- The Bruins haven’t been close on a Pavel Zacha extension, per The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun
- Zacha’s name came up when Boston asked Columbus about Kirill Marchenko
- Read below and watch video of Zacha and Don Sweeney on the contract talks
The Bruins and Pavel Zacha still aren’t close on a new contract.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported Wednesday that Boston hasn’t gotten near a deal with Zacha’s camp over the past three months. LeBrun wrote that the Bruins “had some sticker shock in June” when they heard what their center might be looking for.
Trade talk has followed, too. LeBrun reported that Zacha’s name surfaced in conversations between the Bruins and Blue Jackets when Boston inquired about Kirill Marchenko. Columbus ended up sending Marchenko to Toronto in the Matthew Knies trade, and he signed a six-year extension with the Leafs at $12.5 million per season.
LeBrun still sees a path to an extension in Boston, mostly because the market has moved.
“But as the summer has gone on and salaries skyrocketed around the league, I bet that number doesn’t seem as high,” LeBrun wrote. “The sides have kept the dialogue going, which is good. So there’s still a chance the Bruins eventually extend Zacha. But in the meantime, teams are naturally calling about him. So few centers ever become available.”
The 29-year-old is in the final year of a four-year deal with a $4.75 million cap hit. He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
His timing couldn’t be much better. Zacha set career highs with 30 goals and 65 points last season. He’s still looking for his first point this year, with eight shots through four games.
Boston’s hesitation has a name attached to it. LeBrun wrote that the Bruins are worried about how a long-term deal would age, “perhaps sensitive to living with the Elias Lindholm contract already.”
GM Don Sweeney was asked about Zacha’s contract on Sept. 28 and said the team plans to keep talking.
“Our intent is to continue to discuss [a] contract with Pav. He’s a big part of our club,” Sweeney said. “Plays in all situations, plays on the top lines, you know, penalty kill.”
Here’s Sweeney on Zacha:
Zacha talked about the negotiations on the first day of camp and said he’s leaving them to his agent.
“My agent’s been dealing with that. Don knows where we stand, and I just think I’m excited to be in training camp with the guys,” Zacha said. “I can smile, play hockey, and play on a team that I like to play on, and that’s what it is. It’s out of my control a little bit.”
Watch Zacha on the contract talks:
The Bruins have until the March 1 trade deadline to either get Zacha signed or find out what a 30-goal center fetches on the trade market.
