Pavel
Zacha
C · BOS · Offensive · Above average
- PAL
- 61
- WAR
- 1.8
- Value
- 49
- PTS
- 65
2025-26№ 73 / 615
Pavel Zacha (Boston Bruins) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Pavel Zacha
#18CPlays: Centre · 68% of faceoffs
Boston Bruins
HEIGHT : 193 cm · WEIGHT : 96 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : April 5, 1997 · Brno, Czechia
Drafted : 2015 · NJD · round 1, pick #6
Contract : $4,750,000 · 2023-24 → 2026-27 · Standard Contract (Extension) · UFAM-NTC
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Boston Bruins | 17 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 8 |
| 2025-26 | Boston Bruins | 78 | 30 | 35 | 65 | 28 |
| 2024-25 | Boston Bruins | 82 | 14 | 33 | 47 | 21 |
| 2023-24 | Boston Bruins | 78 | 21 | 38 | 59 | 18 |
| 2022-23 | Boston Bruins | 82 | 21 | 36 | 57 | 16 |
| 2021-22 | New Jersey Devils | 70 | 15 | 21 | 36 | 22 |
| 2020-21 | New Jersey Devils | 50 | 17 | 18 | 35 | 10 |
| 2019-20 | New Jersey Devils | 65 | 8 | 24 | 32 | 14 |
| 2018-19 | New Jersey Devils | 61 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 15 |
| 2017-18 | New Jersey Devils | 69 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 30 |
| 2016-17 | New Jersey Devils | 70 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 19 |
| 2015-16 | New Jersey Devils | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| NHL totals | 722 | 160 | 259 | 419 | 201 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Boston Bruins | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2023-24 | Boston Bruins | 13 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| 2022-23 | Boston Bruins | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | New Jersey Devils | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Playoff totals | 31 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 14 | |
Pavel Zacha: our analysis
2025-26 season: 78 GP, 30 G, 35 A, 65 PTS, +4 +/-, 16:51 TOI. WAR 1.8 (73rd of 615) · PAL 61, above average.
In 2025-26, Pavel Zacha, 29, posts a PAL Rating of 61 out of 100 (above average), and his WAR of 1.8 ranks 73rd among 615 regulars, in the top quarter.
His strengths: shooting (93, among the best in the league), penalty kill (90, among the best in the league) and offense (86, among the best in the league). On the other hand, discipline (10, among the weakest in the league) and defense (17, well below average) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: finishing (+9.2); his biggest cost: EV defense (-1.6).
A clear step forward: his PAL went from 43 in 2024-25 to 61; his WAR went from -0.6 to 1.8.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 49 (fair value) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Pavel Zacha's story
He first appeared on the Quebec stage at the Pee-Wee tournaments in 2009 and 2010 with a youth team from Chomutov, a glimpse of an early international footprint for a player born in Brno in 1997. Back home he rose through Czech ranks, making his Extraliga debut with HC Bílí Tygři Liberec after a stint with Benátky nad Jizerou in the 1. národní hokejová liga, then chose the Canadian junior route the following season.
Selected first overall in the CHL Import Draft by the Sarnia Sting, Zacha moved to the OHL for 2014–15 and produced 34 points in 37 games, then 64 points in 51 games the next year. He also represented the Czech Republic at the World Junior Championship in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Those performances helped his standing ahead of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, where New Jersey took him sixth overall.
The Devils signed him to a three-year entry-level deal on 11 August 2015. After a final junior season he joined New Jersey and made his NHL debut on 9 April 2016, posting two assists in that first game. He scored his first NHL goal on 3 November 2016. A stint in the AHL came in November 2018, and in September 2019 he signed a three-year extension with New Jersey.
On 13 July 2022 the Devils traded Zacha to the Boston Bruins for Erik Haula; he avoided arbitration and signed a one-year, $3.5-million contract on 8 August 2022. Deployed mainly as a winger in Boston, he produced a career year in 2022–23 with 21 goals and 36 assists (57 points), which led to a four-year, $19-million extension on 14 January 2023. He continued to shift between centre and wing, set new assist and point marks in 2023–24, and then posted 14 goals and 33 assists in 2024–25 as the team missed the playoffs.
Internationally, Zacha returned to Czech national duty at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, scoring the lone goal in a 1–0 quarterfinal win over the United States and helping the Czech Republic capture gold. On the ice he is valued for positional flexibility — able to play centre or wing — and for a two-way presence that allows him to contribute both in even strength lines and penalty-killing situations.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 19:19
- PP TOI/GP
- 3:22
- SH TOI/GP
- 1:10
- Pts/GP
- 0.82
- EV points
- 7
- Hits
- 10
- Blocks
- 6
- Takeaways
- 7
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 45.2 %
- Off. zone starts
- 38.5 %
- Faceoffs
- 53.1 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
66between 45 and 81 (80% range)
- Goals
- 27
- Assists
- 39
- Games
- 80
So far: 14 pts in 17 games. The team has played 18 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.82 pts per game (last season: 0.83).
The projection follows last season's pace. Tested on 2,265 player seasons (2022-23 to 2025-26): average miss of 9 points over 82 games; for players at 0.9 points per game and up, it ran 5 points high on average.
Trend
Slightly up
- Points per game: 0.76 in 23-24, 0.83 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 43 → 61
Outlook, age included
↗ Slightly upAge 29: prime years
This is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, trades or role changes; one player in five finishes outside the range.
Player ratings, 2025-26
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
OV · OverallConfidence 84 %
82
Very good
- SK
- Skating
- 72
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 70
- Confidence 87 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 80
- Confidence 80 %
- DU
- Durability
- 87
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 73
- Confidence 87 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 71
- Confidence 66 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 65
- Confidence 87 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- 81
- Confidence 88 %
- PA
- Passing
- 81
- Confidence 84 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 85
- Confidence 84 %
- DF
- Defense
- 68
- Confidence 82 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 62
- Confidence 14 %
- EX
- Experience
- 85
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating72
- Top speed (35 %)36 · 73
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)4.278 · 65
- Distance /60 (20 %)16.3 · 75
- Speed consistency (15 %)35.6 · 78
ST — Strength70
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)2.262 · 47
- Body mass (50 %)0.78 · 85
EN — Endurance80
- Ice time per game (45 %)16.5 · 80
- Total ice time (20 %)1,261 · 80
- Shift length (15 %)46.6 · 79
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)15.3 · 80
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)3.648 · 86
DU — Durability87
- Share of games played (100 %)0.881 · 87
CK — Checking73
- Hits /60 (70 %)3.394 · 72
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)2.82 · 73
- Season volume (10 %)4.174 · 76
FG — Fighting71
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.76 · 71
DI — Discipline65
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)-0.013 · 64
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.512 · 80
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.436 · 49
FO — Faceoffs81
- Faceoff % (85 %)52.7 · 82
- Faceoffs /60 (15 %)38.7 · 75
PA — Passing81
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.795 · 80
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.719 · 88
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)-0.023 · 65
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.532 · 76
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.736 · 86
SC — Scoring85
- Goals /60 (25 %)1.042 · 83
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.878 · 80
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)0.566 · 85
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)1.666 · 85
- xG per shot (10 %)0.089 · 89
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)11.2 · 69
DF — Defense68
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)-0.047 · 67
- Relative xG against (20 %)0.127 · 65
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.8 · 62
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.237 · 92
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-1.42 · 74
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)58.6 · 72
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)1.759 · 56
PS — Penalty shot62
- Shootouts (60 %)31.2 · 61
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience85
- Career regular-season games (65 %)93
- Career playoff games (25 %)65
- NHL seasons (10 %)84
OV — Overall82
- SC · Scoring (20 %)85
- PA · Passing (20 %)81
- DF · Defense (20 %)68
- SK · Skating (12 %)72
- FO · Faceoffs (10 %)81
- EN · Endurance (8 %)80
- DI · Discipline (5 %)65
- ST · Strength (3 %)70
- CK · Checking (2 %)73
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 82 | 72 | 85 | 68 |
| 2024-25 | 79 | 73 | 77 | 70 |
| 2023-24 | 82 | 77 | 80 | 70 |
| 2022-23 | 79 | 78 | 79 | 75 |
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
1.8
wins above replacement
73 of 615
PAL Rating
61/ 100
Performance · Above average
168 of 476 at the position
Value Rating
49/ 100
Fair value
4.75 M$ · expected PAL 62
ProfileOffensiveValue comes mostly from offense
- Offense
- 84
- Defense
- 22
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 86
- Creation
- 80
- Shooting
- 93
- Possession
- 17
- Defense
- 17
- Discipline
- 10
- Power play
- 84
- Penalty kill
- 90
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | BOS | 1.8 | 61 | 49 | 4.75 M$ |
| 2024-25 | BOS | -0.6 | 43 | 25 | 4.75 M$ |
| 2023-24 | BOS | 0.4 | 58 | 37 | 4.75 M$ |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 2.0 | 62 | 48 | 3.50 M$ |
Hockey IQ, 2025-26
Rankings and method →The quality of the player's decisions with and against the puck at 5-on-5, against regulars at the same position (50 = average). PAL measures output; IQ measures how the player plays.
Overall IQ
49/ 100
Average
better than 49% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
57/ 100
Average
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
39/ 100
Below average
takeaways, discipline, own zone
Overall IQ isn't an average of the two scores: it's the player's rank with offense and defense combined, 215 of 424 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 67
- Shot selection
- 89
- Penalties drawn
- 5
- Puck management
- 37
Defense
- Takeaways
- 46
- Discipline
- 56
- Safe zone exits
- 24
Percentiles: 80 means better than 80% of regulars at the same position. Play without the puck (positioning, coverage) isn't measured: the NHL doesn't publish that data.
| Season | Team | IQ | Off. | Def. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | BOS | 49 | 57 | 39 |
| 2024-25 | BOS | 84 | 85 | 57 |
| 2023-24 | BOS | 79 | 90 | 41 |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 37 | 39 | 41 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
1.8
wins above replacement
0.5 to 3.5 — 90% interval
73 of 615 forwards
+9.8 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- -1.2
- EV defense
- -1.6
- Power play
- +0.9
- Penalty kill
- +0.4
- Shooting
- +9.2
- Penalties
- -1.4
- Average → replacement
- +3.3
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | BOS | 78 | 1.8 | 0.5 to 3.5 | 73/615 |
| 2024-25 | BOS | 78 | -0.6 | -1.3 to 0.7 | 566/596 |
| 2023-24 | BOS | 78 | 0.4 | -0.6 to 1.4 | 256/608 |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 82 | 2.0 | 0.7 to 3.1 | 61/617 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 146.1 km/h93rd percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 33.8 km/h15th percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 927th percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 40.2 %28th percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 80.2 km86th percentileleague avg. 52.2 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 6.16 km94th percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 37.3 %5th percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 19.4 %96th percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 40.4 %41st percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 2766th percentile | 581st percentile | 18.5 %75th percentile |
| High danger | 1174th percentile | 274th percentile | 18.2 %49th percentile |
| Mid range | 1179th percentile | 396th percentile | 27.3 %89th percentile |
| Long range | 272nd percentile | 092nd percentile | 0.0 %87th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
🔥 4-game point streak
FLA
PIT
VGK
CHI
STL
CAR
SJS
NSH
DAL
ANA
PHI
UTA
OTT
MIN
WPG
NYRPavel Zacha: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Pavel Zacha have in 2026-27?
Pavel Zacha has 5 goals and 14 points (9 assists) in 17 games in 2026-27.
How old is Pavel Zacha?
Pavel Zacha is 29 years old: he was born on April 6, 1997.
How tall is Pavel Zacha, and how much does he weigh?
Pavel Zacha is 6'4" (193 cm) and weighs 212 lb (96 kg).
Where is Pavel Zacha from?
Czechia: Pavel Zacha was born in Brno, Czechia.
What team does Pavel Zacha play for?
Pavel Zacha plays for the Boston Bruins in the NHL, at C, wearing number 18.
Is Pavel Zacha injured?
No: Pavel Zacha is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Pavel Zacha?
Pavel Zacha produced 1.8 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 73rd of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 61 out of 100: above average for his position.
How much does Pavel Zacha make?
Pavel Zacha earns $4.8M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 49 out of 100 (fair value): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Pavel Zacha's contract end?
Pavel Zacha's contract runs through the 2026-27 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent. It includes a M-NTC clause.
Is Pavel Zacha overpaid?
Neither: he delivers about what his salary should buy. His Value rating is 49 out of 100 (fair value), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Pavel Zacha a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 73rd of 615 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Pavel Zacha getting better?
Yes: his PAL rating went from 43 in 2024-25 to 61 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Pavel Zacha played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Pavel Zacha has 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists).
What are Pavel Zacha's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Pavel Zacha has 722 games, 160 goals, 259 assists and 419 points. His best season: 2025-26, with 65 points in 78 games.
Where was Pavel Zacha drafted?
Pavel Zacha was drafted 6th overall (round 1) by New Jersey Devils in 2015.
Is Pavel Zacha better at home or on the road?
At home: in 2026-27, he averages 0.89 points per game at home (8 in 9 games) and 0.75 on the road (6 in 8 games).
How does Pavel Zacha perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Pavel Zacha has 31 games and 15 points in his career. His pace (0.48 points per game) is lower than his regular-season pace (0.58).
Which player is most similar to Pavel Zacha?
Bryan Rust: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Bryan Rust's page →Is Pavel Zacha a good fantasy pick?
Yes, a solid pick: our projection has him at 66 points in 2026-27, or 0.83 points per game.
What is Pavel Zacha's nationality?
Pavel Zacha is Czech. Internationally: Czech Republic: competed at the IIHF World Junior Championships (2014, 2015, 2016); gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Championship; announced as an initial selection for the 2026 Winter Olympics (16 June 2025) but withdrew due to injury (7 February 2026).
What awards has Pavel Zacha won?
OHL Western Conference best penalty-killer (voted by OHL coaches), 2015–16 season ; NHL Second Star of the Week (mid-March 2024).
How many championships has Pavel Zacha won?
1: IIHF World Championship: gold medal with the Czech Republic, 2024.
Where did Pavel Zacha play before turning pro?
Minor team from Chomutov (Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments 2009 and 2010); HC Bílí Tygři Liberec (Czech Extraliga debut 2013–14); selected first overall in the 2014 CHL Import Draft by the Sarnia Sting (OHL) and played for the Sting in 2014–15 and 2015–16..
How many points is Pavel Zacha projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 66 points in 80 games in 2026-27 (45 to 81 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Boston Bruins teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)