Sarnia forward Zacha hoping to leave Czech mark at the NHL draft

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Pavel Zacha has a number set in his mind when it comes to the NHL entry draft on June 26. The 18-year-old is looking to be the first top-10 pick from the Czech Republic since the Columbus Blue Jackets took Jakub Voracek seventh-overall in 2007.

In the final NHL central scouting rankings, Zacha was listed eighth among North American skaters.

“I hope I’ll be top-10,” said the Sarnia Sting forward at the NHL scouting combine on Saturday. “For almost like 10 years after Voracek no one from the Czech Republic was drafted in the top-10, so it would be amazing for me and for Czech hockey too.”

At the combine Zacha said he conducted interviews with at least 24 different NHL clubs. He said the one with Philadelphia was special because he was a fan of Jaromir Jagr growing up and became a Flyers fan as a result.

Back at home playing with Bili Tygri Liberec he was lucky enough to play with former NHL star Petr Nedved who was the captain of the team. He remembers sitting in the locker room for the first time as a 16-year-old and being in awe. Nedved took Zacha under his wing and helped convince him to come to North America to hone his skills in the Canadian Hockey League.

“He just came and told me that whatever I needed during practice or even if I wanted to go for lunch and talk he told me I could,” said Zacha of playing with Nedved. “It was amazing to hear that from a player who played for so long in the NHL and who was the best player and captain of our team.”

The most difficult interview for Zacha at the combine was his first one – with the Edmonton Oilers – because he was struggling with the time change coming to North America from Europe.

“I was almost sleeping because it was during the morning,” said Zacha of the interview. “It was with the Edmonton Oilers and they’re picking first so it was pretty hard for me to talk to them there because I knew (Connor) McDavid would go there. It was hard for me but I enjoyed it. It was a good time.”

Zacha only played in 37 games for the Sting this season scoring 16 goals and adding 18 assists. The biggest adjustment he said was trying to get used to both the North American game and smaller ice surface in Sarnia.

“In Europe it’s big ice so there’s a lot of time for smart passes and here it’s everything going to the net,” said the native of Brno, Czech Republic. “Going to the net more, that’s what I worked hard on and I think I (got) better at it throughout the season.”

His time playing in the OHL was cut short due to two separate suspensions – two games for slew-footing and six games for a bad hit – as well as injury issues and time away for the world juniors. As a result he’s trying to make up for lost time at the combine and at least allay some fears scouts might have.

“It was the first injury in my life so it was pretty hard for me, in the year before the draft to have the injury and suspension,” said Zacha. “I’ve had a lot of interviews at the combine here so I can show how really prepared I am for the NHL and I hope I show them.”