Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt are getting interest, including some Canadian teams, but the Bruins aren’t ready to move them yet
James Murphy of RG Media: A source said the Boston Bruins are getting calls from teams interested in Pavel Zacha, and the Vancouver Canucks are one of those teams.
“I know the Canucks really want him.”
Elliotte Friedman confirmed that on Headlines on Saturday, stating that talks have gone back and forth since the offseason.
Another source said that while they are listening to calls for Zacha, Casey Mittelstadt and others, they are not starting the season yet, it is too early.
“They’re certainly listening to Zacha, Mittelstadt and other players, but it’s more about knowing what their options are if they’re out of the playoff race before Thanksgiving or New Year’s,” the source told RG. “The management and coaching staff have let the players know that they still believe in them, so we’ll see where this goes.”
The source said one player the Bruins could look at on the Canucks roster is defenseman Victor Mancini, who the Canucks acquired from the New York Rangers in the JT Miller trade.
The Calgary Flames made inquiries about Zacha this offseason and are looking for offensive help. The Flames are also struggling and may go into selling mode instead of buying mode.
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Another source said the Edmonton Oilers could be a good fit for Zacha and center the third line. The Bruins and Oilers came together for two trades last season.
The magazine with Jeff Marek: David Pagnotta on Boston Bruins forwards/centers Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt, and the trade rumors surrounding them.
“There are two guys who, I mean, no, are not strangers to the rumor mill. Their names were known last season. Middelstadt was obviously bouncing around. But Zacha, in the same situation, he, his name popped up around the deadline. His name popped up again in the summer.”
They both have two years left on their contract. Mittelstadt has a no-trade list that goes into effect on July 1. Zacha has, I don’t remember, I think it’s an eight or 10 team list, something along those lines, in terms of a no-trade list. But he’s at $4.75 million AAV, Mittelstadt at $5.75 (million).
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Depending on how long this, this little slump they’re in, lasts, I think we’ll hear their names pop up a little more regularly throughout the season, honestly. Because these are two guys that I think Boston is willing to explore further.
Mittelstadt, I’m going to sell the versatility there because he can play center. He now plays on the wing. But you know, mainly because of that cap hit, Zacha is the one that I think some teams will be looking at.
And I wonder what Vancouver is like there. I also mentioned this this week here on the network, about Vancouver’s search for a center and how they have explored interest and looked around for Zacha in the past. That could be a target for them. Also, again, a lower AAV overall, at 4.75, which is pretty, nice, pretty palatable for a lot of teams looking for centers.
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