Cheers to all of this!
I think JSD was that treatment for his hot 3 game goal streak. That's clearly behind us now, so it's time to go back to the 4th line with him.
I'd put Zacha with Wood, they were good together last year. Zacha is beyond ineffective otherwise.
Now I don't think he's Jacob Josefson bad, not even close, but he's played about 7 games worth of 15-16 Jacob Josefson hockey. Where Josefson got all that ice time and scored like a 4th liner and like an AHL 4th liner at even strength.
I do think Pavel Zacha has some offensive abilities and I do think he could be a good 2C for this team. But he will need someone who can shoot the puck, and he has to shoot more, too.
I remember his awesome preseason a year ago, playing with Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri. He's good defensively and he's anticiping the plays in the offensive zone, he just need to find a chemistry with a goal scorer.
I would like to see John Hynes put Taylor Hall - Pavel Zacha and Kyle Palmieri to start the next game. I know, it's not a sexy idea and I know the first line was great early on, but we can reunite Hall-Nico-Palm during the game if it's a mess.
And Johansson-Nico-Wood could be a good 2nd line too...