New Jersey Devils: Pavel Zacha Ready To Take Next Step
By Nick Villano
New Jersey Devils center Pavel Zacha had an up-and-down season in his first NHL campaign last year. He’s showed early in the offseason he’s ready to develop into a huge part of the team’s future starting next season.
On Wednesday, the New Jersey Devils development camp had its coveted 3-on-3 scrimmage in front of fans. News out of the event had many players standing out above the rest during the competition. Nico Hischier played a huge role in his first real work since becoming the first-overall pick. Blake Speers played alongside Hischier and made some noise as a possible pairing option. Pavel Zacha, however, was the talk of the arena as he carried his team to a win for Team Daneyko.
Zacha isn’t the most talked about Devils prospect like he was just one season ago. The arrival of Hischier has many forgetting experts drooled over the Devils pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. Even Michael McLeod’s huge season in Juniors last year has fans loving him and forgetting about Zacha’s immense talent.
Zacha came into last season with high expectations that just weren’t delivered upon. He scored just eight goals with 16 assists in 70 games. This, while trying to help a Devils bottom six that just wasn’t delivering on a nightly basis.
The Devils long-shot expectations for the playoffs relied on some luck in the bottom six. Fans hoped Zacha would show he’s NHL ready from day one. Obviously, he deserved to be on the team, but fans were hoping for a little more.
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He’s already shown he’s ready to put last season behind him. Zacha showed up to Devils development camp as the senior player, along with Miles Wood. They both have the most NHL experience of the players on the ice, and Zacha showed why already.
This season will be huge for Zacha. He’s just 20 years old. The combination of size and speed he brings to the table is something most NHL players can’t match. He’s always had a knack for scoring, lighting the lamp six times in seven OHL playoff games for the Sarnia Sting in 2016.
That skill set will help Zacha take the next step this season. There will be much less pressure on him to perform, thanks to Hischier and the rest of the Devils prospects expected to make a jump. He can focus on using his elite offensive ability to turn into a stud.
Don’t be surprised if Zacha becomes a top-six center early in the season. It will be hard to perch Travis Zajac from his position on the top line after the chemistry he showed with Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri, but if Adam Henrique moves to wing (or gets traded) then that leaves that position wide open. Obviously, some will think that could open the door for Hischier, but I like him better as a scoring option on the third line with Wood. Zacha is ready to anchor a top-six line. He will prove that to the Devils by the time November rolls around.