The New Jersey Devils have struggled in this Covid season, well at least I’m calling this the Covid season. No fans at their games, no fans at all of the East games. Starting next week, New Jersey will allow 10% to attend games. What will the fans do? Will they be excited to see hockey in person or will they be upset with how the team is playing? I just hope they cheer for one player…at least.
The biggest bright spot for the Devils so far is the #6 pick in the 2015 draft, Pavel Zacha. As of today (2/28) he has the only active points streak at 10 games. He’s beginning to play like the #6 pick. I’ve always been a fan of Pavel, I’ve always seen those flashes of brilliance and I think if anyone has benefited the most from the offseason coaching change, it’s Pavel. The Czech born center was not put in the position to succeed with the Devils as they were already pretty deep at the Center position. So what do you do with a young player that needs grooming? Well, you let him play out his position but where he finally took a turn was when he was moved to the wing.
During the 2019-20 season, Pavel was moved to the AHL Binghamton team. This was where his confidence grew and the wing experiment started, and paid off. 12 games in, Zacha didn’t get a point, after averaging about 23 points per season his prior years. When he came back up to NHL level, Zacha took off. His level of play was more consistent, he showed more confidence and he understood his role better. Before the pandemic shut the Devils season short on March 12th, Zacha had a career high 32 points. He was putting the puck where it needed to be for people to score and he was scoring. He was contributing on both ends of the ice. That’s the 6th pick, that’s what you want from a 6th pick.
With the 2021 season in full swing, Zacha is rolling. Let’s not forget, he’s 23 years old…yes, 23. Over the last 10 games he’s recorded 4 goals and 8 assists for 12 points. He’s 2 goals away from matching his goal total from 2019-20 season. What has been the turn? Well, think of how you were at 23, was that when you realized life was clicking? It did for me. Having a nice line to play with helps, tremendously. He’s playing left wing on the Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt line. He is proving that you can move from center to wing and succeed. He’s becoming a reliable rock on a team that is struggling. He’s grown into his role, both on and off the ice. Jdi, Pavle!
Time Out With Jenn & Lisa 