NOW!!!!!!!!!
- smellmyfinger

I’d rather staple my scrotum to an Orca.

Good day sir!

No way Henrique is traded in November. His mustache is way too on point for that noise.

Trading or demoting players like Coleman , Gibbs, Woods is the dumbest idea ever. Sends a bad signal to rest of team knowing no matter how well you play it doesn't matter. Nevermind the fact that these 3 are relentless and never stop skating.

Pavel Zacha is staring to become the next matthis tedneby and jacob josefson, always an excuse, too young, needs to play with better players, was pushed to the NHL too soon. Maybe he just isn't good enough? Sad part is the talent taken after him in the draft have proven much better choices. Thank you Lou for the final parting gift!!

I know that the hall zajac palms line played well last year, this year they are playing more of a speed game so I wonder how that will impact hall without Nico's creativity

We saw Nico and bratt together before and they looked good offensively but the defense was something they needed to work on some more but that comes with experience

I saw Johanson was cleared for off ice training so he may be a little while

I think they should try zacha on the wing if they don't feel comfortable with him as a center

Pavel Zacha is staring to become the next matthis tedneby and jacob josefson, always an excuse, too young, needs to play with better players, was pushed to the NHL too soon. Maybe he just isn't good enough? Sad part is the talent taken after him in the draft have proven much better choices. Thank you Lou for the final parting gift!!
- devfan30

Zacha is going to be a legit NHLer, unlike Teds or JJ. He also might have been influenced as a pick by Ray Ray more then Lou Lams. He and Conte never shied away from drafting defenders over forward. Just my conjecture. Not sure.

Trading or demoting players like Coleman , Gibbs, Woods is the dumbest idea ever. Sends a bad signal to rest of team knowing no matter how well you play it doesn't matter. Nevermind the fact that these 3 are relentless and never stop skating.
- Leniwm1

Oooor you are sent somewhere where you can play top 6 minutes as none of them are going to touch that on regular basis in NJ... so they could play equally as well, if not better with more time and earn more money on an upcoming contract.

I'm not saying I don't like Wood, but truly you have to give up something to get something. Can't rely on dumping the guys that have crap value (like those talking about Zacha).

Todd Cordell: Travis Zajac's imminent return a huge boost for the New Jersey Devils
- Todd.Cordell

Every game will now be a 2-1 loss

Zacha doesn't have crap value. He has 31 points in 86 games playing 14 minutes a night, so at 20, he's already a third liner, and still has a high ceiling since he's only 20. If he's 23 and still putting up what he's putting up now, then you have Ryan Strome. You think he'll stay stagnant for 3 years? I highly doubt it... he's a slick passer, he can shoot, and he has moves... when he refines his game, I think he's going to be a real good player.

What sets him apart from other prospects is his foundational abilities. He has the talent to be a very good player (if he can avoid concussions).

He had a slow start to this season, but I believe when the offense dries up from the other guys, he's going to step up (like he did last year). I don't think NJ should dangle him unless they get a really good offer.

I want to see if he exceeds .5 ppg by the end of the year. If he does, then to me, he's right on target.

NJ shouldn't be looking to make a trade unless someone's moving a good defenseman... then it's more of a "what do you want" rather than a "we have this to offer". If they want Henrique or Zajac or what not... it's up to the guy we're dealing with.

Otherwise, they should send down whoever can't be poached and tell the guys they send down that it's part of the business and they'll be full time players soon enough.

Zacha doesn't have crap value. He has 31 points in 86 games playing 14 minutes a night, so at 20, he's already a third liner, and still has a high ceiling since he's only 20. If he's 23 and still putting up what he's putting up now, then you have Ryan Strome. You think he'll stay stagnant for 3 years? I highly doubt it... he's a slick passer, he can shoot, and he has moves... when he refines his game, I think he's going to be a real good player.


What sets him apart from other prospects is his foundational abilities. He has the talent to be a very good player (if he can avoid concussions).

He had a slow start to this season, but I believe when the offense dries up from the other guys, he's going to step up (like he did last year). I don't think NJ should dangle him unless they get a really good offer.

I want to see if he exceeds .5 ppg by the end of the year. If he does, then to me, he's right on target.

NJ shouldn't be looking to make a trade unless someone's moving a good defenseman... then it's more of a "what do you want" rather than a "we have this to offer". If they want Henrique or Zajac or what not... it's up to the guy we're dealing with.

Otherwise, they should send down whoever can't be poached and tell the guys they send down that it's part of the business and they'll be full time players soon enough.
- archromat

I remember someone posting his comparable as Dainus Zubrus. The more I see him play the more I see it. Not what we really want his ceiling to be but if he ends up at least being a 40 point player then that's better then nothing.

I remember someone posting his comparable as Dainus Zubrus. The more I see him play the more I see it. Not what we really want his ceiling to be but if he ends up at least being a 40 point player then that's better then nothing.
- Devilspep87

Zubrus was awesome early in his career, you're thinking of the old zubrus. Which is not the zubrus people are comparing him to.

with how people think of zacha here might as well release him since he'll be poop no matter what he does

I remember someone posting his comparable as Dainus Zubrus. The more I see him play the more I see it. Not what we really want his ceiling to be but if he ends up at least being a 40 point player then that's better then nothing.
- Devilspep87

I don't see similar athletic pedigree with these guys. Zubrus played more like a knuckle-headed digger, even when he was a bit more successful in the points category.

Zacha is more like kid invisible, and then he makes a really awesome or slick play at parts of the games, but otherwise, he's not where he needs to be, which is a hockey IQ issue. If Zacha could learn to make space for himself like Zubrus, he'd turn into Ryan Getzlaf, because Zacha has a lot more ability to make a good pass or score.

with how people think of zacha here might as well release him since he'll be poop no matter what he does
- Pomegrant

I like Zacha and am still optimistic that he will be a good to excellent contributor in time maybe even toward the end of the year.

I almost think it is a confidence issue or something looking at how he has come on at times and regressed at others. He worked out in Newark this whole summer and came into camp flying had tons of steam. He looked decent (better than MOJO) during his stint on the first line. After that he tapered off a bit. I think he will get his confidence back and build from there maybe play him on wing for a while as we are deep at C at the moment. Zacha has the size, hands, and the playmaking abilities to make it happen he just needs put it together. He makes a lot of sweet passes, if he got enough time to gel on a certain line so the players know what to expect it would help greatly. I remember Hall saying once they were dialed in they were making some great plays. Now that Nico is relieved of first line duties with Zajac back, maybe Zacha would work well on his left side on the second line or next to Boyle on the third. Rico and Zacha could be somewhat interchangeable here not sure who gets bumped when Mojo returns.

Hall-Zajac-Palmeiri
Zacha/Rico-Nico-Stafford
Rico/Zacha-Boyle-Bratt
Gibbons-Coleman-Wood
--
Hall-Zajac-Palmeiri
Mojo/Zacha-Nico-Stafford
Zacha/Mojo-Rico-Bratt
Gibbons-Boyle-Wood

*Coleman/Hayes

*Hate to bump Coleman but you have to ask yourself who the better would be Boyle or Coleman?

Lines at practice today per Gross:

Hall-Nico-Palmeiri
Bratt-Zajac-Stafford
Rico-Boyle-Wood
Gibbons-Coleman-Noesen
--
Zacha/Hayes

Looks like Mr. Pavel is still in dog house. This lineup looks pretty good though.

I like Zacha and am still optimistic that he will be a good to excellent contributor in time maybe even toward the end of the year.

I almost think it is a confidence issue or something looking at how he has come on at times and regressed at others. He worked out in Newark this whole summer and came into camp flying had tons of steam. He looked decent (better than MOJO) during his stint on the first line. After that he tapered off a bit. I think he will get his confidence back and build from there maybe play him on wing for a while as we are deep at C at the moment. Zacha has the size, hands, and the playmaking abilities to make it happen he just needs put it together. He makes a lot of sweet passes, if he got enough time to gel on a certain line so the players know what to expect it would help greatly. I remember Hall saying once they were dialed in they were making some great plays. Now that Nico is relieved of first line duties with Zajac back, maybe Zacha would work well on his left side on the second line or next to Boyle on the third. Rico and Zacha could be somewhat interchangeable here not sure who gets bumped when Mojo returns.

Hall-Zajac-Palmeiri
Zacha/Rico-Nico-Stafford
Rico/Zacha-Boyle-Bratt
Gibbons-Coleman-Wood
--
Hall-Zajac-Palmeiri
Mojo/Zacha-Nico-Stafford
Zacha/Mojo-Rico-Bratt
Gibbons-Boyle-Wood

*Coleman/Hayes

*Hate to bump Coleman but you have to ask yourself who the better would be Boyle or Coleman?
- TRDevil

The thing that worries me about Zacha is that coming out of juniors everyone talked about his raw skill and athleticism, but he was never a dominant junior player. It just seems unlikely he'll start putting it together at the NHL level.

No surprise McLeod sent down

The thing that worries me about Zacha is that coming out of juniors everyone talked about his raw skill and athleticism, but he was never a dominant junior player. It just seems unlikely he'll start putting it together at the NHL level.
- rmdevil313

That is a good point as that is pretty much what he has now. But it's not like he has been torched at the NHL level or anything, and of course he is still growing as a player. I think if he had more time with better linemates (or any linemates consistently) that can read his passes like Hall, Hischier, or Bratt he would be doing far better.

Hynes changes lines up a lot and that is fine for players who already have a solid identity, but for guys like Zacha that are still searching for theirs I couldn't imagine it would be much of a plus to have a merry go round of linemates like Hayes, Noesen, Wood, etc. all decent players but not the best for flow or receiving creative passes.

Also if he improves just a little each season over the next few years he is still at least a decent middle six player at say 24-25 years old that has some size and isn't a defensive liability, so we could do worse.

The thing that worries me about Zacha is that coming out of juniors everyone talked about his raw skill and athleticism, but he was never a dominant junior player. It just seems unlikely he'll start putting it together at the NHL level.
- rmdevil313

Being dominate in juniors doesn't correlate to NHL success though.

I think everybody is just too harsh on Zacha and is expecting him to be a successful player too quickly. Especially after the success of Butcher, Hischer, and Bratt. Some guys develop slower than others. Look at Henrique, he had a lot more time in the minors to figure out his game so he gets called up when he's a couple years older and has no pressure put on him. Zacha will be a good player. Just need to give it time.

The two picks after Zacha were Provorov and Werenski. Talk about filling a need.

The two picks after Zacha were Provorov and Werenski. Talk about filling a need.
- ElvisLemieux

That was before Hall, Hischier, Bratt, Wood, Mojo, et al, even Palmieri was procured at the same time and not a sure bet at the time what a mess our offense was then..... that was a different world view from then to now. In my opinion, obviously they would have taken Provorov if they had a crystal ball, and thought we could get what we have now, but thats life. Zacha is our boy and therefore kicks all ass.

The two picks after Zacha were Provorov and Werenski. Talk about filling a need.
- ElvisLemieux

Who cares? None of that has anything to do with Zacha. Blame scouting staff rather than Zacha.

Being dominate in juniors doesn't correlate to NHL success though.

I think everybody is just too harsh on Zacha and is expecting him to be a successful player too quickly. Especially after the success of Butcher, Hischer, and Bratt. Some guys develop slower than others. Look at Henrique, he had a lot more time in the minors to figure out his game so he gets called up when he's a couple years older and has no pressure put on him. Zacha will be a good player. Just need to give it time.
- Pomegrant

I think the Zacha backlash isn't about the success of our rookies this year, but that he wasn't a popular pick at the time and hasn't shown much improvement since he's been in the NHL. Even if Hischier had 5 points at this point I wouldn't be as disappointed because he's involved in the play every time he steps on the ice. Most games I have to go out of my way to look for #37.

And I don't think Zacha will be this huge bust that will be playing in the KHL in 2020. But he's given very little reason to be optimistic that we got good value drafting 6th overall.

I think the Zacha backlash isn't about the success of our rookies this year, but that he wasn't a popular pick at the time and hasn't shown much improvement since he's been in the NHL. Even if Hischier had 5 points at this point I wouldn't be as disappointed because he's involved in the play every time he steps on the ice. Most games I have to go out of my way to look for #37.

And I don't think Zacha will be this huge bust that will be playing in the KHL in 2020. But he's given very little reason to be optimistic that we got good value drafting 6th overall.
- rmdevil313

I don't see how our bad scouting has any bearing on Zacha as a player. Seeing the players we could have had isn't going to make the situation better. Expecting a player who is young to live up to the performances of different better players when it isn't his fault is ridiculous. It's not based in logic or reason.

The thing that worries me about Zacha is that coming out of juniors everyone talked about his raw skill and athleticism, but he was never a dominant junior player. It just seems unlikely he'll start putting it together at the NHL level.
- rmdevil313

Probably could have used another year in juniors