It’s been a month since Darren Dreger reported that extension talks between the Bruins and David Pastrnak were “heating up,” and nearly three weeks since Pastrnak and general manager Don Sweeney told us that the two sides were talking nearly every day.
Yet, there has still not been a deal reached. So, where do things stand now? Sweeney was asked Thursday night if there was any update, and said that he continues to talk to Pastrnak’s agent, J.P. Barry, “almost every day.”
“J.P. and I talk almost every day, as Pasta references,” Sweeney said. “Just trying to find the common ground, and hopefully we get to a point that we can announce, but we’re not there. Other than the appetites that I referenced, communication has been good. Just haven’t found the end point yet.”
Then on Friday, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun offered up a new report that Bruins fans won’t like hearing. According to LeBrun, there are “still some sizeable gaps in position” and negotiations could continue to be “a grind.” LeBrun adds that Pastrnak wants to stay put, but suggests that there’s some disagreement over what would be fair money.
That’s not really super reassuring. The Filip Forsberg extension that he references didn’t get finalized until after this past season, just days before Forsberg was set to hit free agency. The Bruins would really prefer to not have to cut it that close.
There still have not been any reports regarding exactly where the Bruins and Pastrnak are on finances. It seems like a fairly safe bet that the Bruins would be willing to at least go to the eight years, $9.5 million per year that they gave Charlie McAvoy last year. It would be concerning if they weren’t.
There have been some notable big-money deals for forwards since the summer that have reset the market a bit:
Johnny Gaudreau: 7 years, $9.75M AAV
Matthew Tkachuk: 8 years, $9.5M AAV
Jonathan Huberdeau: 8 years, $10.5M AAV
Nathan MacKinnon: 8 years, $12.6M AAV
Mathew Barzal: 8 years, $9.15M AAV
Pastrnak isn’t getting the MacKinnon contract, which is the richest in the salary cap era. He can justifiably seek more than Gaudreau, Tkachuk and Barzal, though. Something in the Huberdeau range, or even a little higher, seems fair.
Pastrnak’s value certainly isn’t going down as this season plays out. He is currently tied with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl for the NHL lead in points with six goals and nine assists in eight games.
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