czechcanadian
Registered User
Completely false. His play in tight/along the boards and quick decision making/accurate passing is what makes him very intriguing. He does all the little things so so well. I wouldn't be concerned about that at all.
C/LW Pavel Zacha - Sarnia Sting, OHL (2015, 6th, NJD)
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Completely false. His play in tight/along the boards and quick decision making/accurate passing is what makes him very intriguing. He does all the little things so so well. I wouldn't be concerned about that at all.
- Apr 27, 2005
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Completely disagree with the decision making part. His IQ is by far his biggest weakness and he doesn't use his teammates nearly well enough.
I keep hearing comparisons to Kovalchuk / Ovechkin. The only similarities is that he's big, fast, and shoots the puck hard. But he lacks the hockey sense those guys have.
If he was anywhere near either of those guys, he would have produced closer to 2 ppg in the OHL. Imagine what Kovy or Ovi would have done to the OHL at 17. . .
weems
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You'd be wrong. Ask any Caps fan. He's not Crosby, but he does see the ice very well and anticipates the play exceptionally.
You have got to be kidding me. A player doesn't become one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history without having good hockey sense.
thethinglonger
Castron & Crew
Let's try not to de-rail this thread too much.
I don't see the issue with Zacha's IQ, however I think that in order to develop as a true #1 center for us, he needs to work on his reads. The good thing is that these are all pretty much issues that can be worked on with proper coaching.
I don't see the issue with Zacha's IQ, however I think that in order to develop as a true #1 center for us, he needs to work on his reads. The good thing is that these are all pretty much issues that can be worked on with proper coaching.
Your hate for Zacha is unreal... 20 goals?!
Zacha will be a top line player, please stop hating on him.
I know people bring up outliers all the time in stupid ways, but for a guy that plays eerily similar, Blake Wheeler never had amazing stats at the USHL or college level and at the NHL level ends up outperforming his former peers who performed much better than him at lower levels and being a very valuable piece of a playoff team. Sometime your game just translates better to the NHL, and with Zacha's toolset I would not bet against him. Feel free to though but I wouldn't be unhappy at all if I were a Devils fan, in fact I'd be quite excited.
- Apr 27, 2005
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Your hate for Zacha is unreal... 20 goals?!
Zacha will be a top line player, please stop hating on him.
How am I hating on him? A 20 goal player who can provide a physical presence is a very good player.
Last season, the following players scored less than 25 goals:
Ryan Kesler
Matt Duchene
Patrice Bergeron
Thomas Vanek
Loui Eriksson
Marian Hossa
Eric Staal
Gabriel Landeskog
Bobby Ryan
Patrick Marleau
Jason Pominville
That's hardly an insulting list of players to be compared to. If he were to reach that level, he'd end up better than most 6th overall picks. So maybe you should slow your roll and do some research before calling me a 'hater'.
I didn't like the pick, and I still don't, because a) there were better players available and b) he doesn't meet our most desperate need for a playmaking center.
Ana Crusis
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- Feb 5, 2010
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The most desperate need for the Devils is an entire top 6, not just a playmaking center. I'm curious who you think was a better pick there. Zacha was the best forward availible at our pick.
- Apr 27, 2005
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I had Zacha at 12 among forwards.
I had Barzal, Connor, Rantanen, Merkley, Meier, Beauvillier all higher at F, as well as Provorov. While we are loaded at D, Provorov is also a stud and would've made our D core much more dangerous offensively.
Again, just my opinion, and I hope I'm wrong.
I had Barzal, Connor, Rantanen, Merkley, Meier, Beauvillier all higher at F, as well as Provorov. While we are loaded at D, Provorov is also a stud and would've made our D core much more dangerous offensively.
Again, just my opinion, and I hope I'm wrong.
7even
Offered and lost
You could argue for Provorov or Barzal.
The Zacha pick reminds me a lot of the Nurse pick, and I don't mean that as a bad thing. Like Nurse, Zacha is a supremely gifted athlete, and he has all of the tools to be a dominant top line centre. It will be a question of refinement moving forward.
This exactly. Like Nurse could Zacha step in right away. Sure the skill set is there but it's the refinement, development and results based of a full season we all want to see.
I wouldn't be opposed to a 9 game stint then sent back to Sarnia.
- Feb 5, 2010
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This is why I like the pick. The Devils need a dominant player. Picking a guy with less upside that's a safer bet to play in the nhl on a 2nd or 3rd line doesn't help that much. They need a force in the middle and I think it's worth the risk for the potential reward in this case.
Eric Sachs
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- Jan 31, 2007
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The Devils need home-run picks. They need top line players. They don't need middle 6 players at all, really. They're going to be loaded with them from their current prospect pool + current players.
So if we end up shooting for a top line player in Zacha with more bust potential instead of settling on perhaps a lower ceiling guy who is safer (how I see Barzal), I'm fine with it.
I think there's a good argument that Provorov was the better value but it's close enough that I don't mind not going BPA to hit an area of EXTREME need.
So if we end up shooting for a top line player in Zacha with more bust potential instead of settling on perhaps a lower ceiling guy who is safer (how I see Barzal), I'm fine with it.
I think there's a good argument that Provorov was the better value but it's close enough that I don't mind not going BPA to hit an area of EXTREME need.
Only guy better who was available was Provorov. And considering how desperate NJ has been for a new star forward Zacha was the right way to go IMO.
Devils1029
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- Jun 19, 2008
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I was entirely in the Barzal camp but I really liked the tools that Zacha possessed I can only hope that he puts it all together because his ceiling is much higher. Barzal has the makings of a very, very good 2nd line Center and the Isles got their perfect guy to play behind Tavares. I also liked Provorov and he would instantly round out the left side of the Devils D. I don't think you could say anyone other then these three should have been picked at #6. Merkley and Beaullevier went at the end of the first, Conner dropped to 17, hell, Boston had 3 picks and still passed on Barzal and Conner...
Zacha was, I think, the best pick for Devils. I'm not sure if he'll slot in as a center but certainly has the ability to be a 1st line winger and that is exactly the type of talent that NJ is severely lacking in their prospect pool. For Zacha, I say his ceiling is that of a 25-30 goal, 60-65 point player. Take a look at how many players averaged a point per game this year...can tell you, it wasn't many.
Let's face reality and it's likely that NJ will be picking in the Top 10 next year and with the lottery odds, have a decent shot to get one of the top 3 picks. That's where you can grab you're future #1 center.
Zacha was, I think, the best pick for Devils. I'm not sure if he'll slot in as a center but certainly has the ability to be a 1st line winger and that is exactly the type of talent that NJ is severely lacking in their prospect pool. For Zacha, I say his ceiling is that of a 25-30 goal, 60-65 point player. Take a look at how many players averaged a point per game this year...can tell you, it wasn't many.
Let's face reality and it's likely that NJ will be picking in the Top 10 next year and with the lottery odds, have a decent shot to get one of the top 3 picks. That's where you can grab you're future #1 center.
- Apr 27, 2005
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Barzal has lights out potential. His vision and poise scream Marc Savard. He has a very good chance to become the 3rd best forward from this draft.
His IQ makes his ceiling much much higher than Zacha's.
His IQ makes his ceiling much much higher than Zacha's.
Devils1029
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- Jun 19, 2008
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I love Barzal but he's slotted behind Tavares and will not get the ice time and opportunity that Zacha might get with NJ. Also, how's Savard been playing the past 3-4 years? There's some risk with Barzal's lack of size. While he's not small, he's also not a huge guy. he likes to hold the puck and dish off passes which is going to make him a target to get his clock cleaned. He's a smart guy so hopefully he can keep his head up and not get hurt.
Like I said, I was on board with NJ picking Barzal but if we weren't I do think Zacha was a good alternative.
I just wish that Shero would have been successful in trading up with Edmonton to #16 and got Barzal instead of the NYI...at least he tried but there was no way I would give up Larsson (an equivalent #4 overall Dman like Reinhart although better and with much more NHL experience).
I would argue Zacha's size, skating and shot makes his ceiling higher than Barzal's..
- Apr 27, 2005
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Is there any evidence that smaller players are hurt at a higher rate than larger players? If anything it seems like smaller guys tend to have longer careers. I'd honestly be way more concerned with Zach's risk of injury given his play style and relative lack of IQ
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