DaneykoIsGod Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 He's a great set-up man and his shot is good enough to finish plays as well. He's excellent on the power play, is good enough defensively that he got Selke votes last year and he's a ridiculously good pickpocket. His work along the boards has gotten so good since his rookie year that it's tough to believe you're watching the same player. He's the 10th best faceoff man, statistically, in the league right now. His late penalty last night is the only bonehead thing I can think of him doing off the top of my head, and he made up for it with his pinpoint pass to Clarkson on the winner. And perhaps the scariest thing about him is that he keeps getting better. Honestly, do we have a better all-around forward? We all love Zach, and Zach really is an all-around forward, but he doesn't have the shot and, IMO, isn't quite as good defensively (and that isn't a knock on Zach's defensive skills ... Travis is just that good). Elias is great all-around too, but I feel like his decision-making with the puck isn't as good. Too many times it seems like he passes when he should shoot or he makes no-look passes when no teammates are anywhere near him. Raw talent-wise, Elias probably gets the nod. When it comes to pure hustle, Zach probably gets it. But as far as the whole package? I'm thinking Zajac, and that opinion just gets stronger with each game I watch. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devs4LIFE Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 I think it's too early in the season to tell. Wait until the Olympic break and then we can get a more accurate read on who the best player on our team is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devilsrule33 Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 http://tsn.ca/columnists/james_duthie/?id=294197 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilNurn Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 I would say that Zach is a better forward on an individual level. Raw talent. He's such a strong player in terms of hustle, shooting, and grinding in front of/behind the net. Zajac, I might say, is a better player on a team, or on a line. It's really tough to say which player is better, then. Zach is clutch in shootouts and breakaways, which can decide a game as much as line chemistry can. So in my opinion, it's a toss-up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeroGravityFat Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 we just have a monster line, but don't let anyone else know in the league cos they would deny. wait till zajac and parise ever get to a point where they may consider to leave then they would be the best thing since jesus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Par9 Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Zach....who knows maybe Travis will surpass Zach. Zajac 64 points, Zach 94 last season. Right now Zach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overtime98 Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Zajac is THAT good. parise or not Travis is that good. Ive been a Zajac believer and follower from UND to Albany till now...... Zajac is the real deal. That PZL line is one of the best in the league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prucenterrules Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Zach....who knows maybe Travis will surpass Zach. Zajac 64 points, Zach 94 last season. Right now Zach. +1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devil Fan Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 He has to base on his contract. Secondly, this team cannot rely on Parise alone. Elias is aging and won't play forever. As well, playing alongside Zach means he should pile up with points and scoring chances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 he will put jeff carter esque numbers this year. carter's numbers first 3 years 2005-06 PHI 81 23 19 42 10 40 6 7 2 0 7 189 .122 2006-07 PHI 62 14 23 37 -17 48 3 4 2 1 1 215 .065 2007-08 PHI 82 29 24 53 6 55 7 11 2 1 5 260 .112 zajacs numbers first 3 years 2006-07 NJ 80 17 25 42 1 16 6 6 0 0 2 134 .127 2007-08 NJ 82 14 20 34 -11 31 5 9 0 0 1 155 .090 2008-09 NJ 82 20 42 62 33 29 5 10 1 3 2 185 .108 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaneykoIsGod Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 http://tsn.ca/columnists/james_duthie/?id=294197 haha Yeah, maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit. But he improved his game by leaps and bounds last year and so far he looks even better this year. This kid's development has me extremely optimistic about his future, as well as his present. If he was a faster skater, I'd be hard-pressed to find a weakness in his game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevsNets Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 (edited) Not to hijack the thread, but I would also like to put Clarkson and Greene into the early season impressive category. And Clarkson getting less than 14 mins a game??? Edited October 12, 2009 by DevsNets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 it's only 4 games, but travis's 3.75 SOG/G so far have me hopeful that he will continue to improve on last season. if he can post 2.75 SOG/G, i'd be ecstatic, even if it came out of parise's SOG/G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJDevs4978 Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 (edited) Funny, Derek asked me basically the same thing on the BoNY blog. My response was...not yet. Of course if Zach scores 'only' 40 or less this year and Zajac scores 30+ (which it looks more likely he'll do) then you can make the argument cause they're pretty similar in other aspects - assists, d-coverage, but Zajac has the added plus of being a competent faceoff man. Edited October 12, 2009 by Hasan4978 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyrsuck26 Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Not sure if He's better than Zach yet, but it will certainly be interesting to see what Zajac turns into. It would be amazing if Zajac could put up 80 points with Parise hopefully putting up 90 again... I can dream right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Rockies 1976 Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 http://tsn.ca/columnists/james_duthie/?id=294197 Terrific article and 100% true. That should be required reading for all of the impatient overreactors out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattyelias Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Zajac is unquestionably better than Parise. Goals in three straight game!!!!! Wow!!!!! That is way more impressive than 3 straight 30+ goal seasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshall Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 I don't know about that, but I'll say that the two complement eachother beautifully and I'm stoked about their future together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njdevil26 Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 I don't know about that, but I'll say that the two complement eachother beautifully and I'm stoked about their future together. Zach is impatiently waiting for Zajac to get his sh!t together and buy him that ring! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsonnabend Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Not to hijack the thread, but I would also like to put Clarkson and Greene into the early season impressive category. And Clarkson getting less than 14 mins a game??? Clarkson has been fantastic in the first few games. He's not a skill player like ZZ, but he's learned to play smart and to do absolutely the most with what he's got. It seems to me he's been present on a lot of the goals so far, whether or not he's actually made the score sheet. - Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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