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

[FLYguy3911]

I keep checking in with CHL stats site and it seems Marner and Strome are getting astronomical amounts more icetime than Zacha.

Those are estimates that are generally not accurate.

 

[The Podium]

People can complain his point production isnt up to the level of marner or strome. I am fully confident he will be a better NHL player than the both of them. This guy does everything well. 6'3" 210 Lbs, skates like the wind, NHL shot. Put him anywhere and hes gunna be a valuable aspect to your team. Zacha should have been 3rd overall

"stat watcher"

Marner will continue to tear up juniors, same with strome. When you get to the NHL you need the full package, Zacha is it. Cannot wait to see all the stat watching morons eat their words when he is the most "surprising" player in the league next year.

Give OHL players a poll i guarantee you Zacha is the last person they want coming down on them on the wing

Said it before the draft and I'll say it again now. I've watched many games of Zacha. To me he has probably the best tool box of all players outside of McEichel from the draft. He has the size, the speed, the shot, everything...but the smarts. Someone of his talent should not be struggling to be among the top of the league in scoring. He is very strong off the rush because he doesn't really have to think, just get it to the net. However, every time I watch him he seems to be lost when his team gains the offensive zone. He doesn't have the goal scorer's instinct to get in the position for a clear shot at the net. For a goal scorer that can be a huge problem. I see him being a first line centre in the mould of Jeff Carter, which is an amazing player, but I don't see his game translating better than either Strome or Marner. His hockey IQ just isn't elite and in today's NHL that's most important IMHO.

 

[Blender]

Said it before the draft and I'll say it again now. I've watched many games of Zacha. To me he has probably the best tool box of all players outside of McEichel from the draft. He has the size, the speed, the shot, everything...but the smarts. Someone of his talent should not be struggling to be among the top of the league in scoring. He is very strong off the rush because he doesn't really have to think, just get it to the net. However, every time I watch him he seems to be lost when his team gains the offensive zone. He doesn't have the goal scorer's instinct to get in the position for a clear shot at the net. For a goal scorer that can be a huge problem. I see him being a first line centre in the mould of Jeff Carter, which is an amazing player, but I don't see his game translating better than either Strome or Marner. His hockey IQ just isn't elite and in today's NHL that's most important IMHO.

I'd agree with this, I don't see Zacha having the ceiling of the top guys in the draft. His ceiling is in the tier below as a top line player, which is still a pretty good player. He has a pretty high floor compared to most in the draft due to his physical tools. The guy is big, a great skater, has a great shot, passes well enough, and is defensive responsible. He has all the makings of a very good NHLer, but he does lack that elite hockey IQ that would make him an elite player.

 

[Unknown Caller]

I'd agree with this, I don't see Zacha having the ceiling of the top guys in the draft. His ceiling is in the tier below as a top line player, which is still a pretty good player. He has a pretty high floor compared to most in the draft due to his physical tools. The guy is big, a great skater, has a great shot, passes well enough, and is defensive responsible. He has all the makings of a very good NHLer, but he does lack that elite hockey IQ that would make him an elite player.

I don't know that I agree with this. Zacha has elite tools at about every level you could ask. Shot, speed, size, physicality, hands, etc. Imo, his ceiling is the highest behind McDavid and Eichel. It's just a question of whether he can put it all together.

Fwiw, I think he's better suited on the wing. Reminds me of Kovalchuk when he gets the puck with his feet moving.

 

[HenriquesJawLine]

Named OHL player of the week, hopefully he can keep it going

 

[Devils Army]

I don't know that I agree with this. Zacha has elite tools at about every level you could ask. Shot, speed, size, physicality, hands, etc. Imo, his ceiling is the highest behind McDavid and Eichel. It's just a question of whether he can put it all together.

Fwiw, I think he's better suited on the wing. Reminds me of Kovalchuk when he gets the puck with his feet moving.

Has the speed and shot of Kovy, but few were as silky, he was also a great playmaker as well as a sniper

Hard to compare anyone to Ovi on the wing, but I think Zacha is more comparable to Ovi

 

[Kurt Cobain]

The goals he scores are goals in the NHL. That's the most impressive thing about his shot. He shouldn't have a problem putting up goals and points in the NHL. His hockey sense will keep him on the wing in the NHL. He'll never be an elite playmaker, but I think he could be a 35+ goal guy year in an year in out. If all goes to plan of course.

 

[HenriquesJawLine]

The goals he scores are goals in the NHL. That's the most impressive thing about his shot. He shouldn't have a problem putting up goals and points in the NHL. His hockey sense will keep him on the wing in the NHL. He'll never be an elite playmaker, but I think he could be a 35+ goal guy year in an year in out. If all goes to plan of course.

Zacha-Henrique-Palmieri is a long term line id like to see, I agree about Zacha being a winger.

 

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

Hmmmm, not really. Michalek is a nice player but the Devils need Zacha to be a franchise player. Last night was a nice breakthrough.

Lol, you should probably temper your expectations then, because Milan Michalek is a good return for a 6th overall pick. Expecting Zacha to be a franchise player is setting yourself up for disappointment.

Historical #6 picks, 1990 to 2010. How many look like franchise players to you?

2010 - Brett Connolly
2008 - Nikita Filatov
2007 - Sam Gagner
2006 - Derick Brassard
2005 - Gilbert Brule
2003 - Milan Michalek
2002 - Scottie Upshall
2001 - Mikko Koivu
2000 - Scott Hartnell
1998 - Rico Fata
1997 - Daniel Tkaczuk
1996 - Boyd Devereaux
1995 - Steve Kelly
1994 - Ryan Smyth
1993 - Viktor Kozlov
1992 - Cory Stillman
1991 - Peter Forsberg
1990 - Scott Scissons

Handful of busts, handful of okay players, handful of good players and one franchise player in Forsberg. Let's temper our expectations for Zacha.

 

[Comparison Ford]

Lol, you should probably temper your expectations then, because Milan Michalek is a good return for a 6th overall pick. Expecting Zacha to be a franchise player is setting yourself up for disappointment.

Historical #6 picks, 1990 to 2010. How many look like franchise players to you?

2010 - Brett Connolly
2008 - Nikita Filatov
2007 - Sam Gagner
2006 - Derick Brassard
2005 - Gilbert Brule
2003 - Milan Michalek
2002 - Scottie Upshall
2001 - Mikko Koivu
2000 - Scott Hartnell
1998 - Rico Fata
1997 - Daniel Tkaczuk
1996 - Boyd Devereaux
1995 - Steve Kelly
1994 - Ryan Smyth
1993 - Viktor Kozlov
1992 - Cory Stillman
1991 - Peter Forsberg
1990 - Scott Scissons

Handful of busts, handful of okay players, handful of good players and one franchise player in Forsberg. Let's temper our expectations for Zacha.

I'm with you here FMASC. I would actually love if we could get some San Jose Sharks era Milan Michalek scoring out of Zacha. I think that's pretty realistic. That would be a success to me.

 

[93LEAFS]

Lol, you should probably temper your expectations then, because Milan Michalek is a good return for a 6th overall pick. Expecting Zacha to be a franchise player is setting yourself up for disappointment.

Historical #6 picks, 1990 to 2010. How many look like franchise players to you?

2010 - Brett Connolly
2008 - Nikita Filatov
2007 - Sam Gagner
2006 - Derick Brassard
2005 - Gilbert Brule
2003 - Milan Michalek
2002 - Scottie Upshall
2001 - Mikko Koivu
2000 - Scott Hartnell
1998 - Rico Fata
1997 - Daniel Tkaczuk
1996 - Boyd Devereaux
1995 - Steve Kelly
1994 - Ryan Smyth
1993 - Viktor Kozlov
1992 - Cory Stillman
1991 - Peter Forsberg
1990 - Scott Scissons

Handful of busts, handful of okay players, handful of good players and one franchise player in Forsberg. Let's temper our expectations for Zacha.

Pretty accurate point, Hampus Lindholm and Monahan look like legitimate 1st liners at a young age. Your also missing Al Montoya (6th overall 2004) and Ekman-Larson (6th 2009). Montoya was a bust, OEL is probably a franchise player and a legitimate #1D.

edit: And Brian Finley in 1999 is missing.

 

[Lou is God]

Lol, you should probably temper your expectations then, because Milan Michalek is a good return for a 6th overall pick. Expecting Zacha to be a franchise player is setting yourself up for disappointment.

Historical #6 picks, 1990 to 2010. How many look like franchise players to you?

2010 - Brett Connolly
2008 - Nikita Filatov
2007 - Sam Gagner
2006 - Derick Brassard
2005 - Gilbert Brule
2003 - Milan Michalek
2002 - Scottie Upshall
2001 - Mikko Koivu
2000 - Scott Hartnell
1998 - Rico Fata
1997 - Daniel Tkaczuk
1996 - Boyd Devereaux
1995 - Steve Kelly
1994 - Ryan Smyth
1993 - Viktor Kozlov
1992 - Cory Stillman
1991 - Peter Forsberg
1990 - Scott Scissons

Handful of busts, handful of okay players, handful of good players and one franchise player in Forsberg. Let's temper our expectations for Zacha.

Naaaah, you can hope for a Milan Michalek if you like, I'm going to raise the bar on this one. Plus I don't rely on what players in the past did because it has nothing to do with the present.

 

[Jtown]

The goals he scores are goals in the NHL. That's the most impressive thing about his shot. He shouldn't have a problem putting up goals and points in the NHL. His hockey sense will keep him on the wing in the NHL. He'll never be an elite playmaker, but I think he could be a 35+ goal guy year in an year in out. If all goes to plan of course.

I agree withthis 100 percent. You can already tell how successful he is going to be on the pp , setting up on the right side and tallying one timers all day. He is an impressive goal scorer.

 

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

Pretty accurate point, Hampus Lindholm and Monahan look like legitimate 1st liners at a young age. Your also missing Al Montoya (6th overall 2004) and Ekman-Larson (6th 2009). Montoya was a bust, OEL is probably a franchise player and a legitimate #1D.

edit: And Brian Finley in 1999 is missing.

I focused only on forwards.

 

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

Naaaah, you can hope for a Milan Michalek if you like, I'm going to raise the bar on this one. Plus I don't rely on what players in the past did because it has nothing to do with the present.

The past is our best indicator of the future.

Expecting amazing things from Zacha is setting yourself up for serious disappointment, and is unfairly putting pressure on him. Most #6 overall picks don't end up being amazing. Zacha very well could be, but the odds are small.

If you could lock in 25g / season for Zacha from ages 22-28 you would do it in a heartbeat, because there's nothing that says Zacha can't turn into Filatov, Upshall or Tzachuk. All those fanbases thought they had surefire studs as well.

 

[Lou is God]

The past is our best indicator of the future.

Expecting amazing things from Zacha is setting yourself up for serious disappointment, and is unfairly putting pressure on him. Most #6 overall picks don't end up being amazing. Zacha very well could be, but the odds are small.

If you could lock in 25g / season for Zacha from ages 22-28 you would do it in a heartbeat, because there's nothing that says Zacha can't turn into Filatov, Upshall or Tzachuk. All those fanbases thought they had surefire studs as well.

Henrik Zetterberg was taken 210th overall, does that translate well for all players taken 210th? No, it doesn't, and that's my point. It's irrelevant where he was taken, what is relevant what is expected of him and his potential. And yeah if I could get 25+ in his prime per season, of course I would take it, but Michalek only did that twice and then taped off WHILE still in his prime. I'm not expecting him to be a Kovy or AO, but if he turns out to be Michalek, it will be disappointing.

I also don't buy about putting unfairly putting pressure on him likes he going to crack, New Jersey is not exactly Montreal or Toronto.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

He'll never be Forsberg. Hopefully, he'll turn into the 2nd best player ever selected at 6. Seriously, if he becomes a first liner that can pot an average 25/30 goals for several years, I happy.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Those are estimates that are generally not accurate.

Regardless of that, with numbers so vastly different I would say it is safe to assume they get more time per game than Zacha.

 

[TimeZone]

I don't know that I agree with this. Zacha has elite tools at about every level you could ask. Shot, speed, size, physicality, hands, etc. Imo, his ceiling is the highest behind McDavid and Eichel. It's just a question of whether he can put it all together.

Fwiw, I think he's better suited on the wing. Reminds me of Kovalchuk when he gets the puck with his feet moving.

He doesn't have the Hockey IQ or passing ability to have a ceiling as high as you say. I can see Marner and Strome being stars if they reach their ceiling...I see Zacha as a first line winger if he reaches his potential.

 

[HenriquesJawLine]

I agree withthis 100 percent. You can already tell how successful he is going to be on the pp , setting up on the right side and tallying one timers all day. He is an impressive goal scorer.

Almost like a bigger bodied Cammalleri

 

[Marshal Rochambeau]

He doesn't have the Hockey IQ or passing ability to have a ceiling as high as you say. I can see Marner and Strome being stars if they reach their ceiling...I see Zacha as a first line winger if he reaches his potential.

That is just false.

 

[TIGERCOOL]

According to Zacha that was the first hat trick he's scored at any level. That seems absolutely absurd considering his skill level. Maybe now that he's gotten over that hurdle he'll explode. Hope so, seems like a good kid

Edit: source if anyone's interested http://www.theobserver.ca/2015/11/2...ia-sting-sink-niagara-icedogs-in-nasty-affair

 

[thethinglonger]

According to Zacha that was the first hat trick he's scored at any level. That seems absolutely absurd considering his skill level. Maybe now that he's gotten over that hurdle he'll explode. Hope so, seems like a good kid

Edit: source if anyone's interested http://www.theobserver.ca/2015/11/2...ia-sting-sink-niagara-icedogs-in-nasty-affair

It seems crazy but looking at how fast he progressed through the Czech junior leagues, I can believe it. While it was only for 3 games, he was playing in the U18 league as a 13-14 year old back in 2010-2011 (correct me if the age is wrong though).

 

[Fear the Wushu]

He doesn't have the Hockey IQ or passing ability to have a ceiling as high as you say. I can see Marner and Strome being stars if they reach their ceiling...I see Zacha as a first line winger if he reaches his potential.

So you give the Hockey IQ to Marner and Strome and I completely agree with that. But then you have to give Zacha the advantage in almost every department other than IQ. He's got a better shot (especially wrister), more powerful skater, more physical, and bigger presence.

 

[Les Averman]

So you give the Hockey IQ to Marner and Strome and I completely agree with that. But then you have to give Zacha the advantage in almost every department other than IQ. He's got a better shot (especially wrister), more powerful skater, more physical, and bigger presence.

To be fair, Marner has better hands, better vision, smoother skater, better passing.