Zayne’s a super smart kid but he’s still only 19, so are we really suprised he’s going to favour the offensive side of the game when he has that much skill and talent?
Yes, he’s far from a good defender right now but my analysis of it is that because he’s as smart as he is, he figured out early that the way he defends currently was more than sufficient for what he needed to be an ‘average’ defender in major junior. He’s learning now that that’s not going to cut it for the NHL and from everything I’ve seen/heard from him, I have no doubts it’s something he will get better at over the next handful of years. Will he be a defensive stalwart? No, but I’m confident he will grow to being around average defensively.
I also think the internet community is being way too nitpicky about it overall. People (not here) saying he’s Bouchard 2.0. I know Zayne has had some lackadaisical defensive efforts but please someone show me a highlight of Zayne where he completely botches a defensive play like we’ve seen Bouchard do a half a dozen times already THIS YEAR.
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