Training camp has begun for the 2026-27 NHL season, and when it comes to the Boston Bruins, there are a lot of questions surrounding them.
There are roster questions about which young players, if any, will make the Opening Night roster, and there are just two more preseason games remaining to figure that all out. There are also some off-ice questions that are hanging around the Black and Gold, mainly about general manager Don Sweeney and contracts.
Before camp started, Boston locked up Fraser Minten and signed Matthew Poitras the day that camp started last Wednesday. However, one name that is going to be talked about and talked about a lot as he plays out the final year of his contract is Pavel Zacha. What does his future hold in Boston? There have been a lot of trade rumors over the last year, and they will continue until either an extension is signed or he's traded.
Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report listed six potential landing spots for Zacha, with two of them being in the Atlantic Division, which feels like the least likely outcome if Sweeney does move him.
6 Pavel Zacha trade destinations with two that make no sense for the Bruins
Richardson named six potential landing spots for Zacha, with the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres as two landing spots. Now, Sweeney has made trades within the division before with a lot of success. He shipped Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs, with Minten coming back as the centerpiece of the trade.
However, sending Carlo to a division opponent was a risk, but his play grew thin in Toronto, and he has been since shipped to the St. Louis Blues to reunite with former Boston coach Jim Montgomery. Sending Zacha within the division feels like something that Sweeney would be, and should be, more hesitant to do.
First off, Buffalo and Montreal both finished in the top 3 in the Atlantic Division last season and are poised to be contenders for a few years. The same can't be said for the Black and Gold. Trading Zacha to either team and having him sign there long-term would be a nightmare scenario for Sweeney and the Bruins. Handing over one of the top centers would not be a great business decision for the organization.
Other trade destinations Richardson listed were the Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, and Vegas Golden Knights. Those sound like better destinations that Buffalo or Montreal.
Zacha will begin the season in Boston, and a lot of what happens will depend on how things go to begin the season. Another slow start, and the trade rumors will begin flying. There will be an outcome by the trade deadline in March. There is very little chance that he plays out the whole season in Boston, remains a free agent at the end of the season, and is lost for nothing. Or is there?
Add us as a preferred source on Google