The Montreal Canadiens‘ season has been a mixed bag to start the season. In the good column are the performances of Lane Hutson, Zack Bolduc, Nick Suzuki, and Mike Matheson. On the other hand, Patrik Laine had yet to find his groove before going under the knife. His surgery recovery will last at least three months, which isn’t doing him any favors.
Kirby Dach hasn’t looked entirely out of place at center, even if he hasn’t fully excelled in the second-line position. The other options available in Alex Newhook and Oliver Kapanen aren’t proven choices to fill out as the other center in the Canadiens’ top six.
That makes NHL insider Jeff Marek’s idea to trade for a solution to their second-line center problem compelling.
Montreal Canadiens Connection That Could Make Pavel Zacha Trade Happen
A new report revealed a connection between Boston Bruins center, Pavel Zacha, and someone on the Canadiens. In a recent episode of The Sheet, hosted by Marek with guest David Pagnotta, Marek revealed the link.
“I’m going to try to leave some breadcrumbs here,” Marek began on the October 24 episode. “So, Pavel Zacha, represented by Paul Capazano at Cortex, former client of Kent Hughes at Cortex…I don’t know that Boston and Montreal get together to do a whole lot of deals, but could that one make sense?”
Pagnotta poured cold water on the idea of Zacha being someone the Canadiens would consider.
“Full respect to Pavel Zacha,” Pagnotta began in response. “He’s off to a really good start to the season. I think if Montreal does address or eventually address their center position at 2C, I think they would go for somebody with a little more pedigree.”
“I think they’re going to want to look for a bigger fish.”
Zacha was initially drafted sixth overall in 2015 by the New Jersey Devils. The 6-foot-4, 211 lb forward has nine points in 10 games to kick off the 2025-26 season, while averaging 18:07 a game.
Bruins Are More Than Willing to Trade Zacha
GettyPavel Zacha Could Be Moved To Make Room For A New Forward
Both Elliotte Friedman and Pagnotta report that the Bruins are willing to give Zacha a new opportunity elsewhere. Specifically, Pagnotta has discussed the Bruins’ willingness to move both Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt.
“Boston is interesting. Casey Mittelstadt is out there, out there again. Pavel Zacha was a player that they explored and took calls on last season,” Pagnotta said on the Vancouver Canucks-centric radio show, The Sekeres and Price Show. “From the Canucks perspective, those are two players that would appeal.”
“I would imagine that Boston would be a club that Allvin and (President Jim) Rutherford are going to at least poke on to see what the price tag would be for either of those players.”
Friedman mentioned the Canucks and Bruins going back and forth regarding acquiring Zacha.
“I think it’s been going on for quite some time,” Friedman revealed on I think it’s all the way going back to the summer – the Canucks and Bruins have been on off about this,” Friedman said on Saturday Headlines on October 25th. “Teams are looking for centres. Boston doesn’t have to do anything here it doesn’t want to do. The Canucks and some other teams seeing if they can prize Zacha out of there.”
Zacha is the Bruins’ 2C
GettyCould the Bruins and Habs connect on a mutually beneficial trade?
The Bruins have been deploying Elias Lindholm and Zacha as the team’s first and second-line centers this year. In their most recent game against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
Zacha has been a monster in the faceoff dot this season, sporting a 59 faceoff winning percentage. Suzuki and Jake Evans have been the best faceoff performers this year, owning 51.9 and 55.6 faceoff percentages, respectively.
The faceoff prowess, point production, and veteran experience make Zacha an excellent option for the Canadiens to solidify their top-six.
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