Player Profile: Pavel Zacha

Pavel Zacha as born on April 6, 1997 in Brno, Czechia. Pavel was a bit of a child prodigy playing multiple seasons for the Czechia U-16 team, Bili Tygri Liberec. In 2011-12, Zacha posted 65 points in 33 games at just 14 years old. As a 16-year-old, Pavel played for the U-18 team at the World Junior Championships and had three assists in five games. The left-shot forward would play two more years for the team and score eight goals in 12 games. In 2014-15, Zacha would be the first overall pick in the Ontario Hockey League Draft, selected by the Sarnia Sting. In his first season in the OHL, the dynamic center would register 16 goals and 18 assists in 37 games.

Pavel Zacha Drafted 6th Overall By The New Jersey Devils in 2015

The New Jersey Devils made Zacha the sixth overall pick in a loaded 2015 NHL Draft. On eliteprospects.com, Curtis Joe had this scouting report on Zacha, “Pavel Zacha is an offensively dynamic center with the size, speed, and skill to make a significant impact on the game. He can play physically but is at his best when using his high-end offensive abilities, such as his shot, stickhandling, and footspeed, to generate numbers in the opposition’s end of the ice. All-in-all, Zacha is a lethal weapon that can be depended upon to create and finish dangerous scoring chances whenever he is on the ice”. Bob McKenzie of TSN had Zacha ranked sixth among 2015 draft prospects, including Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, and Mitch Marner, among others.

Zacha’s NHL Debut To Today

On April 9, 2016, Pavel Zacha made his NHL debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs and sparkled with two assists and a plus-4 rating in just under 17 minutes of playing time. That would be the only NHL game Zacha would play that season at the tender age of 18. The next two seasons, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound center would score just eight goals each year and struggle to reach his potential. In 386 games with New Jersey, Zacha would total 179 points and a minus-67 rating. As a restricted free agent heading into this season, the Devils decided to move on from Zacha and traded their former first-round pick to Boston for center Erik Haula.

Pavel Zacha’s Contract Status

The Bruins like Zacha’s skill set and potential and have an aging group at center. Before the 2022-23 season started, Boston signed Zacha to a one-year, $3.5 million bridge deal. The Bruins then extended Zacha with a four-year contract. The smart two-way forward has flourished in Boston with 42 goals and 74 assists in 160 games through the 2023-24 season. Zacha has been a great find and affordable signing for Boston and helped the Bruins transition from the Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci era.

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