The Boston Bruins opened training camp ahead of their 2026-27 NHL campaign this week, and general manager Don Sweeney addressed a multitude of topics while speaking to the media Wednesday.
One centered on veteran forward Pavel Zacha, who broke out with career highs of 30 goals and 65 points across 78 regular-season games in 2025-26.
The 29-year-old is one of only two forwards in Boston's top six without a contract beyond this season.
âÂÂOngoing communication with representation,â Sweeney told reporters, including Boston Sports Journal's Joe Haggerty. âÂÂHaven't found a landing spot, but we know the importance of Pav to our hockey club, and we would like to be able to have him come back. So we'll continue to talk. He's a big part of our organization and our commitment to winning. Hopefully, we find a landing spot.âÂÂ
Zacha is one of the team's most versatile forwards. He plays a key role on the top power-play unit, recording 11 goals and 22 points with the man advantage last season. He also won 53.3 percent of his faceoffs while providing strong two-way hockey.
He was a key reason the Bruins climbed from last place in the Atlantic Division in 2024-25 to fourth â and a playoff berth â in 2025-26. Although the campaign ended in disappointment with a six-game loss to the Buffalo Sabres in Round 1, the B's will be looking to secure postseason hockey for a second consecutive year.
Article Continues BelowZacha is one of Boston's top options at center alongside Elias Lindholm, and the two could interchange between the 1C and 2C roles this season. The Czech native is entering the final year of the four-year, $19 million contract he signed in January 2023.
Boston signed Fraser Minten to a seven-year, $50.4 million contract earlier this summer, and he and James Hagens could eventually become foundational pieces of the Bruins' forward corps.
But Zacha remains one of the most important players on the roster, and locking him up long term would give the club critical stability and flexibility down the middle over the next several years.
The Bruins open their preseason against the Washington Capitals on Sunday before beginning the regular season against the New York Rangers at TD Garden on Sept. 29.

