Bruins Head Coach Talks Highly About Future First Line Center

PUBLICATION

Jim
August 31, 2023 (3:46 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

Pavel Zacha, the future top line center of this team after Bergeron's retirement, has been earning Head Coach Jim Montgomery's trust this off-season.

Montgomery said that they lost a lot of leadership this season after veteran's and Captain Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci chose to hang up the skates in the same off-season. They took a huge dip at the center position, leaving Zacha on line one and Charlie Coyle on line two.

However, Jim seems to like Pavel. Zacha broke out last season, having 21 goals and 36 assists, tallying up to 57 points in a fully played 82-game season.

This is what Monty had to say on Zacha: «

«I think (Zacha's ceiling) is significantly higher,». Not only is he physically prepared, more importantly I believe he's ready for this mentally for the kind of minutes, the responsibility of having to be played in all situations � which he did really well last year � but they're going to be more important minutes. But I just think he's mentally ready. He believes that he can do it. That's the biggest step for a player. I have a lot of confidence that our top two lines will be very good because I believe Charlie Coyle knows he can do the job and will do the job and Pavel Zacha does too.»

Zacha is 26 years old and the Bruins recently signed him to a four-year, $19 million contract.