Prospect Info: 6th Overall Pick: Pavel Zacha

[R8Devs]

dude has great hair

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

dude has great hair

And a matching personality.

 

[OmNomNom]

i know i shouldn't take so much stock in it, but i remember a couple months ago linking zacha with "bust" for some reason, and then i forgot. i went (stupidly) to the draft GDT on the main boards and there's a bunch of LOLs at us calling it a mistake. Why is he considered such a high risk player?

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

i know i shouldn't take so much stock in it, but i remember a couple months ago linking zacha with "bust" for some reason, and then i forgot. i went (stupidly) to the draft GDT on the main boards and there's a bunch of LOLs at us calling it a mistake. Why is he considered such a high risk player?

I guess because his production this year wasn't seen as elite but that's probably due to a combination of injuries and adjusting to the North American game.

The main board can laugh at Zacha all they want. I'm just happy to have someone who was so excited to be a Devil and who I believe can be a great player for us!

 

[AfroThunder396]

i know i shouldn't take so much stock in it, but i remember a couple months ago linking zacha with "bust" for some reason, and then i forgot. i went (stupidly) to the draft GDT on the main boards and there's a bunch of LOLs at us calling it a mistake. Why is he considered such a high risk player?

His raw stats don't blow your mind. 34 points in 37 games is not very unassuming for a guy drafted 6th overall.

Some will tell you it was a combination of injury, suspension, inconsistent linemates, and adjusting to a NA style of play. Others will say that's not an excuse. Apparently there's a risk he won't "put it together" so to speak. But others will tell you his ceiling is as high as anyone in this draft not named Connor or Jack.

 

[blink]

i know i shouldn't take so much stock in it, but i remember a couple months ago linking zacha with "bust" for some reason, and then i forgot. i went (stupidly) to the draft GDT on the main boards and there's a bunch of LOLs at us calling it a mistake. Why is he considered such a high risk player?

Typical HFboards reaction. They look at the stats and wonder why he didn't dominate in his rookie OHL season.

Sarnia's team wasn't that great. He also battled injuries and suspsenions. Just when he was looking in good form, an injury or suspension would happen.

Skill wise he has it all. Size, speed, shot. That is why he was taken so high because he is a rare player.

Next year will be his coming out party. Sarnia should be an improved team and I predict he is a 40G, 50A player. He should also be a top player for the Czechs in the WJC's.

Much like an earlier poster said, I do not want to rush this kid. In the Zacha thread they said he is much better than Hertl was at his age and if that is true, I like what I'm hearing.

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

His raw stats don't blow your mind. 34 points in 37 games is not very unassuming for a guy drafted 6th overall.

Some will tell you it was a combination of injury, suspension, inconsistent linemates, and adjusting to a NA style of play. Others will say that's not an excuse. Apparently there's a risk he won't "put it together" so to speak. But others will tell you his ceiling is as high as anyone in this draft not named Connor or Jack.

But really there was a risk picking anyone that's not McDavid and Eichel. Zacha was a perfectly acceptable pick projected to go in the range the Devils picked. The main boards may anoint him a bust now, but he could make them eat their words in a few years.

 

[Fear the Wushu]

He was not my first choice, but he is our guy, I'm a 100% behind his development. Plus he seems like he truly wants to play for NJD, and we have a great connection with the Czechs.

 

[blink]

But really there was a risk picking anyone that's not McDavid and Eichel. Zacha was a perfectly acceptable pick projected to go in the range the Devils picked. The main boards may anoint him a bust now, but he could make them eat their words in a few years.

I believe Conte and our scouts more than I believe the main boards.

Zacha will be a player. Just how good is the question. I see his ceiling as a star and his floor as a 3rd line two-way player.

Either way he will be an NHLer.

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

I believe Conte and our scouts more than I believe the main boards.

Zacha will be a player. Just how good is the question. I see his ceiling as a star and his floor as a 3rd line two-way player.

Either way he will be an NHLer.

Agree with you. I trust professional scouts over the main board, and it's telling that none of the commentators at the draft were surprised by the Zacha pick or thought it was off the board. That shows it was perfectly acceptable pick.

I have faith in Zacha, and I hope he can be a star for the Devils. He definitely has the heart to do it!

 

[theoptimist]

I've said this and received super flak from posters, but Zacha, in terms of ceiling, is the third best forward in this draft.

0.02

 

[RSeen]

I believe Conte and our scouts more than I believe the main boards.

Zacha will be a player. Just how good is the question. I see his ceiling as a star and his floor as a 3rd line two-way player.

Either way he will be an NHLer.

You can't trust the boards. People though Shinkaruk was our pick at 9 a few years ago, and he went 24th. Now Barzal went 16th.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

if he can even become anywhere near what Getzlaf is, I will love this.

 

[blink]

You can't trust the boards. People though Shinkaruk was our pick at 9 a few years ago, and he went 24th. Now Barzal went 16th.

Barzal is a steal at 16. Same with Kyle Connor at 17.

Really though, the pick should have been between Zacha, Provorov and Rantanen. Maybe look at a Barzal or Connor but at 6 it is a reach.

Amongst that group of players, I'd rather have Zacha over any of them. I'm a believer in BPA when it comes to draft and we definitely took the BPA at 6.

I wonder if we contemplated moving #6 and trading down with say Boston. Especially in a deep draft like this.

 

[yehyeh]

Gotta love a Czech excited to play for the Devils. I could imagine him as a young boy watching Elias win cups here. Shero wasn't kidding when he said Patty would be a big part of the Devils in 15-16.

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

Gotta love a Czech excited to play for the Devils. I could imagine him as a young boy watching Elias win cups here. Shero wasn't kidding when he said Patty would be a big part of the Devils in 15-16.

Yeah, it's great that we'll have another Czech with the Devils organization. Really hard not to feel warm and fuzzy about Zacha when he is so excited to be a Devil and it's so clear how much he looked up to Patty. I hope he gets that signed picture from Patty soon

 

[blink]

Just remembered that Josh Jacobs and Zacha will be teammates this year in Sarnia! Along with potential #1 pick Chychrun.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Just remembered that Josh Jacobs and Zacha will be teammates this year in Sarnia! Along with potential #1 pick Chychrun.

Korostelev also plays there too, potential 2nd round pick

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

Just remembered that Josh Jacobs and Zacha will be teammates this year in Sarnia! Along with potential #1 pick Chychrun.

Cool that Jacobs and Zacha will have a chance to bond.

 

[Marshal Rochambeau]

Great, great, great pick.

 

[yehyeh]

Anyone read TG's article? Talks about how he learned English by watching Dumb and Dumber hahaha

 

[Wingman77]

“I can't describe how happy I am right now because I'm a New Jersey Devil,” Zacha said. “I was hoping for it all draft I would be drafted there. So, it's just amazing that I'm on the team now.”Zacha, who also interviewed with one of the Devils' European scouts in the Czech Republic, felt good about possibly ending up in New Jersey after his draft combine interview.

“It was really good to talk to them and all of the scouts and it was probably the best interview that I had at the combine and I'm really glad they picked me because they are such good people,” Zacha said. “I'm really glad that I can be in their organization.”

 

[Nocashstyle]

Very, very happy with this pick. It's great he seems genuinely excited to be in NJ. And the Palmieri trade? I can go to bed very satisfied with tonight.

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

Anyone read TG's article? Talks about how he learned English by watching Dumb and Dumber hahaha

It was a great article. In addition to all the stuff TG already tweeted about Zacha that is so adorable, I am really encouraged by Zacha saying that last season was a bit of a disappointing season and he wants to use this upcoming one to prove to everyone that he deserves to be a sixth overall pick. This is a hungry, motivated kid. Love that.

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

“I can't describe how happy I am right now because I'm a New Jersey Devil,†Zacha said. “I was hoping for it all draft I would be drafted there. So, it's just amazing that I'm on the team now.â€Zacha, who also interviewed with one of the Devils' European scouts in the Czech Republic, felt good about possibly ending up in New Jersey after his draft combine interview.

“It was really good to talk to them and all of the scouts and it was probably the best interview that I had at the combine and I'm really glad they picked me because they are such good people,†Zacha said. “I'm really glad that I can be in their organization.â€

He has a heart of gold.