Pavel Zacha comfortable in Black and Gold

Pavel Zacha may hail from Brno, Czechia, but the newest Bruin feels right at home in Boston.

Not only did he grow up with Bruins defenseman Jakub Zboril and skated on a line with David Pastrnak in the national program, but he has made his offseason home in the area. He started working out in Foxboro at the suggestion of former New Jersey Devils teammates Brian Boyle and the late Jimmy Hayes, and his fiance is from Needham.

Hopefully for Zacha and the Bruins, the on-ice fit is just as seamless.

Zacha met reporters on Thursday, a day after being obtained in a trade for Erik Haula. With his contract with New Jersey coming to an end, the left wing/center had an inkling he might be on the move and he couldn’t be happier that it was to Boston.

“I really like it,” said Zacha. “I’ve met a lot of people. It’s a big hockey town so you have a chance to skate and train with good hockey players. I like to spend summers here. It also made it easier knowing the news that I got traded here. Not a big move … I got a place here last summer, so it’s worked out really well.”

Where he fits in the lineup depends on how successful GM Don Sweeney is in getting the signatures of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci onto contracts. It seems like almost a done deal that Bergeron, at least, will be returning. And Zacha just about confirmed that in relaying a conversation he had with the captain after the trade.

“Growing up as a centerman, he’s a guy that I always looked up to as a two-way centerman,” said Zacha. “Getting a call from him, he was nice and welcoming, telling me he’s coming to camp and he’s excited to talk to me and stuff. To hear that from a captain and leader is great. I’m just excited to meet him in person and talk to him.”

Though he admires Bergeron, the No. 37 he wore in New Jersey was handed to him by a Devils’ equipment staffer and was not a tribute to the five-time Selke winner. Changing his number won’t be a big deal to him.

His long-term future, provided the RFA comes to an agreement on a long-term contract, would appear to be at center. But if both Bergeron and Krejci come back, Zacha would probably be moved to the left wing for the upcoming season.

“I haven’t had too many talks with the coaches or GM about that. I just see that it’s going to be a really competitive team for next season for the playoffs,” said the 6-foot-3, 210 pound Zacha. “I’ll see in training camp what my situation is going to be. I don’t have a lot of expectations for that. I’ll leave that to the coaching staff. I’m just ready to come here and do my best to help the team.”

The 25-year-old Zacha, the sixth overall pick in the 2015, posted a career high in points last season with 15-21-36 totals, but he believes his ceiling is higher than that.

“I think there’s big room for improvement for me,” said Zacha. “It’s a great opportunity for a re-start for me being with this team and a lot of players who can help me reach where I want to be as a player. I think the last couple of years I played better than before, but also it wasn’t even close to where I can be. I’m excited to have a re-start in my career and be better than I was last year.”

Marmer comes aboard

The Bruins’ officially announced the hiring of Danielle Marmer as a Player Development and Scouting assistant.

Marmer, who played for Quinnipiac and most recently had been Director of Player Development and Hockey Operations for the school’s women’s hockey team, had spent the 2021-22 season as one of 12 participants in the B’s fledgling Diversity and Inclusion Mentorship Program. Marmer, the first woman to work in the B’s hockey operations department, has been on the ice with the B’s prospects during Development Camp this week.

She never thought her participation in the program would lead to a new job.

“I envisioned it as an opportunity to work on my ability to evaluate players but I had no intention of trying to get into the Bruins,” said Marmer, who worked with associate director of amateur scouting Ryan Nadeau during her time in the program.

Marmer is part of a small wave of women getting into NHL hockey ops positions across the league over the last few years.

“It’s an honor to work for the Bruins, regardless of gender,” said Marmer. “I realize the impact it has on, or hopefully has on women and girls in hockey. Luckily I’m not a trailblazer. There are a lot of women in leadership roles in the NHL right now and other development roles. I like to think of myself as a reinforcer. I definitely won’t be the last.” …

Woburn native and rising Providence college sophomore Riley Duran is having a solid development camp. The sixth round pick in 2020, opened some eyes on Thursday, using his 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame to win puck battles in 3-on-3 drills.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/0DOogUm