Pavel Zacha: not an ideal second center for the Canadiens, according to Pierre McGuire

Dose
Crédit: PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 13: Pavel Zacha #18 of the Boston Bruins skates during the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 13, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)

At this point, we know that the Canadiens have their sights set on Pavel Zacha. But that doesn’t mean he’s the ideal target for the Montreal club in 2025. In fact, Pierre McGuire believes that, while he’s a good player, he’s not the right fit for the Canadiens, who are looking for a true second center.

In fact, Jimmy Murphy agrees. They talked about it on The Sick Podcast – The Eye Test. Why? Because even if Zacha has the qualities of a center, he’s more comfortable on the wing. He’s not necessarily a natural top-6 center. It’ salso worth mentioning that Murphy, on Tony Marinaro’s Sick Podcast last night, reminded us that Zacha excelled as a third center when Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci were still in Boston.

In an ideal world, there are two centers ahead of him – if he plays center, that is.[content-ads]

Does this mean he couldn’t become the center the Canadiens need (should Kent Hughes ever pick him up) in time? It’s hard to say.Playing with Ivan Demidov can help a guy develop,but it’s worth mentioning that there are doubts about who could be traded soon. Why soon? Because, if Boston isn’t in the running, it’s better to let Zacha go quickly and move down the standings… But also because, at the deadline, he might not be the best center on the market, and attention could be directed elsewhere. #SidneyCrosby[spacer title=’Overtime’]-

– Good question.

– Of course.

– Interesting.

– Of note: