One team is rolling right now and that is the Boston Bruins. They sit at the top of the league standings with 12 points and have defied the odds with critical members out with injuries. Reinforcements have been on the way as Matt Grzelcyk and Brad Marchand have returned to the ice. While things have been great on the ice, there are things off the ice that need to be taken care of. Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak needs a new contract and talks are still going.
NHL Rumor: David Pastrnak Still In Extension Talks
Rumor: Pierre Lebrun talks about David Pastrnak and the Boston Bruins still have ongoing talks. Money still remains a factor.
Dialogue continues between the Pastrnak camp and the B’s. But my reading is that there are still some sizeable gaps in position. This could be a grind of a negotiation like we saw with Forsberg/Preds, which went to the wire. In each case, player wants to stay put, but what’s fair $$$..
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 28, 2022
If there is one priority on Don Sweeney’s list it is to sign David Pastrnak. He is due for a hefty pay raise north of the $6.6 million dollars he is making. It was a bargain at the time and still is today, but this go-round he will be making more. A comparable mentioned above is Filip Forsberg. It was a grind of a contract, but it got done, and now he is locked in with the Nashville Predators for eight years with a cap hit of $8.5 million per season.
How Pastrnak Compares
If Sweeney is looking at the Forsberg contract as a place to start, it is not a bad idea. Both players became full-time NHL players at the same time (2014-15) and have been crucial to their respective teams. Forsberg had a career year in his contract year (42 goals, 42 assists, 84 points). But Pastrnak has been one of the most productive players over the last five seasons.
Over the last five seasons, Pastrnak ranks 11th in total points (316). In addition to that, he has scored the fifth most goals over that time span (152). Pastrnak has hit the 40-goal mark twice compared to Forsberg (once). He has also hit the 30-goal mark three times. Pastrnak also got the 90-point mark once, and the 80-point mark twice. All in all, the situations compare based on how talks are going, but Pastrnak has been far more the superior player compared to Forsberg.
Why Pastrnak Is Worth The Pay
Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak is worth the pay. It could end up being something similar to Forsberg and closer to the Jonathan Huberdeau contract he signed with the Calgary Flames. With the futures of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci uncertain beyond this season, a deal with Pastrnak must be done. As the team forms the next wave of Boston Bruins hockey, Pastrnak is the building block for the present and the future.
And like Forsberg, he is performing in his career year as he is tied for the league lead in points with 15.
Let’s try to recap:
Patrice Bergeron | 🚨🍎🍎
David Pastrnak | 🍎🍎🍎
Brad Marchand | 🚨🚨
Jake DeBrusk | 🚨🍎
Matt Grzelcyk | 🚨🍎
Marc McLaughlin | 🚨
Erik Haula | 🚨
Taylor Hall | 🚨
Charlie McAvoy | 🍎
Trent Frederic | 🍎
Mike Reilly | 🍎
Hampus Lindholm | 🍎 pic.twitter.com/RR17LBSi9p— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 1, 2022