During the 2022 NHL Offseason, the Boston Bruins acquired Pavel Zacha from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Erik Haula. The move has benefitted both players, but especially Zacha.
Since being traded to the Bruins, Zacha has cemented himself as a legitimate top-six forward. This past season was particularly impressive for the 27-year-old, as he had 21 goals and a career-high 59 points in 78 games. This was after he had 21 goals and 57 points in 82 games for the Bruins in 2022-23.
While Zacha has had back-to-back very good seasons, it is fair to wonder if he hasn’t hit his ceiling yet. He has noticeably improved in each of the last two seasons, and that trend could continue in 2024-25.
Heading into next season, Zacha is expected to return to left wing, as the Bruins added new first-line center Elias Lindholm in free agency. Zacha is projected to play on a line with Lindholm and superstar David Pastrnak, so there is a real chance that his offense could see another jump next season. This is especially true if Lindholm regains his star form.
Zacha is quickly developing into a core member of the Bruins, and it seems the sky is the limit for the former 2015 sixth-overall pick. It will be interesting to see what kind of season he puts together in 2024-25, but the 25-goal and 65-point marks may be possible if he stays healthy.
