Devils 2020-21 team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - part VIII

[LeedsMonster]

Defensive center that can PK. Good shot.

You would think he and McLeod will be battling for the 4C role at training camp. We need a player like him to make the team because we need more penalty kill options after the departure of Coleman at the deadline and Rooney due to free agency.

So you think Zacha will move to the wing? Because I see our C's as
1. Hischier
2.Hughes
3. Zacha
4. Zajac

 

[Billdo]

So you think Zacha will move to the wing? Because I see our C's as
1. Hischier
2.Hughes
3. Zacha
4. Zajac

Maybe Jack will be wing again.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Maybe Jack will be wing again.

If Ruff has any semblance of intelligence he will leave Hughes at center.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Maybe Jack will be wing again.

I can't see that happening to be honest. I don't think he looked good at all on the wing (not that he looked that good at center either lol) plus we have so many left wings as it is. I believe I saw this top 6 floating around before and I liked the idea of it.

Gusev - Nico - Bratt
Johnsson - Hughes - Palmieri

 

[imMagnum]

What are your takes on Jack and the WJC? I doubted he would be allowed to play until CHI let Dach go.

IMO let Jack play. It’s been almost a year since he’s played any sort of meaningful games. Reunite him with his old USNTDP teammates and watch him dominate the tourney.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

What are your takes on Jack and the WJC? I doubted he would be allowed to play until CHI let Dach go.

IMO let Jack play. It’s been almost a year since he’s played any sort of meaningful games. Reunite him with his old USNTDP teammates and watch him dominate the tourney.

we're discussing it in the other thread, but I have absolutely no interest in sending him there.

Chicago is sending Dach because Chicago isn't going to have the extended training camp that NJ will likely get because they made the playoffs.

 

[Blackjack]

Assuming that the season is actually going to start in January, I agree, but I have serious doubts about that.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

What are your takes on Jack and the WJC? I doubted he would be allowed to play until CHI let Dach go.

IMO let Jack play. It’s been almost a year since he’s played any sort of meaningful games. Reunite him with his old USNTDP teammates and watch him dominate the tourney.

I’d be all for it. He hasn’t played much hockey in a long while and we’re not getting a full season this year.

 

[TorontoMedia]

Jack in WJC = Awful idea. He spent an entire season making the adjustment to playing against men. As an American id love for it to happen, but we really don’t need to see him dominate a lower level again. I think it could cause regression (possibly) and there’s legit no chance it makes him better.

let him keep training for the season

 

[Eggtimer]

Mercer and.. Thompson ? invited to Team Canada's world junior evaluation .
Not sure when other countries announce their invited players.

 

[BurntToast]

Zacha is terrible, hopefully one of these young guns can push him down the lineup.
Old as Hell Zajac >>>>>>>> Zacha. I would be not upset in the slightest, if Seattle took him off the Devils’ hands. Butcher is more serviceable than Zacha.


Cue the debates*

 

[Eggtimer]

Zacha is terrible, hopefully one of these young guns can push him down the lineup.
Old as Hell Zajac >>>>>>>> Zacha. I would be not upset in the slightest, if Seattle took him off the Devils’ hands. Butcher is more serviceable than Zacha.


Cue the debates*

People need to stop looking at Zacha's draft position adn look at his salary and his role .
He is a very good 3c for a good price . He has the potential to improve his game yet. Name players that are paid less that are better 3c's ( not on ELC ) .
Yes , I am pissed that the pick was blown taking Zacha over Rantanen Barzal Prov. etc. but that has nothin to do with what Zacha is now.
Teams need good bottom 6 roster players as well and I see him as a very good bottom 6 C .

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Zacha is terrible, hopefully one of these young guns can push him down the lineup.
Old as Hell Zajac >>>>>>>> Zacha. I would be not upset in the slightest, if Seattle took him off the Devils’ hands. Butcher is more serviceable than Zacha.


Cue the debates*

what lol

one is a forward and one is a DMan

weird comparison

 

[Blackjack]

Zacha is not a good 3c at all. At $2.25 million I think there's a decent chance he'd clear waivers, he's a below replacement level player.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Zacha can be a 3rd liner or he can be a center. He can't be both.

 

[JK3]

Zacha . . .is . . . . not. . . .good . . defensively. . 5 on 5.
*clap* . *clap* . *clap* . *clap* . . . . *clap* . . . . . .*clap*

If we're looking for him to take over Zajac's duties in the future as a traditional checking line 3c role we're in trouble.

 

[My3Sons]

Zacha is terrible, hopefully one of these young guns can push him down the lineup.
Old as Hell Zajac >>>>>>>> Zacha. I would be not upset in the slightest, if Seattle took him off the Devils’ hands. Butcher is more serviceable than Zacha.


Cue the debates*

Liver tastes worse than Brussel sprouts. It's your opinion and I cannot say you are wrong, but to me, Butcher is more problematic than Zacha. Zacha is far from great, but he at least shows flashes of high end play and when he is engaged he is pretty good. Butcher, on the other hand, is maxed out. He is smart and competitive but he is short and relatively small physically for an NHL defender and slow and that's just deadly for his defensive game. There are too many instances where Butcher loses before the event even takes place - race to the loose puck - stepping up at the blue line - skating the puck with anyone around him - controlling the front of the net- keeping the play in at the other team's blue line where he has to consider an opposing forward that he plays so conservatively all the time it limits him even further. That's my eye test from watching him anyway. I'd be curious what percent of folks would take Butcher over Zacha and vice versa.

There's also a structural element that comes into play. There are only six defenders but twice as many forwards so the good or bad impact of a defender is relatively greater than a forward. It's relatively easy to hide a limited forward. I think NJ has done that with Wood for the most part the past two seasons. In contrast, you can only hide a defender on the third pair and even then only where there are two competent pairs ahead of the third one.

At some point Zacha will hopefully develop enough experience where his constant exposure to NHL game play will give him enough knowledge to know how to defend and compete even when he's not emotionally engaged. If he can achieve that level of know how I expect he will be a competent third line center even if he tantalizes with skill that leaves you wanting more from him. Right now, it's hard for me to see Butcher learning more to overcome his limitations since he's smart and already seems to know what to do.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

So you think Zacha will move to the wing? Because I see our C's as
1. Hischier
2.Hughes
3. Zacha
4. Zajac

He will play both positions, but yeah I see Zacha more as a winger.
And although Zajac is old, he is still a better center than Zacha at the moment. Zajac's my 3C next season.

 

[Edmonton East]

People need to stop looking at Zacha's draft position adn look at his salary and his role .
He is a very good 3c for a good price . He has the potential to improve his game yet. Name players that are paid less that are better 3c's ( not on ELC ) .
Yes , I am pissed that the pick was blown taking Zacha over Rantanen Barzal Prov. etc. but that has nothin to do with what Zacha is now.
Teams need good bottom 6 roster players as well and I see him as a very good bottom 6 C .

In what world and based on what trash and/or misinterpreted metrics is Zacha a "very good 3C"?

Are we talking about the same Pavel Zacha that has 18 ES goals in 266 games played? And isn't known as a playmaker or defensive specialist either...

 

[Billdo]

Zacha . . .is . . . . not. . . .good . . defensively. . 5 on 5.
*clap* . *clap* . *clap* . *clap* . . . . *clap* . . . . . .*clap*

If we're looking for him to take over Zajac's duties in the future as a traditional checking line 3c role we're in trouble.

I *clap* Dont *clap* Appreciate *clap* This *clap* *clap* *clap*

 

[Maine Fan]

The hot streak that the Bing went on after Hyney-head was canned, speaks volumes. They didn't change the coach up there, but the system was scrapped. What were they, 25-7 afterwards?

I like your positivity but it is not the same in the NHL. The swtich is difficult for these young players lots of stress and nerves.

 

[Billdo]

I like your positivity but it is not the same in the NHL. The swtich is difficult for these young players lots of stress and nerves.

It seemed the switch was pretty easy for the young guys if they went 25-7 after Hynes system was removed.

 

[Maine Fan]

It seemed the switch was pretty easy for the young guys if they went 25-7 after Hynes system was removed.

I might have read his post wrong, sorry if I did. I thought he was talking about in the AHL.

 

[Guttersniped]

The hot streak that the Bing went on after Hyney-head was canned, speaks volumes. They didn't change the coach up there, but the system was scrapped. What were they, 25-7 afterwards?

I don’t know why people think Hynes getting fired would have had a huge effect on our AHL team. The AHL team had a lot of rookie forwards, plus Senn was in NA for the first time, and some of them had a slow start. The trades brought in a influx of talent, notably Merkley with 19 pts in 28 games.

The biggest early move was sending Schneider down in Oct because he got the very terrible Cormier (2-8-1) sent to the ECHL but Schneider was pretty bad at first as well. Domingue was uneven in AHL in the fall as well, so surprise (!), goaltending really killed the team early when wasn’t scoring much, particularly if Senn didn’t start. Then by December Senn (17-7-2) really found his game, Cory won 7, and Domingue won 4 games and then was traded for McIntyre who was stellar in 4 wins. So, surprise (!), goaltending became a strength at the end of the season.

Zacha is not a good 3c at all. At $2.25 million I think there's a decent chance he'd clear waivers, he's a below replacement level player.

I don’t think Zacha would make it through waivers, but, yes, he’s currently not a particularly good 3C. Despite that, Zacha will get playing time at center or we’re getting another one. Even if McLeod replaces Rooney in a best case scenario season I can’t see him and Zajac carrying the load the entire time. I’m also a little worried about what a 35 year old Zajac without Coleman is going to give us even though his stout defense should still be there.

Fitz has to figure out what to do Zacha and it’s not too farfetched to say he wants to see how he does under Ruff, unless he’s currently shopping his ass.

 

[Devils731]

I don’t know why people think Hynes getting fired would have had a huge effect on our AHL team. The AHL team had a lot of rookie forwards, plus Senn was in NA for the first time, and some of them had a slow start. The trades brought in a influx of talent, notably Merkley with 19 pts in 28 games.

The biggest early move was sending Schneider down in Oct because he got the very terrible Cormier (2-8-1) sent to the ECHL but Schneider was pretty bad at first as well. Domingue was uneven in AHL in the fall as well, so surprise (!), goaltending really killed the team early when wasn’t scoring much, particularly if Senn didn’t start. Then by December Senn (17-7-2) really found his game, Cory won 7, and Domingue won 4 games and then was traded for McIntyre who was stellar in 4 wins. So, surprise (!), goaltending became a strength at the end of the season.


I don’t think Zacha would make it through waivers, but, yes, he’s currently not a particularly good 3C. Despite that, Zacha will get playing time at center or we’re getting another one. Even if McLeod replaces Rooney in a best case scenario season I can’t see him and Zajac carrying the load the entire time. I’m also a little worried about what a 35 year old Zajac without Coleman is going to give us even though his stout defense should still be there.

Fitz has to figure out what to do Zacha and it’s not too farfetched to say he wants to see how he does under Ruff, unless he’s currently shopping his ass.

The AHL team ran the same system as the NHL team. Once Hynes was fired the AHL team was told they could run any system they want. Under a different system the AHL team became dominant with a similar roster to the awful team from earlier in the season.

This is, hopefully, a big datapoint that Hynes’ system was really hurting team performance. Even the Devils basically still ran Hynes’ system, with small tweaks, after he left.