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

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25+ goal scorer, solid play, and defensive responsibility and I'll be happy with the pick. We can put him on a line with a playmaker.
 
goonybird said:
He's the best offensive player on his team, and nobody comes remotely close.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0008142016.html

Marner's team, for example, has like 5 players OVER a pt/game some with 2 ppg. Are we to believe Piccinich is better than Zacha?

I mean of course Marner is better, everyone knows that. Not even sure why we're suddenly pumping his tires now, but Zacha's production outpaces the rest of his team and that's fine.
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I've watched probably 2/3rds of Marners games this year, i've also seen a decent amount of Sarnia too. Obviously guys like Piccinich are not likely to be better than Zacha, but I mentioned guys (avoided OA's) on multiple lower or similar scoring teams, that are out-producing Zacha, which I think is fair. People are over reacting but its weird that with all his skill that it is not translating to more points. I wouldn't expect him to put up Marner and Strome numbers but I would (and still do) that he at a minimum get to 1.25 ppg but would hope closer to 1.50 ppg. I'm not just stat watching, for all the talent Zacha has he can drift out of games, which is part of the reason behind his less than desired production.
 
I see people not liking Zubrus or Poni, but people seem to forget that both had relatively decent careers. Zubrus more than Poni would be a pretty career guy. Not everyone can turn into a star forward.

Though I wonder, wouldn't Antropov be more similiar styled to Zacha? 0.5ppg career, big body and plenty of skill.
 
tfong said:
I see people not liking Zubrus or Poni, but people seem to forget that both had relatively decent careers. Zubrus more than Poni would be a pretty career guy. Not everyone can turn into a star forward.

Though I wonder, wouldn't Antropov be more similiar styled to Zacha? 0.5ppg career, big body and plenty of skill.
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Those guys are all way bigger (6'5 or taller) than Zacha, size wise it'd be like comparing Marner to Toews. If Zacha reaches his peak I see a Chicago version Marian Hossa type of game. Good 2-way game capable of scoring 30 to 40 goals. Not sure if he has the IQ though to pull it off. Don't think he has the ability to drive a line as a first line center, so if he stays there I'd see him as a 2nd line all around guy who maxes out as a 30-30 guy with solid defensive skills. Would still take Barzal over him but he's a good prospect and in the same tier with guys like Ratanen, Crouse and Meier.
 
BigWilly said:
3) Here's the last 10 6th overall picks:
Jake Virtanen
Sean Monahan
Hampus Lindholm
Mika Zibanejad
Brett Connolly
Oliver Ekman Larsson
Nikita Filatov
Sam Gagner
Derrick Brassard
Gilbert Brule
​
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Monahan? Brassard? That's 2.
Besides, OEL is a defenseman and he reached 40+ points twice, which is easily worth 50 points for a forward.
 
Zubrus played more than 1,200 NHL games in his career, and has more games played than anybody else in his same draft class. While there is nothing sexy about a player like him, you can't say Zacha would be a "massive disappointment" if his career followed in the footsteps of Zubrus.
 
Richards to Gaborik said:
Zubrus played more than 1,200 NHL games in his career, and has more games played than anybody else in his same draft class. While there is nothing sexy about a player like him, you can't say Zacha would be a "massive disappointment" if his career followed in the footsteps of Zubrus.
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Again, I really don't want to comment on Zacha's development. However, in this draft class, a Zubrus-like player will not be a success. There's too much talent for there not to be several home runs in the class from the Devils pick on.
 
Felix Unger said:
Again, I really don't want to comment on Zacha's development. However, in this draft class, a Zubrus-like player will not be a success. There's too much talent for there not to be several home runs in the class from the Devils pick on.
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Don't be ridiculous. Any player that has a career like Zubrus would be a complete success. Do you realize how many first round picks don't stick around? Drafting is a crapshoot and teams are lucky when they get a consistent NHLer. Obviously you hope your first rounder is a home run, but if you get a consistent NHLer, I call that a success
 
Nocashstyle said:
Don't be ridiculous. Any player that has a career like Zubrus would be a complete success. Do you realize how many first round picks don't stick around? Drafting is a crapshoot and teams are lucky when they get a consistent NHLer. Obviously you hope your first rounder is a home run, but if you get a consistent NHLer, I call that a success
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It's not ridiculous. Zubrus is replaceable. Devils need players they can't replace. There was a ton riding on this pick.
 
I get what Felix is saying with regard to the position New Jersey is in and how we need an impact player, but there is just no scenario where drafting a guy who ends up playing +1k games is not a success.

That said, I too would be disappointed with a 15 goal Zubrus clone with that pick. Probably because I was never on the Zacha train, even before the draft.

He's got tons of time to turn it around this season in any event.
 
BigWilly said:
1) There's more to hockey than points. I also said I think he'll be a horse for the Devils, creating space for teammates and making life difficult for the opposition.
2) You state that 78 forwards scored 50 points last year, and then called this third line production. A first line has 3 players, there are 30 teams in the NHL.
3*30 = 90 players​
If he was in the top 78 in forward scoring, that would qualify him as having first line production, don't you agree?
3) Here's the last 10 6th overall picks:
Jake Virtanen
Sean Monahan
Hampus Lindholm
Mika Zibanejad
Brett Connolly
Oliver Ekman Larsson
Nikita Filatov
Sam Gagner
Derrick Brassard
Gilbert Brule
​

Only 1 of those 7 forwards have hit 50 points in their career.
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Zacha and Virtanen are very comparable imo.
 
Oxymoron said:
Last season there were 78 forwards who put up 50 points or more. I personally wouldn't call a player drafted 6th overall "solid value" if he has the point production of a 3rd liner over his whole career.
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i'd say 50 points places you solidly in 2nd liner territory.
 
Oxymoron said:
Last season there were 78 forwards who put up 50 points or more. I personally wouldn't call a player drafted 6th overall "solid value" if he has the point production of a 3rd liner over his whole career.
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What? Technically there are 90 players in the league who play on the first line. How would being 80th equal 3rd liner?
 
King Mapes said:
What? Technically there are 90 players in the league who play on the first line. How would being 80th equal 3rd liner?
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It's amazing how you found that post but failed to see the one just at the end of that page where I admitted having ****ed up. Almost as amazing as my math skills.
 
I'm not happy with Zacha's production but like I said after the draft, much of his offense is transferable to the NHL. He should be a 20 point PP guy for a long time.
 
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