The Bruins new top center spent the summer training in Boston with Brad Marchand and the team's training staff. The 26-year-old feels stronger and more confident entering a pivotal point in both his career and Boston's trajectory.
BRIGHTON, Mass. – In July 2022, the Boston Bruins acquired Pavel Zacha from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Erik Haula. The then-25-year-old Czech forward quickly entrenched himself in the Bruins top six, no doubt helped by the presence of two fellow countrymen, David Pastrnak and David Krejci.
Over a year later, he finds himself in an even bigger role. Spending most of last season on the wing, Zacha will be entrusted as the Bruins new top center following the retirements of Krejci and Patrice Bergeron.
A lot has changed in a year, and while Zacha entered the Bruins room last year looking to get acclimated to his new team like any trade acquisition would, this year it’s a different story.
“Night and day,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said on Wednesday. “I sense a guy that’s comfortable in his skin, knows who he is, knows how he’s going to have success in this league. He expects himself to have success and be a big part of the nucleus of our team. He was finding himself last year.”
Even while trying to find his way, Zacha finished fourth on the team in scoring with 57 points (21 goals, 36 assists), just one point behind Bergeron. With a full year in Boston under his belt and a new spot at center, the position he said he’s more comfortable with, Zacha is looking forward to the challenge.
“This year, it’s another step for me and I’m excited for it,” Zacha said. “I think a little bit more pressure, but I always look for those moments in playoffs, that stuff is exciting for me. I did it last year, so just getting more opportunities and more chances to play, that’s what every – I think – player wants to do and wants to get better at.”
Part of those chances will come on the power play, where he has started practicing in the ‘bumper’ position on the first unit. Being a left-shot center will also give him a crucial role in face-offs since fellow centers Charlie Coyle and Morgan Geekie are both righties.
With an increase in minutes expected in his new role, Zacha said he spent the entire summer in Boston training with the Bruins training staff. He said he feels stronger after switching up his workout routine, and his frequent summer training partner Brad Marchand expressed similar excitement.
“[Zacha] trains extremely hard and it’s showing right now,” Marchand said. “He looks awesome in camp, and with his elevated role and position he’s gonna be in, I still think another step in his game that he’s gonna take and it’s gonna be fun to see.”
Zacha skated with Marchand and Pastrnak on Wednesday, as the Bruins are experimenting with different line combinations. While Marchand has spent most of his career playing alongside Bergeron and will have to create chemistry with a new center, Pastrnak already created a great connection with Zacha last season.
The ‘Czech Mates’ line of Zacha-Krejci-Pastrnak was the most commonly used line combination for the 2022-23 Bruins, and despite allowing more action in their defensive end with a ‘trade chances’ style of play – their line had a 47.82 5v5 Corsi For Percentage – they scored 33 goals together while only allowing 14 (70.21 Goals For Percentage), according to Natural Stat Trick.
And in the few occasions where Zacha centered a line with Pastrnak, they would tend to tip the ice towards the opposing zone rather than going back-and-forth, with a Corsi For Percentage above 50 in every such combination.
“I think I’m lucky that I played with [Pastrnak] a couple games on the center by the end of the year in the playoffs,” Zacha said. “So I kinda know where he is and what to expect from him being a little bit closer to him as a center.”
Whether or not he ends up playing most of the season with Marchand on his wing, Zacha pointed to the new captain’s leadership in helping him gain confidence for his new role.
“He’s a great leader,” Zacha said. “He knows how to talk to players and how to make them feel comfortable, so I think that’s the way he was to me the whole summer and trying to make me feel comfortable coming to the center this year, and do my best.”