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Could the Vancouver Canucks acquire Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha with this trade proposal?
The Vancouver Canucks have been active this summer, as they have brought in new players like Evander Kane and Pierre-Olivier Joseph. Yet, there is no question that the Canucks should be looking to add another top-six center.
After trading J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers during this past season and losing Pius Suter to the St. Louis Blues in free agency this summer, the Canucks desperately need help down the middle. The Boston Bruins offer an interesting potential target in Pavel Zacha.
Heavy Sports has a new trade proposal that has Boston sending Zacha to Vancouver in a late-summer swap.
Canucks Get:
Bruins Get:
2026 First-Round Pick
Aatu Räty
Pavel Zacha Has Been Made Available by the Bruins
With the Bruins underperforming this past season, Zacha’s name was very popular in the rumor mill leading up to the 2025 NHL trade deadline. While the Bruins opted to keep him for the remainder of the campaign, the Original Six club has made him available again this summer.
In their latest Summer Trade Watch List, The Fourth Period has Zacha at the No. 16 spot and reported that the Bruins are open to moving the skilled forward.
“The Bruins explored the trade market on Zacha during the season, and there is belief out there that Boston is looking, again, at moving him,” The Fourth Period reported. “His 10-team no-trade list turned into an eight-team list July 1, so he does have some say in where he ends up, if dealt. He has two years remaining on his contract.”
With Zacha being signed until the end of the 2026-27 season and carrying an affordable $4.75 million cap hit, he would be more than just a one-year rental for the Canucks if brought in. This is certainly a major plus for the Canucks in a potential trade. However, it would also make the cost to acquire Zacha quite high.
Canucks Among Teams Linked to Zacha
The Fourth Period reported on their Summer Trade Watch List that Vancouver is linked to Zacha. Given their need for a legitimate top-six center, this is entirely understandable. Zacha is one of the top centers on the trade market right now, so he is exactly the kind of player the Canucks make a serious push for.
If the Canucks acquired Zacha, he would be an upgrade over Filip Chytil for their second-line center spot. Furthermore, due to his strong two-way play, he would work on both Vancouver’s power play and penalty kill.
With all the firepower the Canucks lost at center, acquiring Zacha would be great for them. He could be the kind of addition that helps the Canucks get back into the playoffs. Thus, the fit could be excellent between both sides.
Why Canucks Could Acquire Zacha With This Trade Offer
Zacha is a proven top-six forward with a good contract. Because of this, the Bruins are going to expect a significant trade offer to consider moving him. The Canucks offering their 2026 first-round pick and Räty could be enough to get the job done.
With the Bruins possessing one of the NHL’s weakest prospect pools, they could use more first-round picks. Thus, the Canucks offering the Bruins a first-round pick for Zacha would be a strong starting point.
Yet, the Canucks adding Räty to the deal could be what helps make this trade go through. He is one of the Canucks’ most promising young forwards who has plenty of potential. This would make him a great fit on a Bruins club that needs more skilled centers. Parting ways with a young forward like Räty would carry some risk for Vancouver. Yet, it would be worth it if it means acquiring a consistent 20-goal and 50-point threat like Zacha.
Michael DeRosa Michael covers the NHL for Heavy.com. He has professionally covered the NHL since 2017 and has written for other publications like The Hockey News, BetMGM, Athlon Sports, and The Hockey Writers. More about Michael DeRosa
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