Pavel Zacha’s veteran status leading to bigger role in 2023-24

When the 2023-2024 NHL season starts next month, the Boston Bruins will look like a different team than they did just a few months ago. Despite the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krecji, many of their key players from last season will be back.

One of those players is Pavel Zacha, who played as a third line center, and occasionally on the wing last season. The Czech forward also signed a four-year extension back in January with the Bruins, further proving to Boston his commitment to stay with the Original Six club.

Zacha’s role and where he plays will definitely change this upcoming season. With both Bergeron and Krecji playing center – on the first and second lines, respectively – there is a gaping hole where they used to play.

Both players’ leadership both on and off the ice makes them hard to replace, but Zacha seems to be a logical choice. While Zacha is only 26-years-old, he is already going in to his seventh NHL season, which, given the youth of this Bruins team, will bring some veteran leadership to the center position.

Zacha was traded to Boston from the New Jersey Devils, who drafted him sixth overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a one-year deal immediately following the trade, and made a big impact immediately following the deal.

All in all, he played in all 82 regular season games, and all 7 playoff games for the Bruins last season. He scored 21 goals and added 27 assists, both career-highs. He also added six assists in the playoffs. His ability to play on both ends of the ice made him well respected among his teammates and coaching staff.

For as long as he stays healthy, Zacha should continue to improve on those numbers from last season. If he earns the top line center position out of training camp, he will have the opportunity to play a lot with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.

While it is still uncertain as to where some Bruins players will play in the lineup this upcoming season, there is no question that Zacha’s experience and conditioning will play a big role in the team’s success this upcoming season. If Zacha can earn himself a spot on the top line, then he will continue to improve and the Bruins will once again prove to be one of the best teams in the NHL.