The Boston Bruins were among the teams linked to star winger Kirill Marchenko before the Columbus Blue Jackets traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Now, according to a new report, the Bruins offered one of their best players to the Blue Jackets in an attempt to land Marchenko. According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, the Bruins were open to trading top center Pavel Zacha to the Blue Jackets for Marchenko.
"His name came up in conversations between the Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets when the Bruins inquired about Kirill Marchenko," LeBrun wrote about Zacha. "It goes without saying that the Blue Jackets were smart to go the Matthew Knies route instead — getting a younger player who’s signed long-term on a great contract." With Zacha being the Bruins' best center right now, it is notable that they were open to trading him for Marchenko. They clearly liked Marchenko, and it makes sense when noting that he would have given them another star winger.
Yet, with Toronto landing Marchenko, the Bruins can forget about him. LeBrun also reported that the Bruins and Zacha are not close on a contract extension at this time. The 12-year NHL veteran is in the final season of his contract and is a pending unrestricted free agent.
Nevertheless, it will be very interesting to see what the Bruins end up doing with Zacha this season. If extension talks continue not to go well, the Bruins could very well move him by the deadline.
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