Two teams reportedly interested in Bruins forward Pavel Zacha

Pavel Zacha’s name is circulating in trade talks again, with the Canucks and Mammoth both showing interest in the Bruins forward this offseason

Trade buzz building around Zacha once more

It’s not the first time Pavel Zacha has been floated in trade rumors, and it probably won’t be the last. But this offseason, interest appears to be more concrete.

According to The Fourth Period, two teams, the Vancouver Canucks and Utah Mammoth, have expressed interest in acquiring the Boston Bruins forward. Zacha, who’s still under contract for two more seasons, isn’t someone Boston seems eager to part with, but that hasn’t stopped teams from calling.

At 27 years old, Zacha has become a consistent presence for the Boston Bruins. He’s not flashy, but he’s dependable. And in a league where reliable centers are hard to come by, that makes him valuable.

Vancouver has holes to fill at center

With J.T. Miller gone and Pius Suter signing in St. Louis, Vancouver’s depth at center has taken a hit. That’s where Zacha could come in.

The Canucks don’t need a superstar down the middle—they need someone who can take pressure off Elias Pettersson and give them structure in the middle six. Zacha fits that bill. He’s strong on draws, works hard defensively, and chips in offensively without needing top-line minutes.

He’s also got the kind of quiet leadership that fits well in a room already packed with big personalities.

Utah continues to build with purpose

The Mammoth have made some noise since their relocation, and they aren’t done yet. After picking up JJ Peterka and Nate Schmidt earlier this summer, Utah is clearly trying to build something competitive, fast.

Adding Zacha would be a continuation of that effort. He’d likely center their second line and bring a calm, experienced presence to a team still trying to find its identity. For a market looking to establish itself, players like Zacha can help speed up the process.

His style of play—steady, mature, unselfish—would mesh well with what Utah seems to be building.

Bruins aren’t under pressure to deal

From Boston’s perspective, there’s no rush here. Zacha just put up 59 points, played in all situations, and rarely missed a shift. He’s signed through 2027 at a reasonable cap hit, and the team doesn’t have immediate financial pressure that would force a move.

Even after adding Elias Lindholm, the Bruins know the value of center depth. Moving Zacha would create a hole they’d need to fill immediately—and that’s not something Don Sweeney is likely to do unless the return is significant.

There’s also something to be said for keeping players who’ve bought into the Bruins’ system. Zacha’s been that guy.

Teams can call, but the ask will be high

Zacha’s not the kind of player teams give away. He’s too useful, too steady, and too hard to replace.

If the Canucks or Mammoth want to take a real run at him, they’ll need to come with something meaningful. Otherwise, Boston has every reason to hang on.

For now, the trade talk is just that—talk. But the fact that it’s picking up again says a lot about how Zacha is viewed around the league.