the blanket "let the youngsters play". However, Gomez was one of the better if not best playmakers on the team. You have another pure shooter type in KP.

Josefson hasn't soon me enough over a long time to say for sure he's some sort of point machine.

That's why I've banging this drum, people are going to see PZ centering.

Gomez can carry the puck.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

I need to get this off my chest...

Any GM that would let Gomez walk because he is making room for the 18 year old he just drafted or a guy who has 36 career point in almost 200 games is a moron.

I'm hoping the was just a political way to say Sorry Scott you Suck.

If the idea is to replace Gomez with Zacha I agree. If the idea is to promote JJ and Zacha plays lower down the lineup it's not as big a deal.

 

[JimEIV]

If the idea is to replace Gomez with Zacha I agree. If the idea is to promote JJ and Zacha plays lower down the lineup it's not as big a deal.

It is still really silly...

You're letting go a guy who had the best PPG on our team, still has great wheels seemingly fitting perfectly in the faster concept, and has 747 career points to give an opportunity to a guy who has 36 career points in 180 games?

You don't find that the least bit questionable?

 

[Burner Account]

It is still really silly...

You're letting go a guy who had the best PPG on our team, still has great wheels seemingly fitting perfectly in the faster concept, and has 747 career points to give an opportunity to a guy who has 36 career points in 180 games?

You don't find that the least bit questionable?

I do agree that's questionable. But I'm also not sure that's the way things will still be on opening night.

I don't think anyone predicted he'd trade for Palmieri. Let's see what else he does.

 

[JimEIV]

I do agree that's questionable. But I'm also not sure that's the way things will still be on opening night.

I don't think anyone predicted he'd trade for Palmieri. Let's see what else he does.

That is more than fair...But...

I'm just going by his words and judging it on its face.

“Scott's been a great Devil. This really isn't about Scott Gomez. This is more about Josefson and what we can find out about his development. Now, we draft Zacha. How are you going to five Zacha an opportunity to see where he is in training camp if you don't have any positions available. So, it's more not about those players in particular. It's more about giving other guys an opportunity and where we want t go and getting younger and a little different type of team.

This rational is scary ridiculous.

 

[Devils Trap]

That statement is ridiculous for a team that may be a contender.

We are in a rebuild stage, we need to get younger. Its perfectly reasonable.

I would agree with Jim if we were a playoff contender, we arent, not yet

 

[Richer's Ghost]

It is still really silly...

You're letting go a guy who had the best PPG on our team, still has great wheels seemingly fitting perfectly in the faster concept, and has 747 career points to give an opportunity to a guy who has 36 career points in 180 games?

You don't find that the least bit questionable?

lip service. He's telling Gomer to seek other opportunities if he can because the team is in a youth rebuild. If Gomez actually is available come camp time or even the start of the season and Shero hasn't made the moves he obviously is planning to; I think we see discussions take place to bring him back.

The outward message to the young players though is the spot is yours for the taking this year. To fans it's "out with the old, in with the new". I don't believe half of what he's saying about the prospects either - with Zacha, Henrique and JJ there's no room for Gomez? LOL yeah Zacha is really going to play this year... right. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

It is still really silly...

You're letting go a guy who had the best PPG on our team, still has great wheels seemingly fitting perfectly in the faster concept, and has 747 career points to give an opportunity to a guy who has 36 career points in 180 games?

You don't find that the least bit questionable?

I think Shero is looking into other, better options and gave Gomez the courtesy of "knowing" so he can talk to other teams in free agency.

Could end up being win-win (Gomez gets paid, we get another young forward), but could be a bit of a risky gamble. But I think both parties know that they are each other's safety nets in case other options don't work out.

Where we stand right now, though, I tend to side with you and say that (surface-level) not bringing back Gomez is questionable. But who's to say there isn't a second transaction to back this up. Let the dominoes fall.

 

[NJDevs26]

Like I said in the team thread (where the Gomez talk should be) where is Gomez playing if you want to give JJ a third line opportunity? I think that was far less about Zacha and more about JJ and Henrique/Elias/Camm/Zajac being our top six C/LW. At most Gomez is probably a one more year solution to a team that wants to infuse more youth next year

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

lip service. He's telling Gomer to seek other opportunities if he can because the team is in a youth rebuild. If Gomez actually is available come camp time or even the start of the season and Shero hasn't made the moves he obviously is planning to; I think we see discussions take place to bring him back.

The outward message to the young players though is the spot is yours for the taking this year. To fans it's "out with the old, in with the new". I don't believe half of what he's saying about the prospects either - with Zacha, Henrique and JJ there's no room for Gomez? LOL yeah Zacha is really going to play this year... right. I'll believe it when I see it.

Bang. I just posted almost the same thing. I truly think this is what's going down. Gomez and Shero know they are each other's safety nettings -- Plan B's, if you will.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Given Shero's stance on our defense situation heading into next season, with Greene being our only veteran, I can see him not being shy about running a younger lineup - including Zacha. But my question/concern is what if Zacha is not ready? Will he have a backup plan in place, or is he just assuming Zacha will be ready? I like what Shero has done so far so I'm going to trust him and assume the former, he may have some tricks up his sleeve.

Heck I didn't even know Palmieri was being shopped and apparently Shero was working on that for 10 days prior to the draft, very Lou-esque by the way. So I'll trust him in this regard until he proves me wrong. Also, maybe he's waiting for the development camp just to evaluate Zacha more closely, and then decide his next course of action.

 

[JimEIV]

That is ridiculous for a team that may be a contender.

We are in a rebuild stage, we need to get younger. Its perfectly reasonable.

I would agree with Jim if we were a playoff contender, we arent, not yet

I don't see how contender or rebuilding has anything to with it?

You're serious talking about two players who may not even have the potential to play in this league next year vs an accomplished player who proved he still has plenty left last season.

I'm sorry, I know we are are rooting for Josefeson, I am too, but you can't tell me he shown anything to warrant a full time top 3 center position in the last 5 years. Maybe this is the year he takes the next step? But how do you go with that alone as a decision maker for the club?

 

[JimEIV]

This thread isn't about debating Gomez, talk about that in the team thread, this is just for talking about Zacha.

Kind of hard not to talk about the other centers when Shero says Zacha is going to be given an opportunity to make the team and that is why someone isn't going to be signed.

 

[GhostofKenKlee]

I will do flips if JJ is this unleashed beast this season.

 

[MichaelJ]

Zacha could have gone 3 if he didn't have such a poor year in the minors. 2 suspensions, and didn't even put up a PTS per game.

Strome nearly put up 2 PTS per game.

Matteau was a #30 pick. Shouldn't really compare the two.

Zacha would eat Matteau's lunch for him.

 

[GhostofKenKlee]

Kind of hard not to talk about the other centers when Shero says Zacha is going to be given an opportunity to make the team and that is why someone isn't going to be signed.

I agree, put it all together. Trotting out Zacha at an event, telling Gomez he's not needed and the dearth of Center depth.

 

[NJDevs26]

And Zacha will almost certainly play nine games...if Gomez came back where would Zacha slot in, the fourth line? It gives him an opportunity to win a spot, while not gifting him a spot. If he goes back to juniors you have plenty of options for third line LW/C