The Boston Bruins are getting a career-best season out of center Pavel Zacha. The veteran pivot will need a new contract sooner than later, but should it be from the Bruins?
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Zacha, he was named the NHL’s third star of the month in March.
Zacha, he was named the NHL’s third star of the month in March.
He had a career best, or a, excuse me, a league best 13 goals in 16 games during the month of March.
He had a career best, or a, excuse me, a league best 13 goals in 16 games during the month of March.
So Zacha is having a career best season, that month of March being a big part of that.
So Zacha is having a career best season, that month of March being a big part of that.
He has 28 goals and 60 points in 72 games for Boston this year, and he has one more year on his contract after this season and then, and he has a, just under $5 million cap hit.
He has 28 goals and 60 points in 72 games for Boston this year, and he has one more year on his contract after this season and then, and he has a, just under $5 million cap hit.
He’s at 4.75.
He’s at 4.75.
So Mike, do you see Zacha as a long-term fit for Boston just based on what he’s been able to do here, especially this year?
So Mike, do you see Zacha as a long-term fit for Boston just based on what he’s been able to do here, especially this year?
And, and looking at what he’s making right now, I mean, what do you imagine that next contract is gonna look like?
And, and looking at what he’s making right now, I mean, what do you imagine that next contract is gonna look like?
Well, they better back up the Brinks truck.
Well, they better back up the Brinks truck.
I mean, because when they got him from New Jersey, he was playing wing most of the time with the Devils, and the, and the Bruins have played him predominantly at center.
I mean, because when they got him from New Jersey, he was playing wing most of the time with the Devils, and the, and the Bruins have played him predominantly at center.
But And I saw him, he scored the game-winning goal that, that, Bruins-Sabres game that I referenced earlier in overtime.
But And I saw him, he scored the game-winning goal that, that, Bruins-Sabres game that I referenced earlier in overtime.
But the, the interesting thing about Zacha is he hasn’t been playing a lot with David Pastrnak.
But the, the interesting thing about Zacha is he hasn’t been playing a lot with David Pastrnak.
Last year he was playing primarily with him.
Last year he was playing primarily with him.
Now they’ve moved Fraser Mitten, who’s not a number one center, but they’ve moved him on the line with Pastrnak, and they’ve moved Zacha down to second line center.
Now they’ve moved Fraser Mitten, who’s not a number one center, but they’ve moved him on the line with Pastrnak, and they’ve moved Zacha down to second line center.
Still getting power play time.
Still getting power play time.
He’s got 10 power play goals.
He’s got 10 power play goals.
you know, I mean, they’re getting great bang for the buck there in terms of his salary and what he’s doing, and they’re gonna have to pay him.
you know, I mean, they’re getting great bang for the buck there in terms of his salary and what he’s doing, and they’re gonna have to pay him.
Now it’s a question of whether they think he’s a long-term solution.
Now it’s a question of whether they think he’s a long-term solution.
You know, they’re, they may have a pick in the top 10 this year or, or top, six or seven depending on whether the Maple Leafs have given them a f- a high first round pick, and that could be a center, and that could be somebody who’s the future.
You know, they’re, they may have a pick in the top 10 this year or, or top, six or seven depending on whether the Maple Leafs have given them a f- a high first round pick, and that could be a center, and that could be somebody who’s the future.
But the now right now, along with Mitten and Elias Lindholm, is Pavel Zacha up the middle for the Bruins.
But the now right now, along with Mitten and Elias Lindholm, is Pavel Zacha up the middle for the Bruins.
And you know, it’s interesting because we talked about when we were talking about McAvoy and how his absence after the Four Nations kinda turned the Bruins into sellers at the deadline.
And you know, it’s interesting because we talked about when we were talking about McAvoy and how his absence after the Four Nations kinda turned the Bruins into sellers at the deadline.
They sold everyone away, and it looked like, well, they’re starting from scratch, although you can’t really ever do that when you have David Pastrnak on your team.
They sold everyone away, and it looked like, well, they’re starting from scratch, although you can’t really ever do that when you have David Pastrnak on your team.
But still, I mean, what they’ve been able to do with these players like Zacha who have sort of emerged, a- and broken out, I mean, Kelsey, what do you think he could maybe command in his next contract?
But still, I mean, what they’ve been able to do with these players like Zacha who have sort of emerged, a- and broken out, I mean, Kelsey, what do you think he could maybe command in his next contract?
Do you think the Bruins are even gonna be able to afford to keep him?
Do you think the Bruins are even gonna be able to afford to keep him?
Yeah, I think I’ve said this almost every single time I’ve been on here, but I think this is, again, uncharted territory for some of these GMs, just trying to figure out what contracts are gonna be looking like with the salary cap rising at the rate that it is, and it’s projected to rise even more past what we already know.
Yeah, I think I’ve said this almost every single time I’ve been on here, but I think this is, again, uncharted territory for some of these GMs, just trying to figure out what contracts are gonna be looking like with the salary cap rising at the rate that it is, and it’s projected to rise even more past what we already know.
So, I, it’s, it’s interesting because, you know, centers tend to have more value in this league, and now that he’s predominantly playing as a center, I think that’s only gonna increase his value.
So, I, it’s, it’s interesting because, you know, centers tend to have more value in this league, and now that he’s predominantly playing as a center, I think that’s only gonna increase his value.
It’s gonna only increase his ability to demand more, and I mean, the production speaks for itself.
It’s gonna only increase his ability to demand more, and I mean, the production speaks for itself.
he uses his size.
he uses his size.
He’s great around the net.
He’s great around the net.
You know, this is kind of like a hybrid power forward, that the Bruins have for them this season, and it’s y- those guys are rare finds in this league .
You know, this is kind of like a hybrid power forward, that the Bruins have for them this season, and it’s y- those guys are rare finds in this league .
he’s having a great year, so I mean, I think he could command upwards of probably what around Ehlers is making, around 8.5. so I mean, we’ll see, how that shakes out and how these contracts continue to shake out, you know, as we go year by year with the salary cap rising.
he’s having a great year, so I mean, I think he could command upwards of probably what around Ehlers is making, around 8.5. so I mean, we’ll see, how that shakes out and how these contracts continue to shake out, you know, as we go year by year with the salary cap rising.
But I think he can command up in that range, because if he’s gonna be this team’s, solution at second line center, at least for the foreseeable next few years, I think that he has all the capability to command that because of his performance this season and just his role on this team.
But I think he can command up in that range, because if he’s gonna be this team’s, solution at second line center, at least for the foreseeable next few years, I think that he has all the capability to command that because of his performance this season and just his role on this team.
he’s played an integral role in this team’s success.
he’s played an integral role in this team’s success.
And again, just his positional versatility I think increases his value.
And again, just his positional versatility I think increases his value.
So I’m curious to see how high he can, command salary this summer because it’s gonna be pretty interesting.
So I’m curious to see how high he can, command salary this summer because it’s gonna be pretty interesting.