Pavel Zacha is looking to make an impact in his first season with the Boston Bruins and that could potentially come as part of a Czech Republic line connection.
Zacha was acquired from the New Jersey Devils on July 13 as the Bruins sent Erik Haula in a one-for-one trade. The 25-year-old was the sixth overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and looks to put together his best season yet with Boston this upcoming season. In the 2021-22 season, Zacha recorded 15 goals and 21 assists for 36 points in 70 games.
The Bruins signed a one-year deal with Zacha on Monday to avoid arbitration, the same day his fellow countryman David Krejci returned to Boston and the NHL with a one-year contract of his own. In a video conference Tuesday, Zacha discussed the return of Krejci to the Bruins.
"I mean, I watched him a lot," Zacha said. "I know he's a very, very skilled, two-way center. So that was something that you look up to and try to learn from. And I'm just really excited that he decided to come back and play here. Having five Czech players on a team doesn't happen that often. So, it's exciting for me and I think everyone coming back."
Bringing in David Pastrnak to the equation, there's interest on Zacha's end of having a Czech line if the opportunity presented itself.
"I mean, that would be great," Zacha said in response to being paired with Krejci and Pastrnak. "That's something I sometimes think about, especially now knowing that Krejci is coming back. That would be great, but again it's not my decision. I just have to have a good camp and good start to the season and see where I fit in on the team."
For Zacha, getting to even be on the same team as other Czech players is a new experience as this will be the first time he teams with any fellow countrymen in his career, but also veterans who have had success in the league like Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron.
"It's going to be exciting," Zacha said. "Especially for me, I've never played with a Czech player on a team in six years playing. So, it's going to be nice to have your own language a little bit, not in the locker room, but outside. And just to talk to if you need some help, you have some veterans or some All-Star players like Bergy (Bergeron) or Krejci and if I have any questions I can ask. And it's going to be exciting for me to be on a team with some Czech players, but also players that are really, really good players, (and) guys in the locker room. So that's it, I'm just super excited to play there."
Zacha's excitement as he arrives into a winning culture with the Bruins seems like it can be a recipe for success, as the team has all eyes on making another run for another Stanley Cup.
