Bruins Predicted to Secure Zacha in $59.5 Million Deal
Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic forecasts a seven-year extension for Pavel Zacha, valued at $8.5 million annually, as Boston looks to build on its unexpected playoff appearance.
Boston Bruins insider Fluto Shinzawa has predicted that the organisation will sign centreman Pavel Zacha to a seven-year contract extension worth $59.5 million. The deal, which carries an average annual salary of $8.5 million, is expected to be finalised when Zacha becomes eligible to sign on 1 July.
Shinzawa, writing for The Athletic and reported via NESN and Yahoo Sports, suggests that Zacha is opting for security and familiarity rather than testing free agency in 2027. The prediction indicates that the centreman is willing to lock in long-term stability with the Bruins, even if he is not considered a primary play-driving pivot.
The proposed extension would formally secure Zacha’s role on the team’s No. 1 line, No. 1 power-play unit, and penalty-killing unit. Shinzawa described Zacha as a reliable centre who has demonstrated greater confidence in his finishing touch after breaking the 30-goal threshold for the first time during the 2025-26 season.
During the 2025-26 campaign, Zacha recorded 30 goals and 35 assists for 65 points across 78 games. His performance contributed to a season where the Bruins made the playoffs, a notable achievement given that the team had been sellers at the trade deadline the previous year.
The Bruins are now looking to build on this recent playoff appearance to achieve a deeper run in the upcoming season. Shinzawa noted that an average salary of $8.5 million for Zacha seems fair and likely would result in the deal being completed, providing the team with its No. 1 centreman for the foreseeable future.
