Don Sweeney has made it clear that he is open to trade. The Boston Bruins general manager wants to add to a roster that lasted six games against the Buffalo Sabres in Round 1 of the 2026 playoffs. To this point, however, Sweeney’s desire to deal has not led to action. It could be because he has limited options to exercise.According to one hockey operations executive, granted anonymity to discuss players not on his employer’s roster, one of the Bruins’ most significant assets is a player Sweeney classified as an extension candidate: Pavel Zacha. In the current market, the executive identified the return for the 29-year-old center as multiple draft picks, including a possible first-rounder, and a roster player.The issue is how hesitant the Bruins would be to let Zacha go. He checks multiple boxes, primarily as the club’s No. 2 goal scorer in 2025-26 after Morgan Geekie. Part of sinking 30 goals was his career-high 22.9 shooting percentage. But Zacha fulfills many other responsibilities besides scoring goals for the Bruins, including serving as an occasional center for David Pastrnak. It would not make No. 88 happy to see Zacha get traded.How to win a Stanley Cup without superstarsHarman DayalEven if the Bruins fetch a 2026 first-rounder as part of Zacha’s return, futures would not improve the team’s short-term fortunes. Any roster player coming back for Zacha would be of the complementary nature, not a top-six multi-position forward. Perhaps the only reason Sweeney would consider trading Zacha is the concern of his upcoming contract. He has one year remaining at $4.75 million annually. Zacha’s floor would be $8 million per season, especially considering the $7.75 million average annual value the Bruins granted Elias Lindholm two summers ago. How much the Bruins would be willing to pay Zacha is unknown, as is what he’s seeking.