The New Jersey Devils selected Pavel Zacha # 6 overall in 2015. After a strong year in the OHL, he should get a shot to play in the NHL this season.
After scoring 28 goals and 36 assists in 51 games for the Sarnia Sting in the Ontario Hockey League last season, Pavel Zacha will get a chance to start the year at the NHL level for the New Jersey Devils. Zacha made his NHL debut in the Devils’ season finale against Toronto, recording two assists. He went on to score two goals and 4 assists in 8 total games with Albany before being sidelined by injury during the AHL playoffs. Zacha’s impressive season in the OHL and solid short stints to end the year have put him in a great position to make the Devils opening night roster.
Of course, last season was last season. Now, Zacha will have to prove that he can consistently perform at the pro level. At 6’3” and 210 pounds, Zacha already has an NHL-ready body and the tools needed to make the jump to the pro level. He did not skate during development camp last week, as he is in the process of rehabbing a hip pointer. But, Zacha is expected to make a full recovery and be ready to go for training camp. Devils’ head coach John Hynes didn’t seem worried when asked about the injury last week:
“Zacha won’t skate, but it’s just precautionary,” Hynes said. “It’s one of those situations, similar to Blandisi, where it’s July and he has a little bit of an issue. There’s no need to push it. is here, he’s working out and doing his thing with the team. That’s a huge part of the camp. Ice is important but not the primary importance of the camp.”
Ray Shero and management will closely monitor Zacha’s progress this summer leading up to training camp in September. That will be his real audition. As long as he proves himself in camp, Ray Shero says there will be a spot for him.
“Absolutely, I’m looking forward to seeing him,” Shero said when asked whether there would be room on the Devils’ roster for Zacha if he proves himself ready in training camp. “Yeah, there’s room for him. There’s always room for good players.”
Although expectations for this year are a bit higher now with the acquisition of Taylor Hall, they are still low. Remember, this is a team that has not made the playoffs the past 4 seasons. Shero has not made any guarantees about making the playoffs this year. 2017-18 is the year to focus on. I know, that seems a long way away for a team that arguably dominated the Atlantic Division for a long time and won 3 Stanley Cups. Devils fans have every right to be losing patience. But, with the transition from Lou Lamoriello to Ray Shero done and Shero firmly in place for the past year, times-are-a-changin. The Devils are getting better, the rebuilding process just takes time.
For that reason, I think Pavel Zacha definitely deserves a shot this year to make the team. He will get that chance, and the rest is up to him. Although he still has a lot to prove at just 19 years old, he’s made great strides so far in his young career. When interviewed last week at development camp, Zacha talked about working on his two-way game, including his defense and play away from the puck.
“A year ago, I didn’t play anything like this. They really gave me the chance to show what kind of player I am,” “I always thought I was a two-way player, and I was able to show this year that I can play penalty kill. It was good that I got the chance to play like this and show the coaches here and in Sarnia that I’m able to play in both zones.”
With NHL rosters being fairly fluid at this point in the offseason, fit is important, and where Zacha will play is still up in the air. He has been a center, but can play left wing as well. Shero and Hynes will have to decide where Zacha fits best. With centers Adam Henrique, Travis Zajac, Vern Fiddler and Jacob Josefson already on the roster, Zacha may have to slide over to left wing.
That decision certainly won’t be made until training camp. Besides the depth at center, don’t forget that Patrik Elias’s future is still up in the air. It’s an interesting situation. Zacha grew up idolizing Elias and already serves as a mentor to the young Czech prospect. He’s also a left winger, and would take up a roster spot if he was brought back on a one year deal. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see Elias back for another year if he proves that he is healthy, but I wouldn’t want to keep him at the expense of Zacha’s development.
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These are all factors that will determine whether Pavel Zacha can stick on the Devils roster. He definitely has the tools to be a successful and productive pro player. Now, it’s time to prove it. If he can demonstrate this to Devils’ management in camp, I can see him making a real impact at the NHL level. This is the year when you can take a chance on him. Let him sink or swim. If he struggles, the Devils have enough depth now to let him go back to Albany and develop. I say roll the dice and let Zacha show us what he can do.