Bruins' Pavel Zacha to miss 2026 Olympics due to injury

The Boston forward will not compete for Team Czechia at the Winter Games in Milano Cortina.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha will not be able to represent his native Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina due to an upper-body injury that has sidelined him since the end of January. Former Ottawa Senators forward Filip Chlapik will take Zacha's place on the Czech national team.

Why it matters

Zacha, the Bruins' third-leading goal scorer this season, was looking forward to competing in the Olympics, but the injury has forced him to miss out on the opportunity to play for his home country. This is a disappointing setback for the 24-year-old forward as he continues his recovery.

The details

Zacha, the 6th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, has been a key part of the Bruins' bounce-back season, ranking third on the team with 15 goals and 22 assists in 54 games. However, the upper-body injury he suffered at the end of January will keep him from playing in the Olympics, where Czechia is scheduled to face off against powerhouse Canada in a preliminary round matchup on Feb. 12.

  • Zacha has been sidelined with an upper-body injury since the end of January 2026.
  • The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina are scheduled to take place in February 2026.

The players

Pavel Zacha

A 24-year-old center for the Boston Bruins who was set to represent Czechia in the 2026 Winter Olympics before suffering an upper-body injury.

Filip Chlapik

A former Ottawa Senators forward who will replace Zacha on the Czech national team for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

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What’s next

Zacha will now have nearly three weeks to fully recover before the Bruins resume play after the Olympic break.

The takeaway

This injury setback is a disappointing development for Zacha, who was looking forward to representing his home country of Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics. However, the Bruins will need him healthy for the stretch run as they push for a playoff spot, so this was the practical decision for all involved.