Since the day Pavel Zacha was drafted Devils GM Ray Shero has stressed that Zacha will be given every opportunity to make the team out of camp.
While Zacha will be granted a full-time spot should he earn one, a case can be made that he should be sent back to Sarnia regardless of how he performs early on with the Devils.
There are a few reasons for that:
1) A year would be burned off Zacha's entry-level deal while playing for a team that will almost certainly finish in the bottom 1/3 of the NHL.
New Jersey has plenty of cap space now but they probably won't have a ton in a two or three years when they're ready to be competitive again. Zacha producing while carrying a sub $1 million cap hit could be very beneficial at that point and time.
In today's NHL it is nearly impossible to win without getting contributions from young players on entry-level deals. Just ask Chicago. Brandon Saad and Teuvo Teravainen were big factors in last year's playoffs and the Blackhawks had them signed for a combined cap hit of ~ $1.8 million. You can afford to pay your better players big money if you have entry-level players contributing. That was the case in Chicago.
2) Zacha may be physically mature but another year of development time in Sarnia certainly wouldn't hurt. Due to injuries, suspensions and the World Junior tournament Zacha was only able to dress in 42 games (playoffs included) for Sarnia last season. He produced 37 points in those 42 games.
He may be able to play in the NHL but I doubt he's ready to make meaningful contributions. I think sending him back to Sarnia and allowing him to dominate the OHL while preserving a year on his ELC would be the best route for all parties.
Playing for Czech Republic at the World Juniors again could be good for him as well. He'd undoubtedly play a much bigger role for them this time around.
3) During the 2013-14 campaign Zacha played 41 games (playoffs included) for Liberec. In 2014-15 he played 42 games (playoffs included) for Sarnia. That's 83 games in two years.
If Zacha earns a spot on the Devils this year he'll be asked to play 82 games. Though he is a pretty big guy it may be a lot to ask an 18-year-old to play double the games he's used to, especially given he'd be playing against men every night.
Playing out a 68-game OHL schedule will be easier on him and could help prepare him for the NHL full-time in 2016-17.
Whether or not Shero elects to send Zacha back to Sarnia for another year remains to be seen but it may be the best move even if he looks ready.
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