Given their limited cap flexibility, the Bruins were going to have to be creative this summer in order to significantly augment their roster.
And sure enough, it looks as though Boston is upgrading its middle-six forward corps while maximizing the value of one of its lineup regulars.
Just an hour ahead of the start of free agency, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that the Bruins traded for Devils forward Pavel Zacha — with TSN’s Chris Johnston adding that Boston is sending Erik Haula to New Jersey in return.
Zacha, 25, posted 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) in 70 games with the Devils last season — and closes out his tenure in New Jersey with 179 points over 386 games. Zacha, who can play both center and left wing, is due for a pay raise this summer as a restricted free agent.
Haula, who has one more year left on his deal with a cap hit of $2.375 million, was a solid pickup for Boston last season — stepping into the void left by David Krejci at the 2C spot and driving play next to David Pastrnak and Taylor Hall. Haula recorded 39 points over his 52 games with Boston, although his production dried up during the B’s first-round exit against the Hurricanes.
BSJ Analysis:
We’ll see what other dominoes are set to fall in the next hour or so, but IF Zacha is brought in with the expectation of serving as a bottom-six regular, there’s a lot to like about this move for Boston.
If you’re the Bruins, moving Haula (a guy who, at the very least, seems capable of driving play between Pastrnak and Hall) doesn’t seem like a wise move unless you have some clarity regarding your top-six centers for next season.
Granted, it does seem like Boston is still waiting for both Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci’s decisions — but if both veterans do indeed return for the 2022-23 campaign, a player like Haula is expendable, and would make sense as a trade chip for Boston given his strong production last season.
In Zacha, the Bruins have a forward that, while perhaps not living up to his high draft selection (sixth overall) back in 2015, could be a useful cog for Boston — especially if he’s slotted on a third line next to other capable NHL regulars like Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith.
Zacha, at a minimum, should hover around 30-35 points a season, and has a pretty established track record of strong D-zone play and PK prowess. His finishing ability has often left a bit to be desired, but the 6-foot-3 skater is very smooth and effective in the transition game — ranking in the 99th percentile of entry possession rates, 94th percentile of exit possession rates and the 97th percentile of rush assists last season.
If Zacha is the go-to guy on a line with Coyle/Smith when it comes to jumpstarting plays down the other end of the ice with breakout passes or drives through the neutral zone, it should make things easier for a volume shooter like Smith and a puck-possession pivot like Coyle to get to work in the O-zone and play to their strengths.
At first glance, this seems to be a pretty crafty move from Don Sweeney and the Bruins: acquiring a younger, middle-six cog in exchange for a veteran who raised his stock on a line with all-world talent, but isn’t exactly part of Boston’s long-term plans.
However, until we get more details — be it Zacha’s new contract or the status of Bergeron/Krejci — we’ll hold off on etching our grades in permanent ink.