Player Discussion Pavel Zacha

[missingchicklet]

Zacha leads team 5x5 assists

Monty uses him after power plays with Coyle

Very good defensive awareness

I sit by glass and was curious on his hockey smarts and defensive game / watched him over and over like he was my kids or Sobotka and pleasantly surprised at how good he is

Because he doesn’t have that extra 10 points on a power play time and his shooting percentage down he’s not good the points

I’m GM I do this in a heart beat - fantastic preemptive strike

Good observations. In trying to come up with the pros and cons of the deal the only real con beyond possible future salary cap implications is that his shooting pct has decreased each of the past 3 seasons, including this one. It's odd for that to happen to a guy at his age with his level of skill. Point is, I believe the goals will come. I should also note that although his shooting pct has decreased 3 years in a row, his point totals have increased or stayed the same all 8 seasons he has been in the NHL (assuming this season he gets more than the 36 pts he got last season). That's a hell of a trend. Hasn't hit his offensive ceiling it seems.

He has looked pretty good to me while watching games on TV, but it's helpful to get observations from someone such as yourself who is at the games and can see what's going on away from the puck better.

To get a 6'3" forward in his prime, who can play anywhere in the lineup, is a great playmaker (same number of assists as Krejci) on a line with a dude who is on pace to get 66 goals, provides plenty of intangibles, and has already meshed well with the team, for 4.75M is more than reasonable.

 

[DominicT]

That looks with bonuses, so 18 will be snapped up with 88, 37, 11 and 1.

11 mil for 88. Bergeron 2. Swayman 2.5, Freddy 2.5?

so would need a 3LW, and entire 4th line for 1.8 million bucks,(Steen not making the team). Could go Forbort/Zboril botton pair. Reilly still there.

Lysell could be here as a 3RW maybe.

I'm not worried about the cap. You said earlier, everyone will know Boston will be bent over now.

Who is everyone? the 15 teams in worse cap situation?

Fact is, they have just over $28 million in off season cap space. You make your signings as they come up and then you get compliant. And that $28 million includes Zacha. If you want to take into consideration the possible bonus overage, then it's $24 million.

 

[LouJersey]

He’s a center. Remember, they need two if they loose 46 and 37.

I mean is he though? He's played 25 minutes at center this year after not being able to cut it as one in his Devils career. It's not a slam dunk.

 

[Hookslide]

Nothing good comes from overpaying based on an outlier season.

And plenty do. 50pts isn't a significant milestone in this scoring environment

The Bruins have a history of paying 30 + players 5 mil + contracts and got zippo in return , I will take my chances on this contract and this kid that the return investment will be solid.........

 

[LouJersey]

I'm not worried about the cap. You said earlier, everyone will know Boston will be bent over now.

Who is everyone? the 15 teams in worse cap situation?

Fact is, they have just over $28 million in off season cap space. You make your signings as they come up and then you get compliant. And that $28 million includes Zacha. If you want to take into consideration the possible bonus overage, then it's $24 million.

Yeah that's what I mean, The few teams able to take on a Reilly or Forbort will bend them over. To make that's not great cap management. Anyone can give assets to take a bad contract. IMO you can't trade Gryz, he leaves a big hole. Same with one of the forwards like Hall.

 

[NeelyDan]

Cap issues are cap issues until they're not

I've come to be less of a cynic, and more of a believer in our ability to manage cap

I think there's zero chance on god's green earth that they put at risk pasta's signing so they can sign zacha to a reasonable deal, and i think if we use our brains we would probably all agree lmao

 

[slim399]

I actually really like it. I think he can hold his own replacing Krejci and playing with guys like Hall and Pastrnak. Krejci has averaged 62pts a year. I think Zacha can reach that while playing a solid two way game and PK. Good option at a reasonable cap hit.

 

[DominicT]

Yeah that's what I mean, The few teams able to take on a Reilly or Forbort will bend them over. To make that's not great cap management. Anyone can give assets to take a bad contract. IMO you can't trade Gryz, he leaves a big hole. Same with one of the forwards like Hall.

I will guarantee you here today, that if they can't move Reilly this season without cap retention they will buy him out in the off season for pennies.

It was structured to be buyout friendly.

Again, I'm not worried.

 

[NeelyDan]

The amount of focus a (relatively speaking) rather innocuous signing of a depth D a couple years ago seems grossly disproportionate

 

[LouJersey]

I will guarantee you here today, that if they can't move Reilly this season without cap retention they will buy him out in the off season for pennies.

It was structured to be buyout friendly.

Again, I'm not worried.

They can buy out he and Forbort for about 1 million bucks combined iirc and kick the can to 24/25

 

[UncleRico]

People can feel what they want but at worst this is a market level deal. 20 teams in the NHL wish they could sign this. No brainer.

I don’t think it’s a no brainer at all especially with this teams cap next year.



Assuming pasta signs for $11m the Bruins now have slightly above $3m in cap to sign

1c, Swayman, 3rd liner(Frederic?), and two fourth liners and a 7th D.

They can create a little wiggle room by moving gryz and forbort, but then they still have to pay those those replacements.

It’s going to be very interesting how they manage the cap. Kind of a head scratcher at this point.

Yeah that's what I mean, The few teams able to take on a Reilly or Forbort will bend them over. To make that's not great cap management. Anyone can give assets to take a bad contract. IMO you can't trade Gryz, he leaves a big hole. Same with one of the forwards like Hall.

Gryz might have to be a cap casualty at this point and the bruins will just have to pray lorhei is ready.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

I don’t think it’s a no brainer at all especially with this teams cap next year.



Assuming pasta signs for $11m the Bruins now have slightly above $3m in cap to sign

1c, Swayman, 3rd liner(Frederic?), and two fourth liners and a 7th D.

They can create a little wiggle room by moving gryz and forbort, but then they still have to pay those those replacements.

It’s going to be very interesting how they manage the cap. Kind of a head scratcher at this point.


Gryz might have to be a cap casualty at this point and the bruins will just have to pray lorhei is ready.

Several people have already had eloquent responses to this thinking, most notably Dom in his article, so I will defer to them.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

My immediate response “welp we will see how this goes”.

The good news is that the contract isn’t long and covers what should be his prime years. The money also isn’t anything beyond what you’d expect to pay a guy who slots in where he does in the lineup.

The part I’m concerned about is I haven’t seen much of him and what I have seen is a pretty mixed bag. Is he an upgrade on a guy like Haula? Hell yeah. Does he have skill? For sure. Is he going to be a consistent contributor over long stretches along with in crunch time? Very much undetermined.

So even if it’s not an albatross contract, it’s a significant commitment. Time will tell.

 

[goldnblack]

I don’t think it’s a no brainer at all especially with this teams cap next year.



Assuming pasta signs for $11m the Bruins now have slightly above $3m in cap to sign

1c, Swayman, 3rd liner(Frederic?), and two fourth liners and a 7th D.

They can create a little wiggle room by moving gryz and forbort, but then they still have to pay those those replacements.

It’s going to be very interesting how they manage the cap. Kind of a head scratcher at this point.


Gryz might have to be a cap casualty at this point and the bruins will just have to pray lorhei is ready.

Dom just explained how they can get more room than that...

Obviously the 4th liners and 7th D are gonna be near league minimum guys. Which means they will indeed have enough for Swayman and Freddy bridges deals once you use what Dom just said...

 

[EverettMike]

How much are you going to pay both Coyle and Zacha to not be second line centers?

Whether this deal is good/fair/market value, I'm just fundamentally opposed to having these types of middle tier deals.

 

[DKH]

Real good read.

Bruins Ink Pavel Zacha to a 4 Year $19 Million Deal

Pavel Zacha of the Boston Bruins. Photo by nhl.com Following the Bruins 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs at TD Garden Saturday night, the team announced they have signed Pavel Zacha to a 4-…

dom.hockey

Thanks Wally - good info

 

[shelbysdad]

63-37-74
71-18-88
11-13-Lysell
4th line - Greer - Beecher- Foligno (1M) McLaughlin combo

27-73
48-25
Zb- cheap UFA, rookie who steps up

Reilly bought out, unless we get lucky
Forbort for a pick

Does this work?

 

[DKH]

I am curious about this.

My wife and I are going to the games when the Bruins visit us out West. I’ve wondered since the beginning of the season if Zacha’s game looks different live than it does on television.

Definitely a player I’ll be playing close attention to.

He’s a center to me - skates well plays defense and most suprised he is a plus passer

He’s a specimen and Boston has liked those bigger centers who play 200 feet

However they drafted smaller types recently

I’m super duper high on Locmelis

When you spend so much time in rinks growing up and focusing on your own kid or an area (defense) you start paying a shitload of attention to effort and positioning

Who’s a sulker, mail’s in shifts, doesn’t get back, cheats, plays smart

My takeaway is Zacha doesn’t

My big takeaway though is Locmelis is the blueprint on how to play similar to another Bruins player that age

Can’t wait to see him at U Massachusetts

 

[quietbruinfan]

Don't like the player. He is a slow 35-point player who will negate his skills with mediocre at best skating. This is a very bad deal never mind any cap implications.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Don't like the player. He is a slow 35-point player who will negate his skills with mediocre at best skating. This is a very bad deal never mind any cap implications.

 

[LouJersey]

Dom just explained how they can get more room than that...

Obviously the 4th liners and 7th D are gonna be near league minimum guys. Which means they will indeed have enough for Swayman and Freddy bridges deals once you use what Dom just said...

Can save 2.6 mil on Reilly w a buyout next year.

 

[GoBs]

People can feel what they want but at worst this is a market level deal. 20 teams in the NHL wish they could sign this. No brainer.

I agree this is a good deal

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

Don't like the player. He is a slow 35-point player who will negate his skills with mediocre at best skating. This is a very bad deal never mind any cap implications.

I wouldnt say it's an amazing deal but a country mile away from it being a "very bad deal."

He was paid the going price for what he currently is, and projected to be in a few years.

 

[Trashpass]

Cap is going to be tiiiiiight

I'd gut the D somewhat Gryz & Forbort out for cap purposes, Zboril out for a cheaper 7th guy and Riley bought out. Clifton will probably get a better deal elsewhere.

I'd look at a guy that will probably get a little more than either on a new deal like Soucey or Gavrikov and a couple guys that will get less Calvin De Haan and Achan

Marchand-Bergeron(1.5M)-Debrusk
Hall-Zacha-Pastrnak(11M)
Frederic(2M)-Coyle-Lysell
Lauko(825k)-Accari(1.5M)-Mclaughlin(800k)
Greer

Soucey/Gavrikov(4M)-McAvoy
Lindholm-Carlo
Achan(800k)-De Haan(1.4M)
xxxxx

Ullmark
Swayman(2.75M)

Not ideal but still a playoff caliber lineup I would think

 

[GoBs]

63-37-74
71-18-88
11-13-Lysell
4th line - Greer - Beecher- Foligno (1M) McLaughlin combo

27-73
48-25
Zb- cheap UFA, rookie who steps up

Reilly bought out, unless we get lucky
Forbort for a pick

Does this work?

No Foligno is done after this season