Zacha putting together career season to help fuel Bruins playoff chase
“I think we have fun together,” Arvidsson said. “We talk about stuff and joke about stuff on the bench too, and I think that’s the most important thing. That creates chemistry. I think we’re just really connected and we know where each other are and what the other guy likes to do. It’s just a really good mix of speed, playmaking skills and people going to the net too.”
It’s a line cobbled together through trades, representing some of general manager Don Sweeney’s savviness, from the 1-for-1 swap with the New Jersey Devils for Zacha in exchange for forward Erik Haula on July 13, 2022, that might stand as one of his top moves, to netting Mittelstadt (and prospect Will Zellers and the No. 61 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Colorado Avalanche for Charlie Coyle and a fifth-round pick in 2026), to stealing Arvidsson for a fifth-round pick in 2027 from the Edmonton Oilers.
They were all unwanted at some point by their respective teams, all looking to rebuild and refashion their careers.
That includes Zacha, who struggled through seven seasons with the Devils never feeling like he could find his footing. He believed he was best as a center, but New Jersey had Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier ahead of him.
He has found that footing in Boston. And, he believes he still has much growth ahead of him.
“I think there’s a lot of things you can get better (at), especially as a center,” Zacha said. “You can see a lot of centermen in the League, they’re almost getting better until they’re 34, 35, because it’s all about reading the game.
“When I came here, (David Krejci) and (Patrice) Bergeron, maybe skating wise they weren’t as fast and physically they weren’t hitting every guy that they saw, but just how they read the game, you can get better as a player.
“I’m still 28, so I’m excited I can keep even getting better physically in my career. That’s the exciting part for me.”
