Bruins Free-Agency: Pavel Zacha Agrees to Contract With Bruins

The Boston Bruins made a flood of signings on Monday, inking 3 players to new deals. Pavel Zacha was recently acquired by the Bruins from New Jersey for forward Erik Haula in July. Zacha was a restricted free agent and had filed for an arbitration hearing before he was traded.

The Bruins and Zacha agreed to a 1-year contract with a value of 3.5 million dollars to avoid arbitration. Zacha is a big forward that is willing to get into the gritty areas. He’s a physical player who is tough to move in the offensive zone with a lethal shot. Approaching his prime, he fits in with the age of the core that the office is building. This contract feels like a try-out year. If Zacha has a good first year in Boston, he might get a longer contract next off-season.

Fitting Pavel Zacha into the lineup will be interesting with the current injuries on the team. He could find his way on the second line to start the year while David Pastrnak replaces Brad Marchand on the right side of the first line while Marchand recovers from surgery. Or Coach Montgomery could see the potential in having Pastrnak and Krejci on the same line. Once players return from injury Zacha will have to find a new spot on the roster, if he can produce on the third line, he could be a key piece to solving the Bruins’ secondary scoring problems. The only loose end to tie up now is what number will he wear considering 37 is firmly spoken for.