Was Mark Recchi right about Pavel Zacha?

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Dorin Canaday
January 21, 2023 (2:37)

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Former Bruin Mark Recchi made a bold statement this summer regarding the Pavel Zacha trade.

Recchi stated that he believed the Bruins won the trade that sent Erik Haula to the New Jersey Devils and brought Zacha to Boston.

And he has merit, 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:

''He's a great kid; I mean just a great kid and a great teammate �'As for him as a player? Well, I think there's a ton of skill there once he can figure our how to use it on a consistent basis.''

�'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.''

One major factor has been the Czech connection in Boston. Most notably with David Krejci and David Pastrnak, but also Tomas Nosek, Jakub Zboril and Jakub Lauko.

''With Krejci coming back, that's huge because I know he loves 'Krech' and looks up to him He can really help him on and off the ice.''

�'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.''

Through 45 games this season, Zacha has registered 8 goals and 22 assists, and is only six points back from his career-high of 36 in 70 games last season.