The Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils kicked off free agency day with a trade, according to multiple reports.
TSN’s Darren Dreger was the first to indicate the Devils traded 25-year-old forward Pavel Zacha to Boston, with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman subsequently confirming New Jersey will receive 31-year-old forward Erik Haula in the deal.
The Devils originally selected Zacha with the No. 6 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. In 2021–22, the 6-3 Czech center/left wing scored 15 goals and 36 points in 70 games with New Jersey.
Zacha is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. His most recent contract carried a $2.25 million cap hit for three seasons.
Haula has bounced around the league since joining the Vegas Golden Knights from the Minnesota Wild in 2017, subsequently playing games for the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators and Bruins.
The versatile Finnish forward amassed 18 goals and 44 points with Boston in 2021–22, adding one goal and three points in seven playoff contests. Haula is signed through the end of 2022–23 at a $2.375 million cap hit.
In 534 career regular-season games with Minnesota, Vegas, Carolina, Florida, Nashville and Boston, Haula has racked up 112 goals and 240 points. The Wild selected him in the seventh round (No. 182 overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft.
Zacha joins a Bruins team that has reportedly been engaged in discussions with veteran centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci to return in recent weeks.
Boston also has Charlie Coyle, Tomas Nosek and Trent Frederic — all capable of playing center — under contract for the 2022–23 season, meaning Zacha’s ideal landing spot with the Bruins might be on the wing.
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