Pavel Zacha just enjoyed the best season of his National Hockey League career, posting 30 goals and 65 points in 78 regular season games — and the Boston Bruins are now fielding trade interest in their top-line center.
Bruins GM Don Sweeney has been listening to inquiries regarding the veteran forward as teams around the league continue searching for help down the middle, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported on Friday.
“In a market starved for centers, the Bruins are listening on Pavel Zacha, which is an intriguing name to say the least,” the hockey insider wrote. “There’s a big difference between listening and wanting to move him, though.”
That distinction is important.
LeBrun noted that Boston’s top priority remains signing Zacha to a contract extension rather than trading him. The 29-year-old has one season remaining on a deal carrying a $4.75 million cap hit and becomes extension-eligible on July 1.
“My understanding is that the Bruins’ top priority this summer is to extend Zacha if possible,” LeBrun added.
After a breakout 2025-26 campaign, Zacha is expected to command a significant raise on his next contract. Still, a thin market for centers has created an interesting dynamic ahead of free agency.
Several clubs have reportedly contacted Boston over the last week to gauge Zacha’s availability, and the Bruins will have to weigh any extension discussions against the possibility of receiving a substantial trade offer.
“This is an intriguing situation to monitor, to say the least,” LeBrun wrote. “So many teams are looking to upgrade at center, and some of them have called over the past week or so. Zacha has a no-trade list that allows him to say no to eight teams, and I’m told he submitted that list to Boston on April 1.”
Zacha has developed into a key piece of Boston’s top six since arriving from the New Jersey Devils in 2022. His ability to play both center and wing, combined with his offensive production and team-friendly cap hit, would make him one of the most attractive forwards potentially available this summer.
For now, Boston appears focused on keeping Zacha in black and gold. But with teams around the league aggressively searching for help at center, the Bruins could eventually face a difficult decision if a significant trade package lands on Sweeney’s desk.
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