Pavel Zacha’s early-season surge has given the Bruins something to think about, but it hasn’t necessarily settled anything.
After going scoreless in his first five games, the Boston center has piled up nine points in his last nine, a stretch that looks a lot better on paper than it might at first glance. He’s spent that entire run skating alongside David Pastrnak, and that kind of assignment can inflate almost anybody’s numbers. Even so, Zacha has still been a useful piece, especially because of what he brings away from the puck and on the first power-play unit.
There are still reasons for Boston to pause. Four of his six assists have been secondary, which trims some of the shine off the production.
And his game has looked a step slower this season, whether that’s tied to age, with Zacha nearing 30, or to the injury that already cost him a game. If the missed game explains it, the Bruins can probably shrug it off.
But the dip was there before he sat out, too.
That leaves Boston with a bigger question: can someone else handle the role Zacha is filling now? Fraser Minten could be one option, with James Hagens also worth a look. But if the Bruins decide they want to move Zacha, the search shifts to finding a fit for him somewhere else.
One team that stands out is the Los Angeles Kings.
The Kings have been reluctant to go the rebuild route, and Ken Holland’s club keeps trying to squeeze more offense out of a group that can look slow and stuck. They need help down the middle, and Quinton Byfield is the name that makes this conversation interesting.
At 6-5 and 225 pounds, Byfield has the kind of frame Bruins decision-makers would love to bet on. He hasn’t always played to that size, but the upside is obvious, and a different system or a fresh start could matter. He has also shown he can raise his level in the postseason, and his production over the last three seasons - around 50 points a year - is solid enough to keep the door open.
The contract is where the appeal really sharpens. Byfield is set to make $6.25 million for two more seasons after this one. If Boston is staring at the possibility of paying Zacha more than $10 million per year and doesn’t want to go there, Byfield becomes a far more attractive target for the next two seasons.
He also fits the age curve of the current group. A future forward core built around Byfield, James Hagens, Fraser Minten, JJ Peterka, Dean Letourneau, Marat Khusnutdinov, and an older David Pastrnak would be tough to ignore.
That’s why, if the Kings ever got serious about a deal and the Bruins were looking at a move involving Elias Pettersson, the idea of pivoting to Zacha is at least worth considering.
In Other News...
Bruins Just Got A Goalie Performance They Couldnt Ignore
Bostons comeback win over Chicago had plenty of moving parts, but Michael DiPietros night was the kind that tends to linger with a coaching staff. The Bruins erased a 4-2 deficit late in the third period and finished off a 5-4 overtime victory on Elias Lindholms winner, yet the goaltending was a major reason they were even in position to steal it after a rough start.
DiPietro has been getting his chance in Boston since the Bruins moved Joonas Korpisalo to the New York Rangers, and he made the most of this one with 37 saves. In a game that could have slipped away quickly, he gave Boston the steadiness it needed to hang around long enough for the rally to take hold, which is exactly the sort of performance that can complicate the conversation in net. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Have A Growing Nikita Zadorov Problem Again
Nikita Zadorovs discipline is back in the spotlight after another roughing incident, this time against Chicago defenseman Alex Vlasic on Oct. 31. The Bruins blueliner was involved in a second-period scrum and then punched Vlasic, drawing penalties and putting Boston in an uncomfortable spot with one of its most physical defensemen.
Marco Sturm has already addressed the issue, pointing to Zadorovs discipline and what the Bruins need from him going forward. For a team that leans on Zadorov for size, edge and toughness, the challenge is finding the line between playing hard and giving away momentum, especially when those lapses keep drawing attention. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins About To Face The Stretch That Will Define This Start
The Bruins have given themselves an early cushion with a strong start, and now comes the part of the schedule that can tell whether it means anything. A tight overtime win over Chicago kept the momentum going, but the next stretch is a different kind of test, with Vegas, Pittsburgh and Florida all waiting in line as Boston tries to hold onto its place atop the Atlantic.
What makes this run so important is the way the Bruins want to win it, not just the results. The emphasis has been on offensive balance, defensive consistency and dependable goaltending, and those are the ingredients that tend to get exposed when the schedule stiffens. If Boston can keep those areas steady through this stretch, it will say plenty about how real this fast start is. [Read more 🡒]