Zacha Aiming to Assimilate to Bruins' Approach

BOSTON - Pavel Zacha had heard about it from afar.
While he spent the first seven seasons of his career with the New Jersey Devils, Zacha was well aware of the culture that had been established a couple hundred miles to the North.

"I think we knew how good Boston always was, especially when I played against Boston - you saw what the really good players make here," Zacha, who spends his offseasons in Massachusetts, said of the salaries of some of the B's top players. "And you can tell it's a winning culture and something that, if the team's willing to win, it's something that you do with players.
"And when it starts with the captain, it's really nice. And I think on this team, everyone I talked to, it's all about winning."
As such, the 25-year-old and the Bruins came together on Monday to avoid an arbitration hearing set for Thursday, agreeing on a one-year contract worth $3.5 million that, in turn, helped general manager Don Sweeney build a lineup with stalwart pivots Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci manning the middle of the ice.
"I think we met where we wanted," said Zacha, who was acquired from the Devils on July 13 in exchange for Erik Haula. "I think I got exactly what I wanted for a contract there with, I think, helping the team. And I think I can help them for next season and just trying to get the best team as possible so we can all play. It's all about winning for us next season, so I think it was a good deal."
Zacha added that while he would like to remain in Boston for an extended period, he and the Bruins are focusing on making the 2022-23 season as much of a success as possible for both himself and the team.
"We talked about it with my agent and I think we kind of made a decision on just focusing on this one year," Zacha said of the one-year contract. "With bringing in guys like Bergy and Krejci, it's having a big chance of having a good year as a team. And I think that was the biggest thing from both sides - just focusing on one year. And if everything goes well, they know that I want to stay in Boston for a long time."

The Zacha signing, while certainly an important one for the Black & Gold, flew a bit under the radar on Monday with the Bruins also announcing the returns of Bergeron and Krejci, both of whom have had their own lengthy stays in the Spoked-B. Their presence on the roster, Zacha noted, is a sign to the rest of the dressing room that the B's are aiming to be in the mix coming playoff time.
"It was an exciting day seeing the news and I think every Bruins fan would be excited to see all this news coming in…it's great for next season. Doing a great push for next season and trying to win," said Zacha. "So, I'm just happy to be on a team that's going to be in the race and in the playoff run. And that's something that I wasn't part of the last six years. Just being part of this culture and trying to learn from it.
"Whatever position I'm going to get to play, I'm excited to help the team. It's gonna be a little bit different situation for me. Usually, I wasn't in a playoff run and now with the team, how it looks like we have good players on paper, we just have to put it together there and play as a team, which I saw especially playing against that - Boston's always plays really good team hockey, so I'm just excited to be part of it."
Zacha added that he's looking forward to playing alongside a bevy of countrymen. During his time in New Jersey, he didn't have any fellow Czech natives as teammates. But now with Krejci back in the mix, the Bruins will have five Czechs on the roster, including David Pastrnak, Tomas Nosek, and childhood friend and teammate Jakub Zboril.
"It's going to be exciting," said Zacha, who added that he looked up to Krejci as he tried to build his own game as a skilled, two-way centerman. "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 or Krejci.
"And if I have any questions I can ask. It's going to be 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."

Zacha will also have another familiar face to lean on as he reunites with Taylor Hall, whom he spent three-plus seasons with in New Jersey.
"He was one of the first guys to text me when I got traded," said Zacha. "We had a really, really good relationship in Jersey. And he just seems excited to be part of the Bruins, especially talking to him during the season. He was like, 'what a team to be part of and what a culture to be a part of.' He always said great things about Boston.
"He said, 'you're really in a good spot with a good team, with great players around you; it's going to be a fun season.'…that got me really excited, especially knowing a player like that, he really likes it here and appreciates the players and everyone around."
While Zacha is not yet sure where he'll end up in the lineup, he does know that he'll be aiming to improve his offensive output. And he'll be doing so by using some of the advice passed on by former Devils assistant coach and 2011 Stanley Cup champion Mark Recchi.
"I was always able to focus on the defense more than I should have," said Zacha, who notched a career-high 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) in 70 games last season while playing mostly on the wing. "And everyone, even Mark was telling me, you have a great shot. You have to get to the net a little bit more, shoot the pucks and be a little bit more selfish in that way. So, it's something that I try to work on.
"And then getting the opportunity to play. I think the year before last year I got a big opportunity to play and I showed a little bit more [with 17 goals and 35 points in 50 games during the 2020-21 season], so last year was a little bit different for me.
"I'm just excited to be on this good team and just get better with that. But offense for me, I think I can bring that to the table next year."