Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Pavel Zacha, a more realistic target for the Canadiens this summer (according to Arpon Basu)

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated May 30, 2025 6:07 PM ET

We’re entering an exciting time of year for hockey fans.

The Stanley Cup Final kicks off next week, and the 24-25 season will officially come to an end shortly… but the next few weeks will be just as special.

The draft is coming, after all, and so is the opening of the free agent market.

The Canadiens have seven picks in the first three rounds of the next draft (two in the first, two in the second and three in the third), and Kent Hughes will also have room to manoeuvre on the free agent market.

And we also know that the club’s GM has a plan to improve his team. That’s why we can expect some changes in town.

The important thing, in the eyes of many, is to find a quality second center. And in this regard, Arpon Basu (speaking to BPM Sports) spoke of Pavel Zacha as a more realistic target for the Habs.

On paper, the idea makes a lot of sense.

In Zacha, we’re talking about a 6’3, 206-pound center (remember, the Habs want to get bigger) who collected 57, 59 and 47 points in his last three seasons with the Bruins.

He’s been a top-6 player in Boston for the past three years – which wasn’t the case in New Jersey – and this allows him to play a little more offensively. He’s done well alongside David Pastrnak and, ultimately, it’s true that the option of picking him up could prove quite interesting.

Especially when he’s earning “only” $4.75 million a season and still has two years left on his contract.

(Credit: HockeyDB)

Zacha is big, he can play physical and he can be used for everything too.

He played on the first wave of the powerplay in Boston this year and was also on the second wave of the powerplay. He’s got some interesting qualities for a big center because he’s good with the puck – as well as having great vision -, and seeing him paired with Ivan Demidov on a second line could make sense for the Canadiens.

But it also depends on what the Bruins want to do with him. We know that in Boston, the organization seems to be going nowhere, and that a rebuild seems somewhat inevitable at this point.

Will they decide to trade Zacha to pick up some pieces to help rebuild? Or would the Bruins rather keep him to keep a number of quality players on the roster?

That remains to be seen. But in the NHL, if the offer is right… anything can happen.