Bruins Trade Rumors: Pavel Zacha Linked To Center-Starved Team

Pavel Zacha, Boston Bruins center, during warmup

Teams all over the NHL are pining for centermen. A second-line talent like Pavel Zacha of the Boston Bruins is one of the most sought-after pivots around. And according to insider Rick Dhaliwal, speaking on the Halford & Brough show on Friday, the Vancouver Canucks have Zacha firmly on their radar.

The Canucks have had interest in Zacha for a while. I've had more than one person tell me Vancouver and Boston are talking Zacha. That's the best fit for the Canucks—Zacha... Bruins have lost six straight. If there's a sale there, Canucks should be No. 1 in line for Zacha.

The Canucks did make a move on Friday, acquiring winger Lukas Reichel from the Chicago Blackhawks, and he can play some center, so it'll be interesting to see how Vancouver uses him. But a solid 2C like Zacha should still be someone they're looking at.

With the indefinite absence of Filip Chytil, and the lack of production from Elias Pettersson on the top line, the Canucks are really hurting down the middle.

Zacha was a first-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2015 NHL Draft (6th overall). He spent his first seven years in the league in Jersey before moving to Boston.

Pavel Zacha has 8-team no-trade list, Canucks have him on radar

The 28-year-old has two years to run (including this one) on a four-year, $19 million deal with a $4.75 million cap hit. He does have an eight-team no-trade list.

Despite the Bruins' awful start to the year (3-6-0), Zacha is off to a great start himself, with nine points in the Bruins' first nine games. Last season, he finished with 14 goals and 47 points after two consecutive 21-goal seasons.