Felger: What does Pavel Zacha do?
On Wednesday’s Felger and Mazz, Felger gave his list of grievances with players on the Bruins and was wondering what Pavel Zacha brings to the lineup?
Felger wants to know what Pavel Zacha does….
Felger: A list of complaints and grievances, I got it. So Hampus Lindholm is number one on my hitlist for sure. But you know who number two is for me? Pavel Zacha. I think the guy does nothing. Zacha, what does he do? He never wins puck battles ever. He never comes out of there with the puck. And it frustrates me. Like, I’ll give you a guy who’s sometimes yes, sometimes no….Morgan Geekie. So Geekie, when he’s up against Barkov it’s men against boys. The gap is massive. Like someone’s got to go out there against Barkov, unfortunately, it’s Geekie, and he gets toasted by that guy. Barkov is a beast. And Geekie half the time I look at the guy and go, “this guy sucks”. But sometimes he comes out of there with it. Sometimes. Sometimes he comes out of the corner with the puck. Sometimes he wins a puck battle. Sometimes he finishes like he did last night in front of the net and get you a big goal. Geekie mostly sucks, but sometimes he’s okay.
Jim Murray: You’ll at least hear his name during the broadcast. Zacha, and I’ll give you another one, James van Riemsdyk. They are two guys that are just ghosts.
Felger: Wait, has been Van Riemsdyk been playing?
Mazz: I know he’s invisible.
Felger: I didn’t even realize. He has been a complete nonentity. You’re telling me he’s actually out there on the ice?
Jim Murray: But those two guys are ghosts. You don’t hear their names. You don’t notice them.
Felger: Notice it. Like Zacha is out there a lot, it feels like to me. Watch the puck go into the corner. He never comes out with it. Watch when he’s on the fore-check. It never ends up in a possession, ever.
Mazz: He played 20 minutes last night.
Felger: Like never. It never goes in. And I don’t expect a lot because, well I expect more than maybe the other two, Zacha has got more pure skill than Geekie for sure. We can debate who’s got more with Coyle. But good God, can you do something? Do something!