It’s time for a second helping of NHL rumours for your Sunday. Things are heating up as we near the NHL trade deadline on March 3. General managers are trying to make sense of things in the flat-cap era. Cap space is tight, but executives don’t want to lose out on some key players. Today’s NHL rumours takes a look at the Boston Bruins possibly nearing a new David Pastrnak contract.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
David Pastrnak Contract Could Be Coming
Rumour: Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada Headlines segment that the Czech forward may be in line to get that coveted extension. Friedman made sure to be very cautious about going all-in about the two sides making a deal. The Sportsnet insider did say that progress has been made, but wouldn’t go into deal about how much. It’s not the first time talk of a David Pastrnak contract has been featured in our NHL rumours.
HNIC 32 Thoughts: Canucks/Boudreau, Tocchet, Adam Foote/Horvat/Kane & Toews/Pastrnak/Gavrikov/Jansen Harkins & Riley Damiani — https://t.co/OluiY5LIQ9
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 22, 2023
Pastrnak is in the final year of a deal that sees him make nearly $6.7 million per season. The 26-year-old already has 35 goals so far this campaign and it looks like he won’t stop barring injury. Boston general manager Don Sweeney knows that there are plenty of teams that would throw a lot of money at the veteran goalscorer. Getting Pastrnak off the free agent market before he can hit it would be a major win.
What a David Pastrnak Contract Means
The Bruins will have to make some tough financial decisions this coming off-season. Boston did sign Pavel Zacha to a four-year contract that will see him get $4.75 million per season starting next year. Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci will both have their respective deals coming up along with players like Craig Smith, Connor Clifton and Jeremy Swayman. (The latter is a restricted free agent for the Bruins.) However, Bergeron and Krejci could be willing to take low-money deals to keep the band together. Krejci is currently making $1 million in a team-friendly deal for the B’s.
It’s unknown how much the cap will go up, but there are early indicators that it’s only going to $1 million like it’s been the last few seasons. The Bruins will have to juggle some contracts if they want to make Pastrnak and other key players fit. However, losing “Pasta” would be a major blow to the league’s best team so far this season.
