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C/LW Pavel Zacha - Sarnia Sting, OHL (2015, 6th, NJD)

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Excellent pick for NJ, they needed one badly, going to have to watch their games now, best hair in the draft too.
 
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This man child is gonna be a bonnafide Nhl star, he still has so much untapped potential. Along with he's strength he's speed, shot and hard nosed playing style he's is ready for the nhl.
Trevor Letowski Coach of the Sarnia Sting who coach galchenyuk, yakupov, stamkos and now zacha has no doubt that he has what it takes to make it this year. Not saying that one more year in Ohl wouldent do him good but if he impresses in camp for NewJersey you got to put him in the lineup, start him on the wing and go from that. I think he will be a force in 3 years problem is what do you do with him.
 
Really wanted Barzal over him but I'm really warming up to the pick. He has an elite skillset/physical tools and is said to be one of the most athletic players in the 2015 draft. In no way has his hockey IQ been questioned and some say it is a strength.

A lot of scouts mentioned that his zone exits and zone entries are fantastic due to his size, strength and stick handling ability. A lot of people are saying he's being overrated due to size but the guy is a ++ skater. Speed is usually what plagues big men and it is actually one of his strengths.
 
SMantzas said:
Really wanted Barzal over him but I'm really warming up to the pick. He has an elite skillset/physical tools and is said to be one of the most athletic players in the 2015 draft. In no way has his hockey IQ been questioned and some say it is a strength.

A lot of scouts mentioned that his zone exits and zone entries are fantastic due to his size, strength and stick handling ability. A lot of people are saying he's being overrated due to size but the guy is a ++ skater. Speed is usually what plagues big men and it is actually one of his strengths.
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He is not a ++ skater. That's a 70 on the 20-80 scale and there is no way he's that high. That's for a guy like Eichel while McDavid is probably an 80.

He's plus in a lot of areas though: size, skating, shot, physical play.
 
Roo Mad Bro said:
He is not a ++ skater. That's a 70 on the 20-80 scale and there is no way he's that high. That's for a guy like Eichel while McDavid is probably an 80.

He's plus in a lot of areas though: size, skating, shot, physical play.
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Good catch. Which scouts typically release their numerical ratings of players in individual categories? I know in baseball it's more common.

Also for those criticizing his production (which is valid), read this: http://www.fearthefin.com/2015/6/12/8772125/nhl-mock-draft-2015-san-jose-sharks-pavel-zacha


"It also should be noted that, in context, Zacha's production isn't much different from some of the other forwards projected to go in his range. According to CHLStats.com, which estimates CHL ice time, Zacha's 5v5 points-per-60-minutes rate of 1.95 wasn't significantly different from that of Travis Konecny (2.14) and was better than someone like Lawson Crouse (1.69). Zacha's per-minute production this season was actually even on par with what some top OHL prospects from the 2014 draft managed this year, including first rounders Sam Bennett (albeit in just 11 games), Robby Fabbri and Sonny Milano. An April 1997 birthday, Zacha is also one of the younger players available in this draft, having just recently turned 18."
 
SMantzas said:
Good catch. Which scouts typically release their numerical ratings of players in individual categories? I know in baseball it's more common.

Also for those criticizing his production (which is valid), read this: http://www.fearthefin.com/2015/6/12/8772125/nhl-mock-draft-2015-san-jose-sharks-pavel-zacha


"It also should be noted that, in context, Zacha's production isn't much different from some of the other forwards projected to go in his range. According to CHLStats.com, which estimates CHL ice time, Zacha's 5v5 points-per-60-minutes rate of 1.95 wasn't significantly different from that of Travis Konecny (2.14) and was better than someone like Lawson Crouse (1.69). Zacha's per-minute production this season was actually even on par with what some top OHL prospects from the 2014 draft managed this year, including first rounders Sam Bennett (albeit in just 11 games), Robby Fabbri and Sonny Milano. An April 1997 birthday, Zacha is also one of the younger players available in this draft, having just recently turned 18."
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Pronman is the only one who I have seen use the 20-80 scale when talking about a prospects individual skill. I've seen him use it when talking about skating and shot.

Hockey prospectus writers use it as well (iirc).
 
SMantzas said:
Really wanted Barzal over him but I'm really warming up to the pick. He has an elite skillset/physical tools and is said to be one of the most athletic players in the 2015 draft. In no way has his hockey IQ been questioned and some say it is a strength.

A lot of scouts mentioned that his zone exits and zone entries are fantastic due to his size, strength and stick handling ability. A lot of people are saying he's being overrated due to size but the guy is a ++ skater. Speed is usually what plagues big men and it is actually one of his strengths.
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That's suprisingly one of the things I liked most about his game.

He was excellent at making smart, slick little pass's in his own end to facilitate a zone exit.

When he was on the boards, he was able to pick the puck up efficiently and make solid passing reads or chips off the boards/glass.

Zacha has all the physical tools you'd ever want in a prospect with his size. Now it's just a case if NJ develops him well and if he can stay at C longterm.

Outside of McDavid/Eichel, he was my favorite prospect in this draft.
 
weems said:
That's suprisingly one of the things I liked most about his game.

He was excellent at making smart, slick little pass's in his own end to facilitate a zone exit.

When he was on the boards, he was able to pick the puck up efficiently and make solid passing reads or chips off the boards/glass.

Zacha has all the physical tools you'd ever want in a prospect with his size. Now it's just a case if NJ develops him well and if he can stay at C longterm.

Outside of McDavid/Eichel, he was my favorite prospect in this draft.
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Favorite as in enjoying watching him play or you think he could be the third best player?
 
weems said:
3rd best player.

His upside is massive, especially if he can stick at C.
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I have a hard time believing a guy who couldn't break ppg in the OHL has a higher ceiling than guys like Strome and Marner.

If Zacha is so good offensively, then why did he only manage 16 goals in 37 games? Especially with his relative advantage in size, speed, and strength.

If he had elite offensive potential, he should've dominated the competition. How many elite offensive players in the NHL scored at .9 ppg in major junior in their draft year? Not many.
 
WhiskeyYourTheDevils said:
I have a hard time believing a guy who couldn't break ppg in the OHL has a higher ceiling than guys like Strome and Marner.

If Zacha is so good offensively, then why did he only manage 16 goals in 37 games? Especially with his relative advantage in size, speed, and strength.

If he had elite offensive potential, he should've dominated the competition. How many elite offensive players in the NHL scored at .9 ppg in major junior in their draft year? Not many.
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Devils fan here, and I have to agree.

Every year we hear about guys with average stats but great toolsets, and from my experience, there is way more cases in which these guys just stay the "great talent but underachiever" for years, and finally don't amount to anything, than guys who explodes into major offensive threats.

I hope Zacha becomes a top-six forward, but the talk about him being the best after McEichel or whatever really is premature. I'd prefer to lower expectations a bit, and a "not dominant but top-six forward" would be fine for me, really. Not only this, but it's actually the more realistic projection to this point.
 
WhiskeyYourTheDevils said:
I have a hard time believing a guy who couldn't break ppg in the OHL has a higher ceiling than guys like Strome and Marner.

If Zacha is so good offensively, then why did he only manage 16 goals in 37 games? Especially with his relative advantage in size, speed, and strength.

If he had elite offensive potential, he should've dominated the competition. How many elite offensive players in the NHL scored at .9 ppg in major junior in their draft year? Not many.
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Ryan Johansen- 69 in 71 he was on a very good team, too

Getzlaf- 68 in 70

O'Reilly- 66 in 68 (yes I categorize 55-65 pts a year as elite especially with his d game)

Those are three off the top of my head. Not to mention Zacha was dealing with injuries, suspensions, on a garbage team and was adjusting to NA ice
 
SMantzas said:
Ryan Johansen- 69 in 71 he was on a very good team, too

Getzlaf- 68 in 70

O'Reilly- 66 in 68 (yes I categorize 55-65 pts a year as elite especially with his d game)

Those are three off the top of my head. Not to mention Zacha was dealing with injuries, suspensions, on a garbage team and was adjusting to NA ice
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All 3 of those guys scored at a higher rate than Zacha, and displayed much better offensive instincts.

I see Zacha topping out as a 50-60 point physical forward (don't know if he'll end up at C). Hardly good enough to be rated ahead of Marner, Strome, Hanifin, Provorov etc. I would've preferred Barzal as well.

Hopefully he proves me wrong.
 
WhiskeyYourTheDevils said:
I have a hard time believing a guy who couldn't break ppg in the OHL has a higher ceiling than guys like Strome and Marner.

If Zacha is so good offensively, then why did he only manage 16 goals in 37 games? Especially with his relative advantage in size, speed, and strength.

If he had elite offensive potential, he should've dominated the competition. How many elite offensive players in the NHL scored at .9 ppg in major junior in their draft year? Not many.
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It was also his first year of North American hockey, and he battled injury which certainly hindered his ability to create consistency.

He has elite offensive tools.
 
WhiskeyYourTheDevils said:
All 3 of those guys scored at a higher rate than Zacha, and displayed much better offensive instincts.

I see Zacha topping out as a 50-60 point physical forward (don't know if he'll end up at C). Hardly good enough to be rated ahead of Marner, Strome, Hanifin, Provorov etc. I would've preferred Barzal as well.

Hopefully he proves me wrong.
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Are you going to nitpick that much over .05 or so ppg when Zacha only played 37 games?

I do think Zacha's skillset would be better utilized on the wing
 
SMantzas said:
Are you going to nitpick that much over .05 or so ppg when Zacha only played 37 games?

I do think Zacha's skillset would be better utilized on the wing
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The scoring is not as much as a big deal as the play style is. Zacha is a great 1 shot offensive player, off the rush or one timer, but his possession skills lag behind RyJo and Getzlaf at the same age, as does his offensive IQ.

Again, I really hope I'm wrong, but I felt like we needed a creative offensive pivot, and don't know how well Zacha will fit our needs.

If he ends up a 20 goal power forward, that's obviously still a valuable player, but not sure its the guy I take at 6.
 
WhiskeyYourTheDevils said:
The scoring is not as much as a big deal as the play style is. Zacha is a great 1 shot offensive player, off the rush or one timer, but his possession skills lag behind RyJo and Getzlaf at the same age, as does his offensive IQ.

Again, I really hope I'm wrong, but I felt like we needed a creative offensive pivot, and don't know how well Zacha will fit our needs.

If he ends up a 20 goal power forward, that's obviously still a valuable player, but not sure its the guy I take at 6.
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That's a fair assessment and I do agree that we needed that playmaking center. I recall a lot of scouts in one draft guide remarking how he saw plays that no one else on his team did. If he is going to make it at C, I think Jeff Carter is a good comp. Tho, Zacha will have to work a bit on his D
 
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