LW Alexander Holtz - (2020, 7th, NJD)

[Michael Brand Eggs]

Sounds like he's a guy who will need a coach that can motivate him a bit and get him playing with fire.

 

[Scorcho]

I don’t blame anyone for being defensive regarding remarks made about the Devils development of prospects. It used to be garbage / non existent . Largely due to the fact they had dire need to rush some into the NHL lineup.
Zacha was taken (mistakenly) in the draft as the Devils had literally zero NHL C (zajac injured) . They thought big bodied Zacha was most nhl ready (size and defensive play).
That , and other terrible draft choices set the devils back years (Tedendby pick over J Carlson , Zacha over Barzal Rantanen Connor etc etc )
Now , they finally have the prospect pool where they are not forced to be rushed into a role they might not be ready for.

Having said all that , I am concerned about Holtz and his lack of goal scoring ever since the WJC . A change of scenery and hopefully and injection of some confidence will help him out .

Zacha was not a mistake.

 

[Bevans]

Zacha was not a mistake.

Care to elaborate?

 

[Wierzbowski426]

Care to elaborate?

He was picked right around where he was ranked by all the draft guys? It's pretty simple really. Hindsight is 20/20.

I know the Barzal brigade love to harp on this pick but how many teams passed on Barzal after the Devils?

 

[Bevans]

He was picked right around where he was ranked by all the draft guys? It's pretty simple really. Hindsight is 20/20.

I know the Barzal brigade love to harp on this pick but how many teams passed on Barzal after the Devils?

Okay, so it was a mistake with hindsight but not at the time. Fair enough.

 

[ijuka]

He was picked right around where he was ranked by all the draft guys? It's pretty simple really. Hindsight is 20/20.

This is a ridiculous way to view scouting. That just means that all the draft guys made a mistake. Picking a player where they were ranked doesn't make it a good pick.

 

[Wierzbowski426]

This is a ridiculous way to view scouting. That just means that all the draft guys made a mistake. Picking a player where they were ranked doesn't make it a good pick.

Ok Nostradamus. I don't think you understand scouting at all.

 

[Scorcho]

Care to elaborate?

He is a good player, producing at one of the best rates on the team.

A later pick outperforming his draft position does not make Zacha a bad pick, if that were the case, 90% of players picked before Jesper Bratt would be a "Bad Pick"

 

[Bevans]

He is a good player, producing at one of the best rates on the team.

A later pick outperforming his draft position does not make Zacha a bad pick, if that were the case, 90% of players picked before Jesper Bratt would be a "Bad Pick"

That is logically absurd. Zacha is losing to the field. Bratt is beating the field. They are both outliers, they don't change the quality of the field.

 

[My3Sons]

That is logically absurd. Zacha is losing to the field. Bratt is beating the field. They are both outliers, they don't change the quality of the field.

I think you both make good points. Zacha is disappointing relative to where he was drafted, but scouting is an inexact science and a guy like Bratt shows that even consensus type picks can be wrong. I mean look at Patrick in Philly. His health has really held him back and stunted his development to date. Was that a bad pick or just bad luck? Does why someone fails to outperform the field matter?

 

[jc17]

delete...wrong thread

 

[Scorcho]

That is logically absurd. Zacha is losing to the field. Bratt is beating the field. They are both outliers, they don't change the quality of the field.

It's only logically absurd if you don't understand logic :shrug:

I will continue to point to Couturier and remind people that prospect development is not linear.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

It's only logically absurd if you don't understand logic :shrug:

I will continue to point to Couturier and remind people that prospect development is not linear.

I don't think Zacha has shown any defensive skills at center that compare to Couturier.

 

[CraigBillington]

I don't think Zacha has shown any defensive skills at center that compare to Couturier.

He's not comparing the two but using one as an example of how players develop at different rates.

 

[Baaaaaaaaaaaaah]

Signed his ELC for 2021-2022 season. Also signed amateur tryout with Binghamton for the rest of this season.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Glad to see he'll be reporting to Binghamton. While I wouldn't be opposed to giving him a game or two in NJ just to reward him for coming over, I don't think he's close to NHL ready right now. I want to see him dominate in the AHL a whole year or close to it before he comes up.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

He's not comparing the two but using one as an example of how players develop at different rates.

It's amazing how many people either don't or purposely refuse to understand the difference

Specifically referring to someone using an example to make a point and the other person somehow thinking it's a direct comparison in a completely different manner

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

This turned into a Pavel Zacha thread wtf ? They are two completely different players so stop with the comparisons. Hopefully he plays good in the AHL to close out the year. Would like to see some goals from far out with that shot of his.

 

[RememberTheName]

Making his AHL debut tonight.

 

[Baaaaaaaaaaaaah]

Tuned in because I wanted to see his first pro game.

Started off tentative but was the most dominant player on the ice by the third period. Didn't make the scoreboard, but easily created 3-4 scoring chances a period. 5 shots but also had a handful of near misses. Unsurprisingly can REALLY find open ice. Played a two way game as well, and was physically mature enough to be winning his individual battles.

Should be lighting up the AHL within a few games I would say.

 

[Scorcho]

This turned into a Pavel Zacha thread wtf ? They are two completely different players so stop with the comparisons. Hopefully he plays good in the AHL to close out the year. Would like to see some goals from far out with that shot of his.

they will learn to put some RESPEK on my boi Zacha

 

[NJ DevLolz]

He was actually really good last night. He and Graeme Clarke were the two most dangerous forwards.

 

[hidek91]

Is it possible to find highlights from that game somewhere? Would kill for that

 

[theslatcher]

Tuned in because I wanted to see his first pro game.

Started off tentative but was the most dominant player on the ice by the third period. Didn't make the scoreboard, but easily created 3-4 scoring chances a period. 5 shots but also had a handful of near misses. Unsurprisingly can REALLY find open ice. Played a two way game as well, and was physically mature enough to be winning his individual battles.

Should be lighting up the AHL within a few games I would say.

His first pro game was more than 2 years ago, though.

 

[thethinglonger]

Is it possible to find highlights from that game somewhere? Would kill for that

Working on a shift-by-shift from the game! I'll post it here when it's uploaded.