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Report: Pavel Zacha is here to stay |
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Pavel Zacha can play just one more game before management has to decide whether to a) keep him for the long-haul and burn a year off his entry-level contract or; b) return him to junior (Sarnia, OHL) for more seasoning.
Apparently that decision has already been made.
The Devils have made it no secret they really like what they've seen from Zacha thus far so it should come as no surprise that he's here to stay.
Like all young players there have been a few hiccups, and there will continue to be, but a good case can be made he's been the Devils' best center this season.
Considering one of their centers is making $5.75 million per year and another is coming off a 30-goal campaign that is no small feat.
With Zacha on the ice at 5 v 5 this season the Devils have out shot the opposition 52-45 (53.6%) and out chanced them 27-22 (55.1%).
Zacha has created a lot of good looks for his teammates, he's shown great power in his shot, he has been physical at times and defensively he has been so responsible that John Hynes and co. have given him some shifts on the penalty kill.
Obviously the sample size isn't a big one but he has passed pretty much every test with flying colors and has shown, at worst, he is already capable of contributing in a middle-6 role.
Zacha is looked at as a huge part of the future for the Devils and, apparently, that future starts now.
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