By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
Pavel Zacha once looked like a bust of a sixth overall selection by the New Jersey Devils at the 2015 National Hockey League Draft. Then, a trade to the Boston Bruins happened ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Since being traded to the Bruins, Zacha’s game has risen, and he’s shown everyone the potential he’s had. However, Zacha’s name has been in trade rumors since last season, but the Bruins can’t be serious about contending in 2026 if they were to trade him.
Recently, Bleacher Report’s Lyle Richardson wrote an article titled “Buy or Sell the Latest Rumors Ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.” In his article, Richardson named five rumors. One of the rumors mentioned in Richardson’s article was “Boston Bruins Not Moving Pavel Zacha.”
Bleacher Report had Zacha named as a trade target in September and October. Richardson mentioned in his article that The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa considered it “unlikely” that Zacha would be traded by the trade deadline. Richardson said that if it’s either buying or selling for the Bruins, the team would buy, and pointed to Zacha’s season as a big reason. One thing is for sure: the Bruins can’t sell Zacha at the trade deadline with the team’s current record and his production this season.
The Bruins hold a 29-20-2 record ahead of tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. At the moment, the Bruins sit in the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 60 points. Not many people would’ve predicted the Bruins would be in a playoff spot with one week remaining in January. Zacha’s 14 goals this season are the third most on the Bruins, and his 35 points are tied for third on the roster along with Elias Lindholm. Zacha has been producing good secondary scoring this season. Moving forward, the Bruins will rely on Zacha for scoring.
If the Bruins were to trade Zacha, it could be a shocker for the locker room, showing that nobody is safe, even if those players played on past playoff teams. However, there would only be one way it makes sense for Zacha to be dealt. That is, if the Bruins fall out of a playoff spot by the trade deadline.
Teams would be interested in trading for a player like Zacha, considering he’s had two seasons nearing 60 points, and can still produce a near 50-point season. Zacha’s contract is a reasonable one for being 28 years old. Zacha’s contract runs out after next season with a $4.75 million per year cap hit. The Bruins can get good value in return for Zacha if they were to trade him.
While David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie are the only 20-goal scorers on the Bruins, the team isn’t getting much goal scoring outside of them. Zacha can definitely finish the season with over 20 goals, as he’s recorded two 20-goal seasons before. With holding a playoff spot and not getting much goal scoring outside of Pastrnak and Geekie, keeping Zacha is a must for the Bruins’ playoff push.
The Bruins are hot at the moment, winning seven of their last eight games. Zacha has contributed well in January by recording nine points during the month. Now, Zacha must keep his momentum going to keep the Bruins in a playoff position.
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