The Devils are receiving some interest in forward Pavel Zacha, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports in his latest 32 Thoughts column. The 24-year-old is on pace for a career season offensively and has 22 points in 45 games this season while splitting time between center and the wing. New Jersey’s top two spots down the middle are more or less set for the better part of the next decade so it’s certainly understandable why some teams may be sniffing around. Zacha has one season of RFA eligibility remaining and will be able to file for arbitration this summer. He’s subject to the old rule for qualifying offers which means his $3MM salary is what he’ll need to be offered to maintain his rights.
More from the Metropolitan:
- The Blue Jackets have brought back Craig Hartsburg, he revealed in a podcast for the team’s website (audio link). Hartsburg spent parts of six seasons in Columbus over two separate stints, spending time as both an assistant coach and a scout. Now, he’ll work with the team roughly once a month for a week at a time. The 62-year-old has plenty of NHL coaching experience and has stints as the head coach in Chicago, Anaheim, and Ottawa in the past.
- Penguins center Evgeni Malkin is officially listed as a game-time decision for Sunday’s game against New Jersey but he is expected to return, notes Mike DeFabo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He was placed in COVID protocol just after the All-Star break and it appears he won’t be missing any more time than the minimum five days. Between that and injuries, the pending UFA has played in just a dozen games this season although he has been productive when he has played, notching 13 points.
Zacha to the Preds makes sense to me. Fits the mold of their team and played under Hynes before.