A Completed Trade With The New Jersey Devils That Has Changed Things For The Boston Bruins

With the win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Bruins' prospects look a little brighter. And they have Pavel Zacha to thank, as they're tied with the Lightning in the Atlantic Division.

The Boston Bruins completed a trade that sent center Erik Haula to New Jersey, in return for Pavel Zacha.

Zacha was quick to make an impact in Boston, the last two seasons he's been a key piece in the lineup, in 2023 he scored 57 total points, and in 2024 59 total points.

Against the Lightning, he's proven more than capable of handling one of the league's toughest teams. He scored 3 points (1 G, 2 A) with a +3 and played 16:30 TOI against the Bolts.

Zacha's performance gave him a total of 24 points (10 G, 14 A) in 46 games this season with the Bruins.

He is one Bruins who has turned the corner under Joe Sacco and found his game that was missing, so early in the season.

Meanwhile, with the Devils, Haula isn't producing up to expectations as he should, with Sheldon Keefe in charge.

It looks as if GM Don Sweeney and the Boston Bruins won this one-for-one trade, as Zacha has always maintained a spot in the Bruins' lineup.

He's also been one of their reliable top-six forwards in the last two seasons under Jim Montgomery, and Joe Sacco.

Zacha luckily comes at a discount for the B's as he's in year two of a four-year deal that pays him $4.75 Million AAV.