SpeakingOfTheDevils
Devils Advocate
If Zacha is on the Devils next year, there is no way he shouldn't be on the 3rd line centering Elias.
Prospect Info: 6th Overall Pick: Pavel Zacha
- Thread starter Emperoreddy
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Feed Me A Stray Cat
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I'm all for giving Zacha his nine games. But he needs to make it abundantly clear he's a good nhl player. Not that he can hack it on the fourth line, but that he's a valuable nhl player. Otherwise it's rushing him.
NJDevs26
Once upon a time...
- Mar 21, 2007
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Agreed, I think we're jumping the shark with him a bit the way we jumped the shark on Larsson and Josefson and Matteau in recent years. At least Larsson showed he was ready for the NHL though he still got too much, too soon in all likelihood. Let Zacha earn his way up here. It's not as if he was dominant today in the prospect games. As was posted earlier let's see him be dominant throughout this week and make some noise in the preseason first.
I agree. I wouldn't ask for him to be dominant or mistake-free (during the 9 game tryout period), but if he doesn't look like a legit NHL player then he should go back to Sarnia.
I think they view him more than say a JJ or Matteau and not all prospects and players share the same path. I would equate him with Jordan Staal with better offense.
Wouldn't we agree it takes longer for a defensemen game to translate?
I think the position they drafted Zacha, he's either really good or he's a bust. He's that type of player and gets that type of reaction from fans and pundits. There is no middle ground on him.
Wouldn't we agree it takes longer for a defensemen game to translate?
I think the position they drafted Zacha, he's either really good or he's a bust. He's that type of player and gets that type of reaction from fans and pundits. There is no middle ground on him.
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
I think if he shows he can hang it's better to keep him here. The longer camp goes on the more i want him around our coaches.
HenriquesJawLine
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- Mar 6, 2009
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The dinner cruise the prospects and team staff took on the Hudson River Tuesday night has become an annual part of the development camp. It gives the players a chance to spend some time together with the coaches and management socially away from the rink.
“It was great,” Zacha said. “I've never been in New York. I had never seen Manhattan. The whole team we were all talking to each other. I think it helps the team here because you start out here and you don't really talk to each other much, you don't know each other much. Then, you are on the ship together for (three) hours and you talk to everyone.”
It was particularly exciting for Zacha to see the Statue of Liberty up close.
“I just saw it in the movies and shows and stuff,” the 18-year-old Czech said. “I saw it live. It was amazing for me, a Czech person. Almost no one there gets to see New York or the Statue of Liberty, so it was a great feeling for me.”
“It was great,” Zacha said. “I've never been in New York. I had never seen Manhattan. The whole team we were all talking to each other. I think it helps the team here because you start out here and you don't really talk to each other much, you don't know each other much. Then, you are on the ship together for (three) hours and you talk to everyone.”
It was particularly exciting for Zacha to see the Statue of Liberty up close.
“I just saw it in the movies and shows and stuff,” the 18-year-old Czech said. “I saw it live. It was amazing for me, a Czech person. Almost no one there gets to see New York or the Statue of Liberty, so it was a great feeling for me.”
Especially if Hynes is this great motivator and teacher, would rather him be exposed to him and his system versus going back to the OHL.
Nice to see Zacha, Czeching out of the sites.
He's never eaten almonds or seen the Statue of Liberty, two things we take for granted as Americans.
He's never eaten almonds or seen the Statue of Liberty, two things we take for granted as Americans.
ForeverJerseyGirl
Registered User
It's cute that Zacha was so excited to see the Statue of Liberty and everything. I'm sure that's something he'll remember for a long time. A great memory for him and our other prospects.
As for whether he should be in the NHL next year, I'm still in the camp of trusting coaching and management to make the right decision there. Today he didn't look dominant, but he showed great speed and acceleration as well as a quick release and hard shot, although of course the coaches see much more than some three-on-three games when making their evaluation. Based on what I saw, though, I don't feel that Zacha absolutely has to be in the NHL next year or his development will be harmed, and I could understand if the coaches/management think that he has the skill to be in the NHL next year.
As for whether he should be in the NHL next year, I'm still in the camp of trusting coaching and management to make the right decision there. Today he didn't look dominant, but he showed great speed and acceleration as well as a quick release and hard shot, although of course the coaches see much more than some three-on-three games when making their evaluation. Based on what I saw, though, I don't feel that Zacha absolutely has to be in the NHL next year or his development will be harmed, and I could understand if the coaches/management think that he has the skill to be in the NHL next year.
The one thing that makes me feel a bit better about potentially rushing Zacha is that, between everything Hynes and Shero have said, if he stays up, he'll play. They both know next season is about evaluating and identifying future pieces. I don't really get the "Deboer" impression from Hynes, where he cares more about winning a game tomorrow than setting the team up to win many more games farther down the road.
So in that respect, if he stays up, I think there's a good chance he'll get his minutes, which I wouldn't love but I'd live with. The absolute last thing I want to see is Zacha getting scratched 6 weeks into the season to "maybe view the game from a little different perspective and take a couple steps back to evaluate."
So in that respect, if he stays up, I think there's a good chance he'll get his minutes, which I wouldn't love but I'd live with. The absolute last thing I want to see is Zacha getting scratched 6 weeks into the season to "maybe view the game from a little different perspective and take a couple steps back to evaluate."
Sometimes a young player needs that though. I don't believe the only way to learn is to play every night. Obviously it's not something you want to become a regular thing though.
I don't disagree with that. But at 19 years old, and with him still being pretty unaccustomed to the North American game and rink, I think he needs to be playing as much as possible. A scratch here or there isn't the end of the world for a young player, and as you said, can help a lot of times. But mirroring Matteau's situation with Zacha would be completely inexcusable.
Devil X
Call me Nostradamus
While Zacha only showed flashes today i believe his game is better suited for a full ice game then what i saw from the 3v3.
They guys who seemed to do really well were the little guys who are very shifty. Example, i didnt notice Santini out there at all. Same with some of the other bigger guys.
Plus i felt like each time Zacha started to feel it some he shift was over it was only 30 seconds at a time.
Ill be watching on Saturday to see the change i expect to see in his game.
They guys who seemed to do really well were the little guys who are very shifty. Example, i didnt notice Santini out there at all. Same with some of the other bigger guys.
Plus i felt like each time Zacha started to feel it some he shift was over it was only 30 seconds at a time.
Ill be watching on Saturday to see the change i expect to see in his game.
Did you see much of Wood? Seems like he was putting up more than a few goals throughout the tournament today.
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
Ya I don't get any Deboer impressions from Hynes either. Obviously its only from a few days watching from a far and his interviews, but he really comes across that at the bare minimum he knows how to work with young prospects, motivate them, and surround them with the coaching and tools they need to succeed.
So ya I believe if Zacha stays he will play a lot. Scratch here or there if he does something really dopey or they think he is developing a bad habit and want him to step back and reasses, but no 6 week stints on the bench.
It might just be false readings, but I feel confident with this new coaching staff's ability to handle the younger players.
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
I got the impression from reading all of the impressions today that he doesn't apply to the Santini school of going way to hard and trucking people despite it being just a development camp. Something you noticed? That he wasn't going full peddle to the metal.
Everything I've read and seen indicates Zacha's offense really thrives off the rush. He's got a great one-timer and can cycle, too, but a lot of his points come off the rush. Can't really do that playing side-to-side hockey.
Devil X
Call me Nostradamus
This thread is about Zacha but ill quick answer your question, Yes Wood looked really good. I think he is bigger then people realize, he has a nice hard shot. Most of the time he was part of offense on his team. He stuck out when he was on the ice for me.
I did feel that way. It seemed to me he would slow up or almost stop before hitting most of the guys. He got a couple hits in did some stick checking and pushing but nothing overly physical to me he was holding back on that part of the game. He did try a few time to skate back to gather some speed and come up the ice but there just wasnt a lot of room. He did a nice job on what little board play they had.
One thing was clear he has vision he made a couple nice back hand passes. His shot both wrist and slap are hard and accurate. He also gets his wrist shot off very quick.
Your pretty much right on with this, at least based on what i saw yesterday. Im going on Saturday also so I'm sure ill come back and write something up about that also. But Im hoping to see a different Zacha with full ice.
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
Hearing about potential good vision is very promising as their were question marks about that. If the raw stuff is there the rest can be taught.
Thanks for indulging me, I think I thought this thread was the prospect camp thread after reading some Zacha comments.
Zacha has got to be the most underrated prospect in this draft. Reading some comments about him, it is hilarious.
ForeverJerseyGirl
Registered User
I don't even bother reading main board posts about him. Most are absolutely terrible and ignorant.
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
A lot of the main board liked him. Then we drafted him so of course he has to suck.
ForeverJerseyGirl
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