Pavel Zacha is proving to be a good addition to the Bruins lineup
For the Boston Bruins, one of their biggest off-season moves was trading for Pavel Zacha. The 25-year-old was coming off a career year in which he had 36 points in 70 games for the Devils. With Boston needing more secondary scoring, they found a match in Zacha. While the Bruins have only played four games, the trade is already proving beneficial.
As the Bruins have gotten off to a 3-1 start, the former sixth-overall pick has three points, including two assists. He has been aggressive in the offensive zone and attempted 13 shots. On the second line, he is fitting in smoothly and has earned time on the man advantage.
While Zacha has made the most of his time on the power play with one goal, he has also been productive in the faceoff circle. In 60 minutes of total ice time, he has a 57.1 faceoff-winning percentage. Although the Bruins dealt a fan favorite in Erik Haula to acquire Zacha, he has met expectations. He is currently tied for fourth on the team in points and had his first multi-point game in a Bruins jersey on October fifteenth.
Coming into the season, Zacha’s opportunity in Boston presented a chance to rebuild his value. During his tenure with New Jersey; the 2015 draftee was unable to live up to the expectations of being a top-ten pick. He only scored more than 15 goals in a season once and never reached the 40-point mark. In Boston, he has more talent around him than ever before.
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Furthermore, he has already made an excellent first impression on his teammates, such as Charlie Coyle, who, in the preseason, had high praise for the talented Czech center.
"He's gonna fit in so well in this locker room," Coyle told reporters. "He's a heck of a talent, and he works at it too. You like to see that in players. You like those guys on your team."
Although he has an uncertain future, the 2022-2023 season has been seen as a potential breakout campaign for the Brno native. In the summer, he will be a free agent and should see his value rise if he can build on his recent success. Through his first week in the black and gold, Zacha is showing why the Bruins traded for him.
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