The Boston Bruins may soon have to make a call on Pavel Zacha that gets more complicated by the week. Chris Johnston of The Athletic reports that while Boston would be open to an extension at the right price, the veteran center’s contract situation could become a tricky one as his unrestricted free agency looms in 2027.
Zacha carries a $4.75 million cap hit, and Johnston noted that there is a figure the Bruins would be comfortable with on a new deal. The problem, as he put it, is the direction of the market.
“There’s a number at which the Bruins would be happy to sign Zacha to a contract extension before he’s due to hit free agency next summer. However, with the market shifting leverage in favor of players, it’s becoming tougher to see the sides finding alignment on a new deal.
That could leave Boston in a fascinating position with Zacha as this season goes on.”
That leaves Boston weighing its options while the team has gotten out to a competitive start. The Bruins are not locked into a true win-now path, which means management could be forced to choose between keeping Zacha for a push or moving him before the situation gets messier.
In Detroit, Dylan Larkin’s name is also turning up in a bigger and bigger swirl of speculation. Helene St.
James of the Detroit Free Press reports that the Red Wings captain has expanded his trade list to 10 teams, opening the door to a wider range of possibilities. The reported list includes the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, Utah Mammoth, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche.
St. James also suggested that a multi-team trade may be what it takes to get a deal done that works for everyone.
That chatter comes on the heels of ESPN’s John Buccigross saying a trade could happen in seven to 10 days, which would put the window around Oct. 23-26.
One team not on the expanded list is the Montreal Canadiens, despite the speculation that had built around Larkin after fans chanted, “We want Larkin!”
In Edmonton, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is set to make his season debut Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Head coach Mike Babcock said the forward will return after missing the start of the season because of a lower-body injury suffered during preseason practice.
Nugent-Hopkins had 56 points in 72 games last season, and his return gives the Oilers a needed lift in the middle of the ice and on the power play. Babcock has praised his intelligence, leadership, and ability to play with or without the puck, and Edmonton should be able to spread its top-end talent more evenly with him back in the lineup.
Brady Tkachuk also addressed the circumstances behind his move from Ottawa to Florida, and he pushed back on the idea that his family steered the decision. The former Senators captain said it was his call and that personal and professional factors were part of it, though he declined to go into all the details.
He made clear that he believes his work in Ottawa should stand on its own, saying, “It was 100% my decision. I’m a big boy. I can make decisions for myself and my family.”
In Other News...
Bruins Waste Big Opportunity In Loss That Leaves One Clear Concern
The Bruins left Dallas with a point but not the result they wanted, falling 3-2 in overtime at American Airlines Center in a game that felt like a missed chance for a team sitting atop the Atlantic Division and tied for first in the Eastern Conference. Boston had enough strong stretches to make the trip feel winnable, with Jeremy Swayman, Matthew Poitras and Nikita Zadorov among the players who helped keep the game on track.
Still, the details of how the loss unfolded will linger. Boston could not cash in on a key advantage when it needed to separate itself, and by the time overtime arrived, the margin for error had already disappeared. Against a Dallas team led by Mikko Rantanens big night, the Bruins were left with a reminder that even a solid overall performance can turn into an expensive lesson when one area of the game goes missing at the wrong time. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Gave Fans One More Reason To Watch Khusnutdinov Closely
The Bruins wrapped up a four-game road trip at 3-0-1, a solid stretch that still ended with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Stars in Dallas. Boston had enough going in the right direction to leave the trip with positives, even if Mikko Rantanens hat trick ultimately swung the night for the home team.
Amid that backdrop, theres a reason to keep a closer eye on Marat Khusnutdinov, who has become part of the conversation around Bostons roster beyond just the immediate results on the ice. The Bruins are also being linked to a possible move involving Dylan Larkins trade landscape, while a few other familiar names around the league have recently found themselves back where they started, adding to a busy stretch of NHL storylines. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Suddenly Have A Real Chance In A Surprising Trade Watch
A quiet contract standoff in Detroit has suddenly put the Bruins in the middle of an interesting trade watch. Simon Edvinsson and his agent recently met with interim GM Shawn Horcoff as the Red Wings continue to work toward an extension, and Boston is among the teams keeping tabs on the situation as the 6-foot-6 defensemans future hangs in the balance.
Edvinsson has not formally asked out, but the longer talks drag on, the more likely a move starts to look if no deal comes together. Detroit still says it wants to keep him, yet there is clearly enough outside interest to make this one worth monitoring, with the Bruins one of the clubs that could benefit if the Red Wings decide to revisit the market. [Read more 🡒]