I am not high on Zacha becoming an offensive threat at all but he's certainly an upgrade at 4C over Rooney or McLeod. Also a really solid PKer. Fine contract, glad he didn't walk for nothing.
Confirmed with Link: Devils re-sign Pavel Zacha (3 years, $2.25 AAV)
- Thread starter Zajacs Bowl Cut
- Start date
How many 4th line centers have pushed Geno off with one arm while controlling the puck with the other arm and attacking the goal? The ability is there. The question is how much he cares and is willing to play without fear. He seems like a good kid to me but he’s doesn’t strike me as passionate about hockey. There has to be a bit of attitude for players to succeed. For example look are Coleman or even BASTIAN in his brief stint and this past rookie tourney. Their impact is accentuated by their feistiness whether forced or natural. In contrast Big Pops and PZ just lack edge as I see it which holds them back. There’s a 2C in PZ but whether he can dig deep in a consistent basis to unleash it is very much an open question.
Call Me Al
Registered User
- Aug 28, 2017
- 5,685
- 7,247
a lot of people read into his motivation but he didn’t get where he is by accident. i read into it more as a big player who has trouble adjusting to the competition when they caught up in size and suffered a couple injuries/concussions, coupled with the very real mental aspect of being punished for mistakes by coaches.
it’s a big learning curve but the tools are there. maybe he’ll reach the next level maybe not but i don’t think it’s because he’s not motivated to play hockey
it’s a big learning curve but the tools are there. maybe he’ll reach the next level maybe not but i don’t think it’s because he’s not motivated to play hockey
The 29th Pick
Still Alive !
PZ might be one of those players who seems "not into it" a lot but could really raise him game in the playoffs...time will tell (and no I'm not eating crow if he's invisible in THIS SEASONS PLAYOFFS!)
Billdo
Registered User
I'm still borderline shocked how many people wanted to write him off... he's 21...
MartyOwns
thank you shero
- Apr 1, 2007
- 24,697
- 19,402
zacha’s type? lol he’s a bottom 6 forward who can kill penalties on a very friendly contract. a legitimate contender, who is likely spending the bulk of their money on other positions (top 6, defense) would love to have him in that spot
I stopped being shocked by anything on these boards a long time ago.
MartyOwns
thank you shero
- Apr 1, 2007
- 24,697
- 19,402
he may be 21 but he’s played 200 games, that’s a pretty good sample size. i’m sure there are outliers who explode in games 200-300, but is that the norm?
Wingman77
Registered User
- Mar 16, 2010
- 20,251
- 766
Better Call Sal
Salnalysis
Hall-Hischier-Bratt
Gusev-Hughes-Palmieri
Coleman-Zajac-Simmonds
Wood-Zacha-Anderson/Boqvist
Gusev-Hughes-Palmieri
Coleman-Zajac-Simmonds
Wood-Zacha-Anderson/Boqvist
I think he will end up playing considerably higher than 4th line by the end of the year and log a lot of power play minutes too. I think he ends up second or even first line before he’s done.
The 29th Pick
Still Alive !
he's definitely good insurance too, should one of our first three centers miss games/time whatever
ChicksDigTheTrap
No quick fixes, no cutting corners and no cheating
That is exactly my thinking. Since he is making such a small percentage of cap I can live with a lack of and/or inconsistent production if the Devils get a burst of production at a key time during the playoffs or during a playoff drive.
MartyOwns
thank you shero
- Apr 1, 2007
- 24,697
- 19,402
Wolf Stansson 30
Former Gunnar Stahl 30
- Jan 4, 2018
- 123
- 47
njdevils1982
Hell Toupée!!!
just playing with words about the first bolded
and it was "greatest trick"….but still, well played
anyways….back to zacha
Last edited:
He was drafted 6th overall and is 22 years old. Why would a contending team offer a reasonable amount in trade - probably the cost for Zacha would be something like a 2nd + 3rd or a 2nd and an additional prospect - for a player that they intend to put on their 4th line, and when has this happened since the institution of the salary cap?
MartyOwns
thank you shero
- Apr 1, 2007
- 24,697
- 19,402
what i said was that teams who are contenders would love to have the guy as their 4th line center, for reasons i already outlined. would they pay the price? maybe not, but i’m sure some of them kicked the tires which the 31 thoughts article referenced. that’s not unbelievable to me
But could those things not diminish a players motivation?
And certainly there are degrees of motivation. Compared to you or I, Zacha is likely a beast on the ice in terms of effort, compared to Blake Coleman, or Taylor Hall, I think there is a noticeable difference. But those guys have a noticeable edge on most players in that regard.
And motivation can come and go too. I think we've seen Hall with varying levels of effort. Ryan O'Reilly said his love of the game had diminished, I think Vegas in it's rookie year was successful in part because the environment was ripe for players thinking this was there chance.
I think Boqvist makes the team and can be someone who potentially moves up. Those lines look great to me.Hall-Hischier-Bratt
Gusev-Hughes-Palmieri
Coleman-Zajac-Simmonds
Wood-Zacha-Anderson/Boqvist
He leads the team in hit goalposts every season. If a third of those post shots start going in he will net 20 goals easily. He’s got a great shot - both slap and wrist shots. Besides having fine vision, he can be a super finisher and I think if he plays some with Gusev and/or Hughes or Hall you will see improved numbers.
N.B. I wonder if the league keeps records of goalposts hit?
N.B. I wonder if the league keeps records of goalposts hit?
mtnet
LGD!
- Oct 31, 2014
- 5,670
- 4,206
There once was a Czech who was mental
His agent said, "Why don't we try Kontinental"?
The Czech barked "Leave me alone, get Ray on the phone"
Now he's sponsored by Enterprise Rental
His agent said, "Why don't we try Kontinental"?
The Czech barked "Leave me alone, get Ray on the phone"
Now he's sponsored by Enterprise Rental
I remember going through the Penn State boxscores for Talvitie and they do, at least on a game to game basis.
But you would think in this world of advanced stats, corsi, high danger, scoring chances, and especially expected goals, that somewhere they would keep track of posts.
Last edited:
mtnet
LGD!
- Oct 31, 2014
- 5,670
- 4,206
Fine...but my final 20 posts from last season were straight up fire!
