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BOSTON BRUINS

Bruins Head Coach Comments on Options to Replace Bergeron

PUBLICATION
Julien Trekker
September 1, 2023  (9:55)
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Jim Montgomery, the Bruins' head coach, saw his top centers retire this summer and has now opened up on how he'll try to replace Patrice Bergeron.

Bergeron And Krejci Out...But Who's In?

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After having a record-breaking season, the Bruins were considered favorites to win the Cup but were eliminated by the Panthers in the first round.

After the tough loss, both Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci announced their retirement.

Many people thought that Boston would acquire their new top center in free agency, but they decided to solve their problem in-house.

Montgomery Talks About How He'll Replace Bergeron

Replacing Bergeron is no easy task, as he was among the best players in the NHL.

Montgomery opened up on how he'll cope with his departure in a recent interview with the Boston Herald.

"Montgomery has his first two lines pretty much mapped out, at least tentatively. He expects to pair Pavel Zacha with David Pastrnak, with James van Riemsdyk most likely getting the first look at left wing on that line. He expects the other top line will be Charlie Coyle centering Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk."

Montgomery obviously has a lot of faith in Zacha. Before last season, he had never scored more than 36 points. He did set a new personal best with 57 last year.

This is what the coach said about Zacha:

"I think (Zacha's ceiling) is significantly higher,» he said. «Not only is he physically prepared, more importantly, I believe he's ready for this mentally for the kind of minutes, the responsibility of having to be played in all situations — which he did really well last year — but they're going to be more important minutes. But I just think he's mentally ready. He believes that he can do it. That's the biggest step for a player. I have a lot of confidence that our top two lines will be very good because I believe Charlie Coyle knows he can do the job and will do the job and Pavel Zacha does too."

Don't be surprised if Zacha grows into a true first-line center this season and reaches the high hopes that have been placed on him since he was drafted sixth overall in 2015.

Do you think Zacha will score 60 points or more next season?

As seen on House of Hockey - Bruins Coach Comments On His Bergeron Replacement

POLL
SEPTEMBRE 1   |   71 ANSWERS
Bruins Head Coach Comments on Options to Replace Bergeron

Do you think Zacha will score 60 points or more next season?

Yes3346.5 %
No3853.5 %
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