Zacha Has Been Valuable Addition to Bruins Roster

BOSTON- Pavel Zacha was looking to prove himself.
When the 25-year-old was acquired by the Bruins from the New Jersey Devils this past July, he was a restricted free agent in need of a new contract. Several weeks later, Zacha and the B's came to an agreement on a one-year contract, while both sides said that they would continue to explore opportunities for a longer-term deal.

In the meantime, Zacha has indeed proven to be a valuable piece of the Boston lineup, providing coach Jim Montgomery with versatility and dependability over the course of what's been a historic first half for the Black & Gold.
"I guess how I can use him in so many different ways: left wing, right wing, center, and it doesn't matter," Montgomery said of what he enjoys most about coaching Zacha. "Like [Saturday night against Toronto], I used him with [Charlie] Coyle and [Trent] Frederic in a shutdown role where I wanted him to match up against [Auston] Matthews for the majority of the game, and I'm asking him to maybe sacrifice [offense], but he's fine. Whatever we ask of him, he's going to do if it is going to help the team."
And for that, the Bruins were eager to keep Zacha in the fold for the future.
Following Boston's thrilling 4-3 win over the Maple Leafs on Saturday night, the club announced that it had signed Zacha to a four-year contract extension worth an annual NHL cap hit of $4.75 million.
"I think we made it pretty clear when we first had the opportunity to bring Pavel on board that we thought highly of him, and we were hopeful that he'd be a part of our future," said Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. "I know that [assistant GM] Evan Gold, [agent] Paul Capizzano and Pav's group certainly had discussions about a longer-term deal [when he was first acquired]. With the situation, we found common ground pretty quickly on a one-year deal, and then it sort of allowed us to explore at the right time.
"As you all know, every deal kind of has its own cadence and timeline and we're fortunate to come to a fairly quick agreement and be happy. Certainly happy to have him be a part of our organization, not just this year, but moving forward."

Zacha has been an interchangeable part of Montgomery's forward group, playing for extended stretches on each of the top three lines at times this season, while also being able to switch between all three forward positions with ease.
"I think we were pretty obvious when we first acquired him, the versatility Pavel brings in playing all three positions - and in moving forward, an eye towards center ice that we're wanting to have to find a way to continue to add to our group," said Sweeney. "I think that his versatility has shown through. He plays in all situations in a hockey game and has been a big part of our group. Fit in very well, comfortable with several of his countrymen. But overall, a very well-liked young man that we're happy to have going forward, and it addresses a positional need in the future."
Through 42 games, Zacha has collected 25 points, with his 20 assists tied with David Krejci for the fifth-most on the team and just four shy of his career high set with the Devils in 2019-20. He is also closing in on his career high in points (36) achieved last season.
"When I got the news that I was going to be traded here in the summer, I was hoping that I was going to show myself and will be able to be here for a long time and I'm happy that it happened," said Zacha, who spent the first seven seasons of his career in New Jersey. "It's a start. It's my first season and I have to prove myself and show why I'm here and why I'm going to be here for a longer time and it's just super exciting for me to be part of this."
Zacha complimented the likes of Patrice Bergeron, Krejci, and Charlie Coyle as examples of the way he would like to play, saying that all three have helped him develop his overall game.
"One of my strengths is that I was able to play wing and center," said Zacha. "And coming here, playing in such a good team that every line, every player here has been really good, really helping me out too.
"Playing and seeing Bergy, seeing Charlie Coyle, these guys, that helps my game too, Krejci. These guys that I can talk to on a daily basis and just help me grow as a player and as a teammate, too. I think being a part of this team has helped me and I'm just lucky to be able to be here for a longer time."

Bergeron, meanwhile, has noticed an extremely intelligent player who is "always well positioned on both sides of the ice."
"I think he's brought smarts, really," said Bergeron. "I think a lot of people pay attention to goals and points and whatnot, but I think he's all about details, and that's what he is. He's a very smart player that deserves the recognition that he's getting, and he should be getting more, actually, for what he brings to this team.
"Great to see him staying for another four years. I think he took the one-year deal and wanted to make a name for himself in this locker room, and he's definitely done that. It's well deserved, and we're happy to have him."
With 33 wins over the first 42 games of the season, Zacha has also learned quickly what it means to be part of such a strong winning environment.
"It's been a good season so far," he said. "I think with the group that we have, short memory and playing in five-game segments and every player wants to go far this year and win.
"It's just such a winning culture that I'm part of, it's something that has helped me to personally to be a better player. So, it's been a good season so far, but we have a long season ahead of us and we have to focus on that."

Wait, There's More

• Sweeney said "no" when asked if there was anything new to report in the negotiations with David Pastrnak on a contract extension for the winger. He added that he will continue to communicate with other players who are expected to become free agents this summer. "Every situation is unique. Every player is unique," he said. "In the situation that Pav was in, had an opportunity to take a one-year and turn it into four extra. Everybody else, we will continue to communicate with, and if the opportunity presents itself, and with the support of the organization, between Cam [Neely] and Charlie [Jacobs] and Mr. [Jeremy] Jacobs, we're very fortunate that when we're in positions to execute. We try and do it right, and we will continue to try to do that moving forward."
• Boston's general manager said that with less than two months until the March 3 trade deadline, he must balance the need to support the current roste and their goal of a long playoff run this spring with the needs of the club for the future. "My job is to put the best team on the ice year to year, balance it," said Sweeney. "Live in the moment for what this group wants to try and accomplish, and good on them. Like I said, process-driven group, and we'll address things as they come, and I'll do the best job I possibly can for the organization."
• Sweeney added that the club will monitor the health of the current squad as well as the performance of players in Providence when determining what they may or may not do at the deadline. "You've got to hope you stay healthy, and I think we have a good hockey team," he said. "I think we're deep, but we're probably going to have to continue to add and supplement. We've been blending in some of the players that have played particularly well down in Providence and earned an opportunity, so we're going to continue to evaluate that if the opportunity presents itself. There haven't been a lot of trades up until this point. We'll have to see going forward. It'll take some creativity for clubs like our own that have some cap challenges, but chances are that most of the teams that are hopefully going to get an opportunity to play in the playoffs generally have cap challenges, and we're no different. We're going to try to do our best to put the best team we possibly can."