TonySoprano
Registered User
I would too.
Not that I don't think Wood has talent, but i think he could help us get a competent DMan
Prospect Info: Jack Hughes II
- Thread starter OmNomNom
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I would too.
Not that I don't think Wood has talent, but i think he could help us get a competent DMan
Devilsfan118
Sing us a song, you're the Schiano man
Man I don't want Zacha or Wood anywhere near Hughes.
Two offensive black holes.. no thank you.
Two offensive black holes.. no thank you.
Zacha is coming into form nicely. 20 pts in his last 30 gms is not a black hole. A Zacha Hughes Palmieri line would do wonders.
Zajacs Bowl Cut
Lets Go Baby
Still think we need to go out and get a top 6 winger this summer
Hall-Hischier-Bratt
Skinner**-Hughes-Palmieri
Zacha-Zajac-Coleman
Wood-Seney-Anderson
**or someone like that. Would also be down for Panarin (not happening), Dzingel, Eberle, Ferland, Lee or Nyquist
Hall-Hischier-Bratt
Skinner**-Hughes-Palmieri
Zacha-Zajac-Coleman
Wood-Seney-Anderson
**or someone like that. Would also be down for Panarin (not happening), Dzingel, Eberle, Ferland, Lee or Nyquist
TonySoprano
Registered User
If Zacha plays wing, which I think he should have been doing since day 1 I think he will thrive.
He is too concerened with passing off. He has to use his shot more...it's better than it's shown dating back to Sarnia
He is too concerened with passing off. He has to use his shot more...it's better than it's shown dating back to Sarnia
Ya, my feeling is that Zacha would be a psuedo center playing on Hughes wing. Handle faceoffs, handle the defensive assignments around our own net, do his responsible thing, allowing Hughes to be more free wheeling.
And Zacha can certainly play a skill game as well, so he wouldn't be a drag in that regard.
Zacha plays such a centers game.
I understand the thinking that playing wing will force him to shoot more, but I think his game, most notably his defensive play, is just so much more suited to center. He does need to be more assertive offensively, but I'm not sure just moving him to wing will do that, he needs to make that decision to be more assertive regardless of position.
Yeah, a legit top 6 F would do wonders for this team and give the Devils a ton of forward depth. Have to figure that Boqvist also challenges for a forward spot this season, but could start the year in Bingo (unless there's something with his contract where it is NJ or back to Sweden). Those are all solid UFA targets for Shero.
I believe Boqvist was playing LW in Sweden, but drafted as a center and could still move back - is that the case?
None Shall Pass
Dano moisturizes
Yeah I'm not falling for the "Well Zacha has X points in Y games" trap again.
Fool me once, fool me twice...
Fool me once, fool me twice...
Zacha is certainly better suited to play center. Wonder if Hynes would consider going with Nico - Hughes - Zajac - Zacha down the middle since Zajac and Zacha could earn more time on special teams to make up for the lack of the 5 on 5 time. Zajac was one of 4 forwards in the NHL to average more than 2 minutes each on the PP and PK last season. Zacha finished last season with an ATOI of 2:10 on the PK and 1:41 on the PP, the latter of which was 8th on the team (including Boyle and Johannson). If Zacha can continue to play the way he did down the stretch he should earn more PP time.
MartyOwns
thank you shero
- Apr 1, 2007
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i am, as disappointing as that is to say. i don’t know where he fits. but, i think calling him up when we inevitably have injuries is better than calling up anyone off of Uncle Lou’s Failure Farm (speers, pietila etc)
JimEIV
Registered User
- Feb 19, 2003
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What does this mean? Zacha has never had as productive of a stretch as he has had in his last 20/30 games of this season....You make it sound like there is a trend of him producing well then disappearing? Are you referring to something I am missing?
If anyone who watched Zachas last 30 games and didn’t see his game taking a huge step forward then they are just out to lunch.
mtnet
LGD!
- Oct 31, 2014
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This is where I am too, top 6 difference maker or don't bother. If we realistically have no shot at Panarin, I'd like if Ray made a strong play for Skinner.
Next year should provide a better pool of potential defenseman to target instead of making a move this year for what might be only net a marginal difference on D. I get that our top pairing is a position of dire need but this year provides more opportunities for a top 6 winger than a defenseman. I also don't see EK as a realistic target any more than Panarin.
If we have our #1 prospect on the team next year, we move the needle more by giving JH every chance to succeed at the next level instead of adding a marginal improvement on D where I'm not sure our coaching has the requisite acumen to optimize the full benefit of seasoned upgrades. Development they can do, defensive structure and positioning...not so much. Let's have Ty Smith fold into the mix and see how the up and comers look in camp/preseason.
There are still potential trades to be made for help on either side of the ice and I'm sure Shero has ear to the ground on who might be on the move out there beyond the more obvious targets. This is an offseason to try for something big, but not necessarily try to upgrade everything all at once. Hitting the lottery this year was already an unexpected stroke of luck as it is. Shero lucked out big time, some of his work already done.
I'm sure Hall would appreciate more help on offense too, so if we're looking to induce him to sign a fair deal, he simply must view Hughes + a top 6 upgrade as a big leap forward. Average goaltending would be a boon as well considering how profoundly poor it was most of last year. It's easy to blame the D for our woes in net, but make no mistake, we saw some f***ing horrendous goaltending last year.
AfroThunder396
[citation needed]
I like the idea of Zacha being a pseudo-center a la Elias. Have him play wing in the offensive zone/transition but assume the center role in the defensive zone.
That’s top 5 center depth right there.
Hall-Nico-Bratt
Skinner-Hughes-Palms
Boqvist-Zacha-Wood
Coleman-Zajac-Anderson/Bastian
Do it Rajean!
None Shall Pass
Dano moisturizes
It's basically just a tale of Zacha's (admittedly short) career so far. Put together a nice streak of games, then slump hard, another nice streak, rinse, repeat. We've gone into the past two seasons expecting him to be a top-6 forward and have been disappointed both times. I like him and hope he can be, but I am absolutely not banking on him being a top-6 forward next year. I'll rethink that once he breaks 30 points in a season. He is, to me anyway, decidedly not a top-6 option.
I like that and really 3rd/4th lines would be interchangeable. Zajac's line would likely go up against other teams' top lines.
Unknown Caller
Registered User
- Apr 30, 2009
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Zacha was also producing at an unsustainable rate over the last 30 games (his percentages were pretty absurdly high). Maybe he will product at slightly higher percentages than what he did through his first 170ish games of his career, but I wouldn't expect his production over the last 30 games to continue. I'm confident that he will be a reliable enough bottom 6 player next year, but I absolutely would not pencil him into the top 6.
Oneiro
Registered User
- Mar 28, 2013
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Most NHL players have a similar development curve to Zacha. Asking for a Nico-type constant upward trend is being unrealistic.
All the anxiety about him is related to his draft spot which should now be irrelevant.
All the anxiety about him is related to his draft spot which should now be irrelevant.
Ripshot 43
Registered User
- Jul 21, 2010
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I would seriously be disappointed if Hughes didn’t have 40 assists his rookie year with those as his wings.
SteveCangialosi123
Registered User
Miles Wood 5 on 5 PTS/60: 1.2, 2.0, 1.6
Kyle Palmieri PTS/60 as a Devil: 1.6, 1.7, 1.3, 1.7
Now factor in line mates. Calling him an offensive black hole is very unfair and fake news!
SteveCangialosi123
Registered User
He still only had 51 shots in those final 30 games. He looked better, but I am far from convinced of his ability to produce. Very far.
TonySoprano
Registered User
You can throw any stat you want at me. Don't tell me Wood is better offensively than Palms haha
I liked the way Zacha looked at the end of the season, but I am not for Shero sitting on his hands and skipping on acquiring a talented player because Zacha might play that way for the entire season. We have been doing that for like the last two seasons, just expecting him to continue to get better and consistent, which he has yet to do. I'll take a talented guy over him and hope Zacha pushes for that spot.
He isn't a black hole offensively, but he doesn't have nearly the skills Palms has. Also factor in that Wood is dumb as rocks on the ice. Dude has no hockey sense.
He isn't a black hole offensively, but he doesn't have nearly the skills Palms has. Also factor in that Wood is dumb as rocks on the ice. Dude has no hockey sense.
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