guymez
The Seldom Seen Kid
- Mar 3, 2004
- 33,163
- 13,007
I have been very skeptical of Zack the past year or so. He looked to me like a player that just didnt think the game at a high enough level to help a team win....so many dumb plays in his limited 12+ minutes of ice time.
I never for thought for a moment that he would be capable of increasing that TOI by playing almost 20 minutes a game and somehow manage to be an effective player. That would have been inconceivable to me.
Now here he is playing on the top line. playing smart hockey and providing an element that is really making a difference.
I dont know how long he can maintain this level of play but I think he deserves a lot of credit for doing what he has done so far. Even though I dont expect this to last more than 20 games I think Zack has shown that he is much more than a 4th line energy player.
I also want to comment on the personality he brings to the team. There was a sequence on the 2nd goal (in the 4-0 win over Columbus) where the team cycled the puck for over 1:30 secs and Zack took a shot off the ankle. He had to get off the ice at the right time so the team could maintain possession and Zack made that happen by his will. It was a thing of beauty especially seeing how animated he was on the bench after they scored.
Then to watch him grinning at RNH when he took a similar shot off the ankle.
The team wouldnt be the same without Zack...I am a former Zack skeptic that has come to appreciate the player. I didnt want to see him get traded at the deadline because I didnt think the team would get enough value for the player.
I am here to say that I am glad he didnt get traded and its for an additional reason...I am enjoying seeing him play for this team. The last time I felt that way was in the 2017 playoffs.
I never for thought for a moment that he would be capable of increasing that TOI by playing almost 20 minutes a game and somehow manage to be an effective player. That would have been inconceivable to me.
Now here he is playing on the top line. playing smart hockey and providing an element that is really making a difference.
I dont know how long he can maintain this level of play but I think he deserves a lot of credit for doing what he has done so far. Even though I dont expect this to last more than 20 games I think Zack has shown that he is much more than a 4th line energy player.
I also want to comment on the personality he brings to the team. There was a sequence on the 2nd goal (in the 4-0 win over Columbus) where the team cycled the puck for over 1:30 secs and Zack took a shot off the ankle. He had to get off the ice at the right time so the team could maintain possession and Zack made that happen by his will. It was a thing of beauty especially seeing how animated he was on the bench after they scored.
Then to watch him grinning at RNH when he took a similar shot off the ankle.
The team wouldnt be the same without Zack...I am a former Zack skeptic that has come to appreciate the player. I didnt want to see him get traded at the deadline because I didnt think the team would get enough value for the player.
I am here to say that I am glad he didnt get traded and its for an additional reason...I am enjoying seeing him play for this team. The last time I felt that way was in the 2017 playoffs.
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