As everybody within the Bruins’ dressing room will inform you, there is no such thing as a changing Patrice Bergeron. He received six Selke Awards, a Stanley Cup and have become a Black-and-Gold establishment in his many years in uniform.
But in actuality, somebody should take Bergeron’s place on the ice. And it seems Pavel Zacha will get each alternative to take over as a lot of Bergeron’s work load that he can deal with.
On Tuesday in coaching camp, Zacha assumed the Bergeron position on the highest energy play, bringing his left shot to the bumper place. And on Wednesday, he was centering Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, a slot Bergeron efficiently occupied for years. Expect Zacha to do his share of penalty killing as nicely.
Now thoughts you, strains can change typically in September – and coach Jim Montgomery appeared like he was nonetheless very a lot within the tinkering section. But it’s clear the B’s are going to ask plenty of Zacha this yr. And only a week into coaching camp, he seems and sounds a lot totally different from the younger man who was new to the group and nonetheless looking for his profession path after being traded from New Jersey final fall.
“Night and day,” mentioned Montgomery. “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, expects himself to have success. And to be a big part of the nucleus of our team. He was finding himself last year.”
Like Montgomery, Marchand didn’t put an excessive amount of into one follow on the brand new line with Zacha and Pastrnak. He had been paired with Charlie Coyle, who like Bergeron is a proper shot, in most follow classes. But it was intriguing.
“Pasta’s one of the best goal scorers in the league and Pav took a massive step last year, he’s got incredible vision and a really good two-way player, like Bergy,” mentioned Marchand. “I had a lot of fun playing with them. If I’m there (Thursday), we’ll keep building and keep working together. It’s definitely going to be a work in progress. We weren’t completely in sync out there, but that’s expected, especially when you have a new center. We’ve played with different guys the last few years and you have to use one another. We’ll keep working on it and we’ll get to where we want to be.”
If the road sticks collectively, it might current an ancillary profit for the facility play. The first unit featured Zacha within the bumper with Marchand and Pastrnak on the wings, Charlie McAvoy up high and James van Riemsdyk at internet entrance.
“It definitely helps,” mentioned Marchand. “The power play is an extension of 5-on-5.That’s the one thing we did really well, especially when Bergy, Pasta and I played together. We played a lot on the power play like we did 5-on-5. We just kind of rolled. We’d compete, win second pucks and then we’d make plays off of the that just the same way we did (5-on-5). The more chemistry you can build as a line 5-on-5 and if you play together on power play, it definitely translates. But even just Pav and Pasta, if they play together, even that alone helps a ton, especially the way they’re both going to be playing on the power play this year. That chemistry you’re definitely going to see on the power play this year.”
Zacha spent his offseason within the Boston space, understanding on the B’s facility at Warrior Ice Arena and taking in the whole lot he might from Marchand throughout that point. That helped to boost Zacha’s consolation degree coming into coaching camp.
“I know him and Bergy played together for a long time but he was really nice,” mentioned Zacha. “He was telling me the whole summer just how he trains and I was able to watch him. I was just trying to get better with him. There’s a reason why he’s the captain. He’s a great player and he knows how to talk to players and how to make them feel comfortable. That’s what he was for me the whole summer and he tried to make me feel comfortable coming into the center position.”
Marchand was impressed by Zacha’s work ethic.
“I’m excited for Pav. I love the step he took again this summer,” mentioned Marchand. “He trained extremely hard and it’s showing right now. He looks awesome in camp, with his elevated role and the position he’s going to be in. I still think there’s another step he’s going to take and it’s going to be fun to see.”
The 26-year-old Zacha, the sixth general decide within the 2015 draft, re-built his confidence all through final season, climbing within the lineup and discovering a house together with his countrymen Pastrnak and David Krejci whereas taking part in left wing. He posted profession highs in targets (21) and assists (36).
Now he’s raised the bar for himself, and it doesn’t sound like he’s going to shrink back from the problem.
“Last year, I got a lot of opportunities, too, but I think this year it’s going to be another step for me and I’m excited for it,” he mentioned. “It’s a little more pressure, but I always look for those moments.” …
Condolences to Montgomery, whose mom Dorothy handed away earlier this week at age 91. The coach will journey residence to Montreal for funeral preparations and return to the staff on Sunday.
Source: www.bostonherald.com