By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
What to do with forward Pavel Zacha is a huge topic of discussion for the Boston Bruins as of late. After setting career-highs of 30 goals and 65 points last season, Zacha has set himself up nicely to earn a huge new contract. Zacha will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. However, Pierre Lebrun of The Athletic reported earlier today that the Bruins are listening to trade offers for Zacha. The writing could be very well on the wall that Zacha’s time in Boston is winding down.
Given the team’s current cap space of over $15 million on PuckPedia, the Bruins can’t afford to re-sign forward Viktor Arvidsson, who is an unrestricted free agent this year, and lock up Zacha for many years afterward. Zacha has more value than Arvidsson, making him easier to trade away for general manager Don Sweeney. Teams will be interested in Zacha, as he has one year remaining on his contract at an AAV of $4.75 million at 29 years old. If the Bruins were to trade Zacha, here are the best fits for him, given the rosters and positions other teams are in.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche won the 2026 Presidents’ Trophy, but were swept in the Western Conference Finals by the Vegas Golden Knights. The Avalanche will be looking to add a huge piece to their roster in an attempt to run the National Hockey League again next season. Three days ago, the Avalanche traded forward Ross Colton to the Nashville Predators. With trading away Colton, the Avalanche will need a forward who can be better, and that is where Zacha can be an option.
On an elite offense surrounded by Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Gabriel Landeskog, Cale Makar, Devon Toews, and more, Zacha can no doubt grow with them. After a career year, Zacha can easily raise his game more if he were traded to the Avalanche to play with their elite offense.
Utah Mammoth
In 2026, the Mammoth made big strides as an organization by making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Despite being eliminated in six games by the Golden Knights in the first round, the Mammoth are a team that is on the rise. This offseason, the Mammoth will need to be busy to build on their success and become a better team next season. Trading for Zacha could be an option for the Mammoth to improve.
Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, and Dylan Guenther give the Mammoth a solid big three up front. With other promising young forwards on the roster, like Logan Cooley and JJ Peterka, Zacha would give the Mammoth more depth up front and help him raise his game. The Mammoth will need to make big moves this offseason to improve, as they are already in a tough Central Division.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings made the 2026 playoffs, but were swept in the first round by the Avalanche. After being swept, the Kings said farewell to Anze Kopitar as he announced his retirement from the NHL. Losing Kopitar puts the Kings in a position where they may want to get another big center who can produce points, and Zacha can be a player who can do that.
Adrian Kempe led the Kings with 36 goals and 73 points in the regular season. However, no other King recorded 30 goals or 50 points on the roster. Desperately needing more offensive depth, the Kings can use Zacha’s production to provide scoring. Artemi Panarin will have his first full season as a King, which should give the team hope, but they still need to add more offensively. Zacha could embrace being the top center on the Kings’ roster if they were to trade for him.
Washington Capitals
After winning the Metropolitan Division in 2025, the Capitals struggled in 2026, missing the playoffs by three points. Given the Capitals’ roster, the team will certainly look to retool for next season. Trading for Zacha would be a big step for the Capitals to retool and be in the playoff conversation in the division next season, as the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers made the playoffs despite not reaching 100 points.
Whether Alex Ovechkin returns for another year remains a big question for the Capitals, as he is a free agent. Even if Ovechkin returns, the Capitals still need better offense than last season. Zacha’s 65 points would’ve led the Capitals in points last season, as Ovechkin’s 64 points led the team. Needing depth up front deeply, Zacha is a big target for the Capitals to consider trading for.
Philadelphia Flyers
2026 saw the Flyers take huge steps, making the playoffs and winning a playoff series for the first time since 2020. General manager Daniel Briere has done a tremendous job rebuilding the Flyers with draft picks and trades. However, after being swept in the second round by the 2026 Stanley Cup Champions, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Flyers’ offense up front still needs improvement, and trading for Zacha could be an option.
Travis Konecny and Trevor Zegras were the only two Flyers who recorded 60 points last season, and no Flyer scored 30 goals. Zacha can give the Flyers 30 goals and 60 points. With the Hurricanes in the same division, the Flyers also need to be aggressive to improve their team. The Flyers have already been busy by recently acquiring defenseman Simon Benoit and goaltender Joseph Wall in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs, so there’s no reason not to think another trade could be possible this offseason from Briere.
Zacha can get looked at by more teams that are in Stanley Cup contention or looking to retool, but the Bruins shouldn’t look into trading him to an Atlantic Division opponent. The Bruins can get a good return in exchange for Zacha, whether it’s draft picks, a forward of similar play, or a prospect or two. Zacha has been a good Bruin since the team acquired him from the New Jersey Devils in a 2022 trade. However, Zacha’s time in Boston may be at an unfortunate end.
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