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Prospect Info: 6th Overall Pick: Pavel Zacha

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Will Shero sign Zacha by August 15th, or just allow Zacha to go back to the OHL? Most of the top picks are signed with the exception of Paval.
 
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JimEIV said:
Read that entire article, Kyle is/was wrong in just about every single thing he said.
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Who cares? Most scouts could be wrong about Zacha and he busts hard.

The point is that Zacha profiles in a similar fashion to Michalek heading into their respective draft years - both similar size, skillsets and nationality, both with experience playing in the Czech men's league. Both guys with great skating but some questions about their hockey sense.

I would be very happy if Zacha ends up like Michalek.
 
I'm glad we didn't have to deal with this agent with Lou and the no bonuses policy. This signing really shouldn't be this hard given he's getting the max either way, but I think the agent's trying to take it down to the last minute for perceived leverage because it's obvious the team really wants to sign/play Zacha.
 
That puck jumped off the ice and over his stick, I mean embarrassing, no way around that, but I'm not faulting Stefan for that.
 
Feed Me A Stray Cat said:
Who cares? Most scouts could be wrong about Zacha and he busts hard.

The point is that Zacha profiles in a similar fashion to Michalek heading into their respective draft years - both similar size, skillsets and nationality, both with experience playing in the Czech men's league. Both guys with great skating but some questions about their hockey sense.

I would be very happy if Zacha ends up like Michalek.
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First, I don't think that is true. Michalek went pretty much straight from the Czech league to the NHL(with a lockout in between) with no junior record to judge...ALL of the question marks surrounding Zacha stem from his point production in junior. Draft years one was in the Czech league the other in the OHL...Not the same at all.

Their size really isn't the same at all...Michalek is an inch shorter and much heavier...Zacha is taller and skinnier, I know he is young and will put on more weight but Michalek is nearly 40 lbs heavier than Zacha. Not the same size at all. I think Zacha playing center for most of his career to this point also has a different element to his game whereas Michalek has been a winger his entire career.

With that, I believe that you aren't looking at the same player profile at all...I think Michalek is a bit more closer to power forward status and Zacha is going to make his living a bit more with finesse. Not really the same. I believe the junior year will be beneficial to Zacha's overall development also even though some want to use it against him.

Second, I just don't think this is healthy exercise, that is, trying to projecting this player based on loosely tied similarities that are largely meaningless (like country of origin, precise draft position..ect) I think it is a path that leads to preconceived notions of success and failure and sets unreasonable expectations.

A top 10 pick has talent, what will be the determining factor to great success, mediocre results or failure rest right between the players ears. EDIT: And how he progresses.
 
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From TG;

Obviously I'll believe it when I see it, but it appears on the surface at least that it has been communicated to Patty that he is in the plans going forward if he plays well

Elias likes the idea of possibly being a mentor for first-round pick Pavel Zacha, a fellow Czech.

“I could,” he said. “I have to play well, so they think that I can do that for maybe a couple more years.”

Elias texted Zacha the day after the Devils selected him sixth overall and spoke with him on the phone the next day. Elias also spoke on the phone with Czech defensemen Vojtech Mozik, who signed with the Devils as an undrafted free agent in June.
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It's easy to forget that Zacha just turned 18 in April. At his age I was stocking shelves and breaking down cardboard boxes for a living. He'll be 18 for essentially all of next season.
 
Wingman77 said:
From TG;

Obviously I'll believe it when I see it, but it appears on the surface at least that it has been communicated to Patty that he is in the plans going forward if he plays well
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Might be reading too far into it, but I find it interesting that Elias said he could do that for "a couple years" when he's only signed for one more year.
 
Zippy316 said:
Might be reading too far into it, but I find it interesting that Elias said he could do that for "a couple years" when he's only signed for one more year.
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The way I read that was it may have been communicated to him that if he plays well this year that they'd like to keep him around going forward after that for another year or two to be around Zacha.

But again, I'll believe it when I see it.
 
I think it's pretty clear that Elias isn't interested in retiring. He flat out said when he signed his current contract that it wouldn't be his last. It may be Elias telling the organization that he doesn't want to leave, too.
 
I hope Elias can play for a few more seasons, if nothing more to help mentor Zacha. Though if last year is any indication, the end is nigh for poor Patty. I'll keep optimistic though that it was just a down year, and he isn't completely over that cliff just yet.
 
I could be wrong, I do think this is Patty's last season in the organization though, whether he continues to play or not.
 
In my mind, Elias can stick around as long as he wants. If Brodeur can't be a Devils lifer, then PLEASE let Elias be. Besides, I bet a 50 year old Elias could still be more useful than Brad Mills or Tim Sestito.
 
I don't understand how people can be kicking Patty out the door after this season without an actual season to judge. My ultimate wish is that Patty plays well enough to continue playing in 2016-17 and after Zacha gets this year to develop either in Sarnia or Albany that Patty can then be his mentor.
 
Because he didn't have that great of a year last season. Also shero is constantly talking about a youth movement.
 
Well you still need to reach the floor and we are definitely going to be losing Ruutu and Zubrus which is about $7M of cap space. If Elias still has the goods to be a 3 LW/C and mentor to Zacha there is ample room on the roster for him.

And my point is that why would any decisions on 2016-17 be made right now with regards to him. He still has a year left and if it is clear that he is finished, then fine we can cross that bridge when we come to it.
 
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