What should the Bruins do with Pavel Zacha?

Earlier this week, Daily Faceoff managing editor Matt Larkin shared his updated NHL Trade Board. The names you would expect at the top of the list were there: Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin, defenseman Simon Edvinsson and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov.

But further down the list was Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha, a pending unrestricted free agent who going into Saturday had five goals and nine assists for 14 points. With a cap hit of $4.75 million, the 29-year-old Czech may be one of the league’s most sought-after options as we inch closer to next March’s Trade Deadline.

On Thursday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton are joined by Larkin to discuss the Bruins’ center group and if Zacha will remain with the team beyond this season.

Carter Hutton: When I look at your trade board, there’s one name that stands out: Pavel Zacha.

No one really saw the Bruins’ success in the Atlantic Division, and now you’re in a situation where they have cap space, they have a first-round pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Where do you go from here? Is he a piece you hold on to? Or are you better to get rid of him and go with the crop you have?

Matt Larkin: It’s really tough because obviously he has that chemistry with David Pastrnak on the first line and the Bruins are competitive, but I think Zacha has played his way out of Boston. I think the center market is him and Morgan Frost, but Frost doesn’t want to leave the Calgary Flames.

In terms of looking at the UFA board in 2027, Zacha is going to get overpaid. He’s got the size. He’s still in his prime. But I do think a lot of his numbers recently are unsustainable. His shooting percentage last year gave him a 30-goal season. It’s not what he’s going to be every year.

If you look at the Bruins, you have Fraser Minten and you’ve already committed to him, and he’s looking great. You have James Hagens, who I think eventually is going to move to center permanently. He’s showing so much promise before he go hurt. But you can forecast long term that these will eventually be your top-two centers … or maybe it’s Dylan Larkin …

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…