Bruins and Devils lock up in trade just before free agency opening

This trade might be one of the first dominoes falling for the New Jersey Devils. TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that the Devils are trading Pavel Zacha to the Boston Bruins, just an hour prior to the opening of free agency.

Zacha is a restricted free agent that had been getting trade interest from several teams. In the transaction, Erik Haula leaves the Bruins to head to New Jersey, per insider Chris Johnston. 

The move comes as chatter gets louder that the Devils will attempt to sign star forward Johnny Gaudreau, who informed the Calgary Flames last night he would test free agency. 

It is no secret that Gaudreau is looking to head back to the East Coast. He owns a home on the Jersey Shore, and his wife and his family have ties to the region, so he seems like a natural fit for the Devils, who would do anything to get a player like him for a quick rebuild.

Zacha put up 15 goals and 36 points in 70 games this past season. He is coming off a three-year contract at an $2,250,000 M AAV in Jersey. 

As for Haula, the 31-year-old forward has one season remaining on a two-year, $4.75 million contract ($2.375 average annual value) he signed with the Bruins on July 28, 2021. He had 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in 61 regular-season games for the Bruins last season and three points (one goal, two assists) in seven playoff games.