Pavel Zacha might hail from Brno, Czechia, however the latest Bruin feels proper at house in Boston.
Not solely did he develop up with Bruins defenseman Jakub Zboril and skated on a line with David Pastrnak within the nationwide program, however he has made his offseason house within the space. He began figuring out in Foxboro on the suggestion of former New Jersey Devils teammates Brian Boyle and the late Jimmy Hayes, and his fiance is from Needham.
Hopefully for Zacha and the Bruins, the on-ice match is simply as seamless.
Zacha met reporters on Thursday, a day after being obtained in a commerce for Erik Haula. With his contract with New Jersey coming to an finish, the left wing/heart had an inkling he is likely to be on the transfer and he couldn’t be happier that it was to Boston.
“I really like it,” mentioned Zacha. “I’ve met a lot of people. It’s a big hockey town so you have a chance to skate and train with good hockey players. I like to spend summers here. It also made it easier knowing the news that I got traded here. Not a big move … I got a place here last summer, so it’s worked out really well.”
Where he suits within the lineup is dependent upon how profitable GM Don Sweeney is in getting the signatures of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci onto contracts. It looks as if virtually a performed deal that Bergeron, a minimum of, shall be returning. And Zacha nearly confirmed that in relaying a dialog he had with the captain after the commerce.
“Growing up as a centerman, he’s a guy that I always looked up to as a two-way centerman,” mentioned Zacha. “Getting a call from him, he was nice and welcoming, telling me he’s coming to camp and he’s excited to talk to me and stuff. To hear that from a captain and leader is great. I’m just excited to meet him in person and talk to him.”
Though he admires Bergeron, the No. 37 he wore in New Jersey was handed to him by a Devils’ gear staffer and was not a tribute to the five-time Selke winner. Changing his quantity received’t be an enormous deal to him.
His long-term future, offered the RFA involves an settlement on a long-term contract, would seem like at heart. But if each Bergeron and Krejci come again, Zacha would most likely be moved to the left wing for the upcoming season.
“I haven’t had too many talks with the coaches or GM about that. I just see that it’s going to be a really competitive team for next season for the playoffs,” mentioned the 6-foot-3, 210 pound Zacha. “I’ll see in training camp what my situation is going to be. I don’t have a lot of expectations for that. I’ll leave that to the coaching staff. I’m just ready to come here and do my best to help the team.”
The 25-year-old Zacha, the sixth total decide within the 2015, posted a profession excessive in factors final season with 15-21-36 totals, however he believes his ceiling is increased than that.
“I think there’s big room for improvement for me,” mentioned Zacha. “It’s a great opportunity for a re-start for me being with this team and a lot of players who can help me reach where I want to be as a player. I think the last couple of years I played better than before, but also it wasn’t even close to where I can be. I’m excited to have a re-start in my career and be better than I was last year.”
Marmer comes aboard
The Bruins’ formally introduced the hiring of Danielle Marmer as a Player Development and Scouting assistant.
Marmer, who performed for Quinnipiac and most just lately had been Director of Player Development and Hockey Operations for the varsity’s ladies’s hockey staff, had spent the 2021-22 season as certainly one of 12 individuals within the B’s fledgling Diversity and Inclusion Mentorship Program. Marmer, the primary lady to work within the B’s hockey operations division, has been on the ice with the B’s prospects throughout Development Camp this week.
She by no means thought her participation in this system would result in a brand new job.
“I envisioned it as an opportunity to work on my ability to evaluate players but I had no intention of trying to get into the Bruins,” mentioned Marmer, who labored with affiliate director of newbie scouting Ryan Nadeau throughout her time in this system.
Marmer is a part of a small wave of ladies entering into NHL hockey ops positions throughout the league over the previous few years.
“It’s an honor to work for the Bruins, regardless of gender,” mentioned Marmer. “I realize the impact it has on, or hopefully has on women and girls in hockey. Luckily I’m not a trailblazer. There are a lot of women in leadership roles in the NHL right now and other development roles. I like to think of myself as a reinforcer. I definitely won’t be the last.” …
Woburn native and rising Providence school sophomore Riley Duran is having a strong improvement camp. The sixth spherical decide in 2020, opened some eyes on Thursday, utilizing his 6-foot-2, 185-pound body to win puck battles in 3-on-3 drills.
Source: www.bostonherald.com