Key Takeaways
- Which teams are in the mix for Pavel Zacha?
The Canadiens have inquired, but the Flames and others remain interested as well. - Why is Montreal’s pursuit of Zacha notable?
A deal would be the first NHL roster trade between the Canadiens and Bruins since 2001. - What is Kent Hughes’ stance on acquiring a center?
He’s exploring options like Zacha or McTavish but won’t break up Montreal’s young core unless it’s the right fit.
Bruins center Pavel Zacha (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
An NHL source has confirmed to RG media that the Montreal Canadiens have inquired about Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha.
“The Canadiens definitely have interest in Zacha and have inquired about him, but they're not the only team,” the source told RG recently. “Several teams — I’m told the Flames are one — continue to express interest in him.”
The fact that the Bruins’ most bitter rival, the Canadiens, is pursuing Zacha, though, is intriguing. While the Bruins traded the 69th overall pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft to the Canadiens for picks 79 and 108 this past June, this would be the first hockey trade between the two rivals involving a current NHL roster player since February 21, 2001. That was the day defenseman Patrick Traverse was traded from the Bruins to the Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Eric Weinrich.
While a trade doesn’t seem to be imminent at this point, another source told RG that different trade scenarios have been discussed. While no names were confirmed, the source said that Canadiens forward prospects Joshua Roy and Oliver Kapanen, as well as defenseman Jayden Struble, are names that continue to be bantered about in NHL trade chatter regarding the Canadiens’ search for a second-line center.
It should be noted that RG has heard Struble’s name connected to the Bruins before. The rugged 6-foot, 207-pound, left-shot defenseman, who just turned 24, is expected to battle it out for a third pairing slot on the Canadiens’ blue line in training camp. The Bruins’ amateur scouts would’ve seen plenty of the Cumberland, Rhode Island native when he patrolled the blue line for St. Sebastian’s High School (Needham, Massachusetts) and then Northeastern University.
“I know he’s a guy they’ve liked, but it would take more than him to acquire Zacha,” the second source said.
As for Zacha, multiple sources have indicated to RG throughout the offseason that the NHL trade chatter surrounding him has not come from the Bruins, but rather the teams interested in him.
As for the Canadiens and their continued search for that second-line center, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes continues to scour the NHL trade market, but he, too, isn’t going to force the subject unless it’s the right fit.
“It’s no secret that they looked into [Ducks center] Mason McTavish, but as you (RG) reported last week, the Ducks aren’t quite there yet and still want to sign him,” the source said. “I can tell you this, I know Kent and Jeff [Gorton] are very reluctant to mess with their young core for any center. …McTavish, Zacha, anyone.”
That being said, the Canadiens moved Carey Price’s contract to be available in case any viable top-6 centres became available on the market, meaning that, if and when Zacha is made available, they’ll be involved in those discussions.
