Forward Zacha has designs on making Devils with his defence
When Marlies fans get their first glimpse of the Albany Devils and Pavel Zacha this week in the American Hockey League playoffs, they’ll see a 19-year-old who is something of a rare commodity among top picks.
Zacha, a Czech star chosen sixth in the draft last June, was a talented penalty killer when he arrived from junior hockey.
“That was exciting for us,” said Albany coach Rich Kowalsky, whose club finished third overall in the AHL and is considered one of the league’s top defensive teams. The Devils had the second-best goals against mark, a challenge for t he top-scoring Marlies.
“We knew he had skill, but the attention to details, especially on defence . . . the willingness to block shots on the penalty kill . . . is something I’ve seen from day one with Pavel. Defence is important to our team, its no secret it’s the reason we’ve got this far this season, and Pavel is fitting in for us.”
Zacha became proficient on the penalty kill only this season, when he took on the responsibility with the Sarnia Sting and teammate Patrick White.
He scored a pair of shorthanded goals in the Ontario Hockey League, where he was named the Western Conference’s best penalty killer by coaches, before playing one game in the NHL for the Devils, then joining Albany for an AHL playoff run.
“I didn’t play much on the penalty kill (in 2014-15),” Zacha said. “(The Sting) let me play there . . . there was an opportunity and I asked about it. We ended up having the best penalty kill in the West (84.4 per cent).”
Zacha was originally billed as an offensive force, a six-foot-three, 215-pound skill forward with size and speed to go along with good hockey IQ and what scouts said was a “great set of hands” for a big man.
After a solid NHL camp last fall, New Jersey sent him to the Sting, where he posted 28 goals and 64 points for Sarnia, along with a plus-17 rating and 97 penatly minutes. He had a pair of assists in his lone NHL game, and has added a goal and two assists for Albany in four playoff games so far.
“When they (New Jersey) sent me to junior, they told me to work hard and that I’d get better as a player there,” Zacha said. “I played in all situations, and I was comfortable when they allowed me to come up to the NHL.
“I didn’t know if I would play in the NHL or the AHL, but now it’s my dream come true to play in the AHL playoffs.”
Zacha, and other Devils prospects like Reid Boucher, are absorbing valuable pro experience in Albany, but are not expected to have long AHL careers.
Both are solidly entrenched in the future for New Jersey, where the Devils have six unrestricted free agents facing either retirement or uncertain futures in New Jersey (Patrick Elias, Tuomo Ruutu, Stephen Gionta, Jordan Tootoo, Tyler Kennedy, and Bobby Farnham). Six more players are entering restricted free agency, and there should be room for young players to crack the New Jersey roster next season.
“I don’t know if many people realize how big and strong (Zacha) really is,” Kowalsky said. “He goes into corners without hesitation, he has a big body and he uses his stick well. He’s increased his coach’s confidence in him, and I’ve moved him from the third line to the second line . . . he sees some ice on the power play now too.”
Zacha is accustomed to playing with veteran pros, having played in the Czech Extraliga and having represented his country in three international tournaments. And he is ready for the challenged of the AHL and NHL.
“It’s the speed and the mentality,” he said. They’re all older players, every pass is on the tape, there’s more speed in the games, more strength, and that’s a big difference from junior hockey, you notice it right away. I am fortunate to have this opportunity and I want to do my best.”