Overview

• Montreal has formally inquired about Pavel Zacha and the Flames are among other clubs to check in, according to multiple reports citing league sources.
• The Bruins are not actively shopping Zacha and are described as merely listening, with league chatter pointing to the Thanksgiving window if Boston starts poorly.
• Prospects Joshua Roy, Oliver Kapanen and defenseman Jayden Struble are repeatedly linked to Montreal’s search for a 2C, though reporting suggests Boston would require more than Struble alone.
• Analyst trade pitches, including packages featuring Arber Xhekaj and Kapanen, are speculative and not reflective of any agreed framework between the teams.
• Zacha has two years left at a $4.75 million cap hit and steady middle-six production, making him a fit for Montreal’s second-line center vacancy as the rivals weigh a swap that would be rare since their last player trade in 2001.