By: Steve McClure | Follow me on Twitter / X @stmcclure1993
Today is June 12th, and in Bruins’ birthday news, that means it’s Pavel Zacha’s birthday. The team’s center, fresh off of a Czech national team title at the 2024 IIHF World Championship in Prague, is 28 years old.
The Czech-born forward was acquired from the New Jersey Devils in July of 2022 in a trade for forward Erik Haula. Since arriving from the Devils, Zacha has put up two 21 goal seasons in a row as a fixture on David Pastrnak’s line. He has become a relied upon component of the team—at even-strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill—as his time on ice has increased each season in Boston.
Zacha was the Devils’ first round pick in 2015—sixth overall—and is highly skilled in all three zones. The 6-4, 200-pound forward can play center as well as wing and has been interchangeably used by the Bruins in such a way. After his first season with Boston, the fans named him the recipient of the Seventh Player Award for his performance above and beyond expectation.
Already a veteran of 546 regular-season games in his career, Zacha has not yet hit his prime and is due for a potential breakout season. He has lit the lamp 111 times in his career and has assisted on 184 other goals. The Bruins look for even more production to come from the skilled Czech as a linemate to NHL star David Pastrnak.
Zacha scored the Czech national team’s only goal in a 1-0 quarterfinal victory over the United States in the World Championships this past month, and he would eventually help the Czechs to a gold medal. Let’s wish Pavel Zacha congratulations on his national team’s world championship and a very happy 28th birthday! Way to go, Pavel!
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