Former forward Mark Recchi has good news for Bruins fans.
Longtime NHL forward Mark Recchi finished his career with three seasons as a member of the Boston Bruins.
Recently, the former assistant captain stated that he believes the Bruins won the early summer trade that sent Erik Haula to the New Jersey Devils and brought Pavel Zacha to the Bs. Recchi would know, as he was an assistant coach for the Devils from 2020 to 2022 and watched Zacha develop after being selected 6th overall in 2015.
Recchi spoke to Boston Hockey Now about Zacha:
�'I mean talent wise, Donny [Bruins general manager Don Sweeney] got a steal here. Talent-wise he's way better than Haula. He's got the skill and just a big body and when he uses that body he's hard to take the puck away from.''
Recchi obviously knows more than us fans because the stats comparing the two don't back up his statements. In the 2021-22 season, Zacha recorded 15 goals 21 assists in 70 games with the Devils, while, Haula collected 18 goals and 26 assists in 78 games with the Bruins.
With Brad Marchand out until at least late November to December, Zacha will most likely benefit from playing in the top-six forward group. Maybe even with fellow Czechs David Krejci and David Pastrnak.
Recchi also commented on the Czech connection:
�'Confidence and just putting it all together has been the issue. Last year, he got off to a great start; was really our best player, and then he hit a bump a bit, and he just couldn't seem to dig himself out of it.''
�'He wants to show he deserved to get drafted where he is, and effort isn't an issue at all; it's just confidence and really knowing he can do it.''
With just 179 career points in 386 games, the leadership group of a new coach in Jim Montgomery and veterans Krejci and Patrice Bergeron, the 25-year-old has a chance to break out in his first season as a Bruin.
