With Wednesdays news that the Edmonton Oilers signed forward Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year, $68 million contract, questions have been made about how much the Boston Bruins are going to be willing to pay young forward and restricted free agent David Pastrnak. Contract issues continue, with current speculation putting Boston’s tentative offer at six years, $36 million, the same level as Brad Marchand.
David Pastrnak Contract Issues Continue
With training camp a month away, contract talks with the young Czech are still “in a holding pattern,” according to general manager Don Sweeney. Sweeney perviously stated that signing Pastrnak was a priority for the team during the off-season, but now time is of the essence to try and reach a deal before the season starts.
When asked for comment at a charity golf tournament on Monday, Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask told the Boston Herald that he was confident that the team would reach a deal as soon as they could, stating that contract issues and negotiations are very common in the game, and that he was sure both parties will “find a solution at some point.”
Pastrnak’s idol, fellow Czech Bruin David Krejci, is signed through the 2021 season, with a no-movement clause through 2019. The fact that he will be remaining in Boston is a likely contributing factor in Pastrnak’s willingness to remain with the team.
Pastrnak’s entry-level contract, signed in 2014, was for three years at an average of $925,000 a year, with a $277,500 signing bonus. This season he had 70 points in the regular season, including six game-winning goals, putting him second on the team in points, behind Marchand.
He made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut against the Ottawa Senators, in which he scored scored two goals and two assists. In just three seasons with the team, he has proven himself to be an asset to the team’s core and a player with a promising history in front of him. Keeping him as a part of the team for as long as possible is in the Bruins best interest, and signing him before training camp needs to be a major focus of Sweeney and other team management.
Main Photo:
