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

[Curufinwe]

Here is a nice tidbit for the doubters

No center was better at shutting down McDavid then Zacha

Zacha >> Barzal

Most of the OHL's centers must have been good at shutting down Zacha considering that he couldn't even score a point per game.

 

[Nocashstyle]

It was not an easy choice anyway. After the top-5 it became kinda unclear.

I probably would have gone with Provorov personnally, but I certainly don't claim to be sure of anything. A few others intrigued me too, but time will tell.

I just hope they didn't take Zacha over Provorov because of needs. I'm not a fan at all about drafting for needs instead of taking the BPA.

I'd say Provorov and Zacha were probably close enough that they based their choice on need. I don't think one is necessarily clear cut above the other

 

[Miroslav Klose*]

The problem was that every time he started to get into a rythm, he ended up either hurt or suspended (also missed time for WJC). Many offensive players need to get in that rythm to put up big numbers - you hear about it all the time. Patrik Elias is an example - he's been historically terrible (production wise) in October. Zacha was a great pick.

I agree. I think he will have more rhythm in the Nat. Hockey League because the games are more regular and he won't get hurt as much due to the laws of probability.

 

[Philip Kessel]

imo Eichel > zacha

 

[Miroslav Klose*]

imo Eichel > zacha

I think so too. I think that Eichel and McDavid are both better than Zacha.

However, Zacha is still a really good player with high potential. I look forward to watching him in the Nat. Hockey League.

 

[Philip Kessel]

I think so too. I think that Eichel and McDavid are both better than Zacha.

However, Zacha is still a really good player with high potential. I look forward to watching him in the Nat. Hockey League.

IMO zacha should've gone in the 20-25 range, but i thnk he will be a solid 2nd liner for NJ down the road

 

[TheUnseenHand]

imo Eichel > zacha

Thanks captain obvious

If nothing else, the kid is LOVING his time in camp. He's like a little kid seeing the world for the first time, describing how he's only seen the Statue of Liberty in movies and never eaten almonds before. He is really excited about being on the team and I think that's important; to really want to play for the team that drafted you.

What we have seen of him is very limited. He seems raw but the potential is obvious. I disagree about him having should have gone around 20-25. He is clearly better than that even in this draft class.

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

McDavid scored 17 points and was +5 in 8 games against Sarnia (regular season + playoffs). Zacha had 6 points and was a -3 in those 8 games.

He hardly shut down McDavid lol.

And who did better than that? I never said he SHUT DOWN McDavid, I said he did some of the best work against him.

ill wait for your response mr Id pick 7 prospects picked after Zacha

Thankfully you arent On NJs scouting staff

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

Most of the OHL's centers must have been good at shutting down Zacha considering that he couldn't even score a point per game.

Yeah youre right, A human being should recover instantly from injuries. How dare he

Worst draft pick 2015

 

[LeafingTheWay]

It really is hilarious the butt hurt over a player that went 16th overall. Practically half the league passed on Barzal, but sure, we were wrong not to take him 6th overall.

Perfect logic

I'm sure most teams aren't even slightly pissed/dissapointed they didn't land Tarasenko/Datsyuk/Keith/Weber/Bergeron because so many teams ahead of them messed up

Teams were afraid of his injury that season, nothing more. He played himself from being top-5 to top-30 (because of injury)and then to top-10 (by scouts). If it weren't for his injury, this discussion wouldn't even be happening right now.

I personally don't like the Zacha pick, I saw him more as a 10-15th pick. But hey, he looks like a great prospect too! I just think NJ could've landed someone with a higher potential given where they are right now. I may not know the situation well, but aren't NJ in the position to draft high-upside players?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

And who did better than that? I never said he SHUT DOWN McDavid, I said he did some of the best work against him.

ill wait for your response mr Id pick 7 prospects picked after Zacha

Thankfully you arent On NJs scouting staff

Cole Cassels.

 

[Tretyak 20]

Perfect logic

I'm sure most teams aren't even slightly pissed/dissapointed they didn't land Tarasenko/Datsyuk/Keith/Weber/Bergeron because so many teams ahead of them messed up

Teams were afraid of his injury that season, nothing more. He played himself from being top-5 to top-30 (because of injury)and then to top-10 (by scouts). If it weren't for his injury, this discussion wouldn't even be happening right now.

I personally don't like the Zacha pick, I saw him more as a 10-15th pick. But hey, he looks like a great prospect too! I just think NJ could've landed someone with a higher potential given where they are right now. I may not know the situation well, but aren't NJ in the position to draft high-upside players?

The logic has been stated over and over again, some people just ignore it.

 

[Zippy316]

Perfect logic

I'm sure most teams aren't even slightly pissed/dissapointed they didn't land Tarasenko/Datsyuk/Keith/Weber/Bergeron because so many teams ahead of them messed up

Teams were afraid of his injury that season, nothing more. He played himself from being top-5 to top-30 (because of injury)and then to top-10 (by scouts). If it weren't for his injury, this discussion wouldn't even be happening right now.

I personally don't like the Zacha pick, I saw him more as a 10-15th pick. But hey, he looks like a great prospect too! I just think NJ could've landed someone with a higher potential given where they are right now. I may not know the situation well, but aren't NJ in the position to draft high-upside players?

Zacha has arguably the highest upside of the forwards in this draft.

If you want to criticize the pick, at least know a little bit about the player. Zacha is the case of a guy who has all the tools but has yet to put it together. He struggled in his first year for a variety of reasons and could never get into a groove. The Devils took the chance that he can put it all together.

Now, it's more of a wait-and-see game for the Devils. See where his next step of his development takes him and how much of that upside he can tap into.

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

Cole Cassels.

yeah, the same Cole Cassels who played/plays with Dal Colle, Lindberg, and Laughton. Meanwhile Zacha's best asset is on D in Deangelo

But yeah, lets ignore context

 

[Wandering Cynic]

Zacha has arguably the highest upside of the forwards in this draft.

If you want to criticize the pick, at least know a little bit about the player. Zacha is the case of a guy who has all the tools but has yet to put it together. He struggled in his first year for a variety of reasons and could never get into a groove. The Devils took the chance that he can put it all together.

Now, it's more of a wait-and-see game for the Devils. See where his next step of his development takes him and how much of that upside he can tap into.

Jesus Christ....

If Zacha has more upside than McDavid, it looks like he'll be the next Mario Lemieux

 

[Unknown Caller]

Most of the OHL's centers must have been good at shutting down Zacha considering that he couldn't even score a point per game.

Yeah, all 37 games played in conjunction with recovering from injuries and adjusting to a new continent and playing style is such a huge sample size. Let's just forget about that whole 5 goals in 5 games thing in the u18 tournament when he was finally healthy.

 

[Roo Mad Bro]

Zacha has arguably the highest upside of the forwards in this draft.

If you want to criticize the pick, at least know a little bit about the player. Zacha is the case of a guy who has all the tools but has yet to put it together. He struggled in his first year for a variety of reasons and could never get into a groove. The Devils took the chance that he can put it all together.

Now, it's more of a wait-and-see game for the Devils. See where his next step of his development takes him and how much of that upside he can tap into.

Please argue your point about Zacha having a higher upside than McDavid or Eichel.

Love to hear this.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Here is a nice tidbit for the doubters

No center was better at shutting down McDavid then Zacha

Zacha >> Barzal

Very nice post. Love the information you provided to prove that this is true.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

yeah, the same Cole Cassels who played/plays with Dal Colle, Lindberg, and Laughton. Meanwhile Zacha's best asset is on D in Deangelo

But yeah, lets ignore context

Ok you've now confirmed you have no idea what you are talking about . . . Deangelo is great offensively, but defensively? Ever heard of Jacob Chychrun? Also Laughton graduated from junior last year lol . . . please explain to me how he helped Cassels shut down McDavid.

Anyone who watched the Oshawa Erie series saw the clinic Cassels put on.

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

Ok you've now confirmed you have no idea what you are talking about . . . Deangelo is great offensively, but defensively? Ever heard of Jacob Chychrun? Also Laughton graduated from junior last year lol . . . please explain to me how he helped Cassels shut down McDavid.

Anyone who watched the Oshawa Erie series saw the clinic Cassels put on.

You know what, ill just let you sulk in the idea that the Devils picked the guy you hated the most; when he ends up playing in NJ this season or next and shows how good he really is, Im sure youll be happy; but in the meantime ill leave your bitter self to continue dreaming over Barzal and what 'could have been'.

And reading is key; played/plays with Laughton and the like, Laughton played in 2013-2014, and I never said Deangelo wasnt a great player I said he was his only major asset. Not to mention Sarnia played like crap as a whole while Erie and Oshawa were both stacked.

Guys over in the team forum were right, main board is pretty strung out on any prospect not named McDavid or Eichel.

 

[Shesty31]

Zacha has arguably the highest upside of the forwards in this draft.

If you want to criticize the pick, at least know a little bit about the player. Zacha is the case of a guy who has all the tools but has yet to put it together. He struggled in his first year for a variety of reasons and could never get into a groove. The Devils took the chance that he can put it all together.

Now, it's more of a wait-and-see game for the Devils. See where his next step of his development takes him and how much of that upside he can tap into.

That sounds like a guy who has the tools but not the toolbox, Which is NEVER a good thing.. you can't really teach hockey IQ. I see Zacha as a solid two way player, just not a prolific scorer.

 

[lamini]

I see Zacha as a solid two way player, just not a prolific scorer.

Well, his OHL season was worse than expected. On the other hand, his Czech junior numbers are better than any recent czech prospect at the same age (Hertl, Pastrnak, Palat). But it's true it's been a while elite point producer came from Czech republic.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

You know what, ill just let you sulk in the idea that the Devils picked the guy you hated the most; when he ends up playing in NJ this season or next and shows how good he really is, Im sure youll be happy; but in the meantime ill leave your bitter self to continue dreaming over Barzal and what 'could have been'.

Please, I have no hate for Zacha. I just had him behind a few guys on my final list, as did many others.

And reading is key; played/plays with Laughton and the like, Laughton played in 2013-2014, and I never said Deangelo wasnt a great player I said he was his only major asset.

So how did Laughton help Cassels shut down McDavid this year? Deangelo played less than half the season with Sarnia and is hardly the 1st guy on that team you'd credit with helping to shut down an offensive superstar. Chychrun and Spinozzi, maybe.

Not to mention Sarnia played like crap as a whole while Erie and Oshawa were both stacked.

Niagara shut McDavid out in 2 of his 3 games this year, and kept him to a total of 4 points, so maybe Verhaege and Perlini are more worthy of the title. Or maybe Lawson Crouse, if we are talking all forwards? In 2 games vs Kingston, McDavid was held to a total of 2 points, with no goals.

You made an arbitrary claim that Zacha was the best at shutting down McDavid when there is literally only evidence to the contrary.

Rewatch Cole Cassels shadow-job on McDavid and tell me Zacha is a better defensive player.

Guys over in the team forum were right, main board is pretty strung out on any prospect not named McDavid or Eichel.

Aren't you the guy who just said Barzal was going to bust without providing any explanation? Yep:

All Barzal will be is the bust of this draft

Seems your fine with dishing out baseless criticism of other prospects, but get bent all out of shape when someone provides detail reasoning for why they don't like Zacha as much as you do.

 

[seafoam]

Isles fan here...

I think Zacha was the better pick for the Devils compared to Barzal. He's got size and the ability to score power goals. Reminds me a lot of Ryan Johansen in that way. Teams want that type of guy as their 1C.

Barzal's really just a passer at this point. His goal scoring game is pretty non-existent thus far. While he has NHL size, Zacha obviously boasts better physical skills.

I think Barzal is a safer bet to be a top six NHLer, but Zacha has a chance at becoming what all NHL GMs want (a power 1C).

 

[Eric Sachs]

Isles fan here...

I think Zacha was the better pick for the Devils compared to Barzal. He's got size and the ability to score power goals. Reminds me a lot of Ryan Johansen in that way. Teams want that type of guy as their 1C.

Barzal's really just a passer at this point. His goal scoring game is pretty non-existent thus far. While he has NHL size, Zacha obviously boasts better physical skills.

I think Barzal is a safer bet to be a top six NHLer, but Zacha has a chance at becoming what all NHL GMs want (a power 1C).

This IMO. Barzal is a safer bet to be an impact forward in the NHL.. but Zacha has the ability to be a home-run pick.

Yes, the Devils need forwards badly.. but specifically, they need top line forwards badly. I'm okay with taking the shot at a home-run here though I do like Barzal a lot at all. Shero himself said they tried to move back into the first round but couldn't pull it off.. I do wonder if it was to try and grab Barzal as well at 16 but the Isles just gave Edmonton a better offer. If I'm the Isles, I probably prefer Barzal over Zacha because he would be a nice complementary piece in your top 6.. much less need to go for the home-run there.

Anyways, rumors are now that Zacha is actually signed to his Czech team for next year and was just on a 1 year loan to Sarnia. If true, the Devils would need to pay his team 100k for his rights (since signed after July 15th) but presumably would then be able to play him wherever they want.. even the AHL. Similar to Honka last year.

Would be a big boost to his development if he can play in the AHL this year and obviously give him a better shot to get some decent NHL experience beyond the 9 games.