On this latest model of Boston Bruins Info & Rumors, the Bruins have inked Pavel Zacha to a contract extension. Following this data, may it indicate that frequent supervisor (GM) Don Sweeney will now be working to sign additional pending unrestricted free brokers (UFA) to new contracts sooner than the season is over?
Bruins Sign Zacha to Extension
Merely minutes after the Bruins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in a extremely shut contest, data broke that they signed Zacha to a four-year, $19 million contract extension ($4.75 million cap hit). With this switch, they’re formally conserving one among their key forwards spherical for a variety of seasons, so this appears to be an precise win for them on paper. Since his arrival, he has labored pretty successfully anyplace of their lineup, and now he has earned this sweet payday as a consequence of it.
In 42 video video games this season, Zacha has 5 targets, 25 components, and a plus-10 rating. Although his goal totals are low, he has been contributing pretty successfully ensuing from his sturdy playmaking ability and reliable defensive play. He has labored beautifully whereas having fun with with superstar winger and fellow Czech David Pastrnak, so on the end of the day, this switch makes full sense. Let’s see how he responds to this extension from proper right here.
Totally different Contract Extension Candidates
With this Zacha switch coming to fruition, I am questioning if this may occasionally open the door to Sweeney signing totally different players to extensions from proper right here. In the end, when observing how spectacularly the Bruins have been having fun with this season, he should be aiming to take care of as many players spherical as doable. Pastrnak, actually, is actually essentially the most important pending UFA to sign, as he is their best goalscorer. Elliotte Friedman simply these days reported that the Bruins and Pastrnak have been making progress, nevertheless even with this being the case, a deal nonetheless has not occurred. That basically desires to range if the Bruins want to keep contenders subsequent season and previous.
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However, along with Pastrnak, there are totally different players Sweeney may take note of signing to contract extensions. Captain Patrice Bergeron and longtime Bruin David Krejci stand out, nevertheless given their ages, they could wait until the offseason to find out within the occasion that they want to play one different season. Within the meantime, ‘Uncle’ Nick Foligno truly could very nicely be in line for one, as he has bounced once more remarkably from remaining 12 months’s robust season. He loves the group and is an outstanding chief, so if they’re going to get him once more at a inexpensive cap hit, Sweeney should take note of it. Lastly, Connor Clifton has moreover taken a step forward in his play this advertising marketing campaign, so he truly stands out as an extension candidate.
Totally different a lot much less attainable players to acquire extensions are fourth-line center Tomas Nosek and veteran winger Craig Smith. Given his bottom-six perform, Nosek may be a participant who Boston would attainable wait until the offseason to hold once more within the occasion that they wish to. As for Smith, his struggles this season make it seem that this may be his remaining 12 months as a Bruin.
Bruins Get Mandatory Win In opposition to Maple Leafs
Saturday’s (Jan. 14) contest in direction of the Maple Leafs was an immensely very important one. Heading into the game, Boston was 9 components ahead of the Maple Leafs, and a regulation loss would have shrunk their end in seven. However, ensuing from a last-minute goal by defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, the Bruins defeated their Distinctive Six rival by a 4-3 ranking and are literally 11 components ahead of them throughout the Atlantic Division. That really locations them in a extremely comfortable place.
This was the first time that the Bruins have defeated the Maple Leafs given that 2019-20 season. It is as a result of Toronto swept their three-game regular-season sequence remaining advertising marketing campaign, and the Bruins misplaced to them of their first sport in direction of them in 2022-23. Furthermore, these two teams did not play one another in the middle of the shortened 2020-21 advertising marketing campaign due to the pandemic. On account of all of this, this hard-fought win was additional sweet. However, if these two go up in direction of one another eventually in the middle of the playoffs, depend on one different seven-game sequence, as they every are official contenders.
A.J. Greer Breaks the Ice
When A.J. Greer made the Bruins’ NHL roster out of teaching camp, he immediately made a critical have an effect on, as he scored three targets and recorded 5 components in his first 4 video video games. However, he cooled off significantly following that, as he had merely two assists in his remaining 22 video video games heading into Saturday’s sport in direction of Toronto. With that, he didn’t file some extent in 13 straight video video games, nevertheless he lastly broke the ice in direction of the Maple Leafs by scoring his first goal since Oct. 18. For good measure, he moreover made an have an effect on collectively together with his bodily play in the middle of the competition.
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It’s onerous to probably not really feel utterly joyful for Greer, as he is a hard-working participant who merely hasn’t been able to bury his chances. Proper right here’s to hoping that this goal helps the 6-foot-3 winger produce a bit additional from proper right here. In the end, when noting how scorching he started the season, it’s truthful to say that he might need the potential to take that subsequent step as a result of the season progresses.
Michael DeRosa is a contributor who covers the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, & Detroit Pink Wings for The Hockey Writers. Since 2017, he’s written and edited for fairly just a few websites. Other than his work for THW, you’ll be able to too uncover him on NHL Commerce Rumors.