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

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Zippy316 said:
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.
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I understand that. I see that he has all the tools, but he seems he has a lack of skill like the others do. I just feel that drafting a player with more skill who has yet to solidify his size, skating or attitude is more important than drafting a player who has everything perfect except for the skill-level. I'm not bashing NJ on picking him, I think he's a fine pick. From what I hear, a lot of people are high on him hitting his upside.

Btw, what's the full scout report on Zacha? I've read around, but which one do NJ fans think is the best report?
 
LeafingTheWay said:
I understand that. I see that he has all the tools, but he seems he has a lack of skill like the others do. I just feel that drafting a player with more skill who has yet to solidify his size, skating or attitude is more important than drafting a player who has everything perfect except for the skill-level. I'm not bashing NJ on picking him, I think he's a fine pick. From what I hear, a lot of people are high on him hitting his upside.

Btw, what's the full scout report on Zacha? I've read around, but which one do NJ fans think is the best report?
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If anything Zacha has all the skill/tools but it's his hockeysense that scouts question.

This isnt Lawson Crouse were talking about.

Zacha is supremely talented.
 
I was not a big fan of the Zacha pick because of his underwhelming production in 14-15, but it's helpful to compare Zacha's performance in the Czech Republic. Zacha is the best Czech forward prospect to come around in a while. Check how he compares to someone like Hertl at similar ages. Zacha performed better in the Czech U20 league at the age of 15 than Hertl did at 17.

Anyway, this lends credence to the argument that Zacha has innate skill, but that it was hampered a bit because of his injuries, suspensions and initial transition to NA ice.

Zacha:
16-year old season (13-14): 38gp, 4g, 4a, 8p, 0.21ppg in Czech men's league
16-year old season (13-14): 10gp, 6g, 11a, 17p, 1.70ppg in Czech U20 league
15-year old season (12-13): 39gp, 14g, 26a, 40p, 1.03ppg in Czech U20 league
15-year old season (12-13): 6gp, 6g, 7a, 13p, 2.17ppg in Czech U18 league

Hertl:
18/19-year old season (11-12): 38gp, 12g, 13a, 25p, 0.66ppg in Czech Men's league
17/18-year old season (10-11): 33gp, 14g, 27a, 41p, 1.24ppg in Czech U20 league
16/17-year old season (09-10): 42gp, 12g, 26a, 38p, 0.91ppg in Czech U20 league
16/17-year old season (09-10): 7gp, 13g, 10a, 23p, 3.29ppg in Czech U18 league
15/16-year old season (08-09): 35gp, 16g, 15a, 31p, 0.89ppg in Czech U18 league

Pastrnak:
15-year old season (11-12): 40gp, 41g, 27a, 68p, 1.70ppg in Czech U18 league
14-year old season (10-11): 16gp, 7a, 12a, 19p, 1.19ppg in Czech U18 league

Sekac:
16-year old season (07-08): 46gp, 38g, 49a, 87p, 1.89ppg in Czech U18 league

Jaskin:
18-year old season (11-12): 30gp, 1g, 1a, 2p, 0.07ppg in Czech Men's league
18-year old season (11-12): 10gp, 6g, 11a, 17p, 1.70pph in Czech U20 league
17-year old season (10-11): 33gp, 3g, 7a, 10p, 0.30ppg in Czech Men's league
16-year old season (09-10): 40gp, 13g, 10a, 23p, 0.58ppg in Czech U20 league
16-year old season (09-10): 12gp, 15g, 12a, 27p, 2.25ppg in Czech U18 league
15-year old season (08-09): 46gp, 28g, 19a, 68p, 1.02ppg in Czech U18 league
14-year old season (07-08): 40gp, 15g, 25a, 40p, 1.00ppg in Czech U18 league

Palat:
17-year old season (08-09): 42gp, 23g, 33a, 56p, 1.33ppg in Czech U20 league
16-year old season (07-08): 42gp, 19g, 18a, 37p, 0.88ppg in Czech U20 league
15-year old season (06-07): 33gp, 32g, 24a, 56p, 1.70ppg in Czech U18 league
14-year old season (05-06): 22gp, 2g, 7a, 9p, 0.41ppg in Czech U18 league
 
LeafingTheWay said:
I understand that. I see that he has all the tools, but he seems he has a lack of skill like the others do. I just feel that drafting a player with more skill who has yet to solidify his size, skating or attitude is more important than drafting a player who has everything perfect except for the skill-level. I'm not bashing NJ on picking him, I think he's a fine pick. From what I hear, a lot of people are high on him hitting his upside.

Btw, what's the full scout report on Zacha? I've read around, but which one do NJ fans think is the best report?
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Really? He has tons of skill. His biggest problem has been putting all his tools together (skill, skating, size, defensive play, etc) into a package that makes him a great player. He has question marks on him for sure, but at the least I think he'll be a reliable 2nd/3rd liner, and has the upside to be a 1st line player.
 
DraftBuzz vacation brought me to the East Coast this July. I took some footage of Pavel Zacha and more while at the 3 on 3 Tournament:









Here's his report as part of a development camp review sent to subs:

#2 – PAVEL ZACHA [NHL 25% / AHL 25% / OHL 50%] → Very close to pros, resume could use 2nd OHL year
Was the most visible shift after shift, size speed and some stick flash, not outright explosive but you notice him when he gears up with the puck, has tremendous shake and agility for a big guy, lower body appears thin/small for a 210 pounder, was focused on skill which was good to see in 3 on 3 and compact game, big and skilled may be too tempting to send back to junior.
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The league #s are a DB eval of potential 2015 development path. Zacha should qualify for AHL just like Honka.
 
Anthony Mauro said:
Zacha should qualify for AHL just like Honka.
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I thought people can only go to the AHL if they start playing in the CHL after they are drafted(ie get drafted, play a season in the CHL, then play your 19 year old season in the AHL). It should be pointed out Honka was born in December(not sure if it makes a difference that he was a late 95 birthday in his draft year)
 
boredmale said:
I thought people can only go to the AHL if they start playing in the CHL after they are drafted(ie get drafted, play a season in the CHL, then play your 19 year old season in the AHL). It should be pointed out Honka was born in December(not sure if it makes a difference that he was a late 95 birthday in his draft year)
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As I understand it as long as you are not drafted from CHL you can go to AHL. It seems Zacha played in Sarnia, but was on loan from Tygři Liberec where he has professional contract, so he was drafted from Czech Extraliga (the league where he has contract).
 
Zacha was sent to Sarnia on loan so he was technically contracted by his Czech team. He was technically drafted from his Czech team, so if we sign him and they think he's ready, we can send him to the AHL since he doesn't apply to the CHL-NHL agreement.
 
He looked physically ready to play in the NHL as advertised, and could have done so, but it's definitely the best thing for his development to go back to Sarnia. Glad they sent him back.
 
Zacha goal and assist last night. Both points came after a great individual rush. This guy's got Incredible skill set. Laser wrist too.

I don't know much about Sarnia. Are his linemates good at all?
 
What's happening with this guy? Not great production (so far) from a 6th overall pick..
 
Duclair said:
What's happening with this guy? Not great production (so far) from a 6th overall pick..
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Sarnia is bad. He should be putting up better numbers regardless but he's not gonna get many "gimmie" secondary assists on this team. Long term he may not have the hockey IQ to be the center who drives a line, but he may be a great complimentary winger with his shot and size.
 
Duclair said:
What's happening with this guy? Not great production (so far) from a 6th overall pick..
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I've never seen a player's offensive game become so overrated in his draft year. You read everywhere how elite his skating and hands are, I don't see it.
 
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