It was almost exactly one month ago that an article from Fluto Shinzawa in The Athletic painted a bleak picture when it came to the idea of David Pastrnak signing a long-term extension with the Bruins, with one source quoted in the story going so far as to say there was "no chance" Pastrnak would sign as long as Don Sweeney remained the general manager.
Pastrnak's agent, J.P. Barry, immediately pushed back on that report, saying that the two sides had a good relationship and would meet in July to discuss an extension. That is when they would first be allowed to do so, per NHL bylaws.
Well, it's now July. And sure enough, that meeting will indeed be happening. Speaking to reporters in Montreal ahead of the NHL Draft, Bruins president Cam Neely said Sweeney and Barry would be meeting in Montreal over the next couple days.
Even more importantly, Neely added that he feels "very positive about it."
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported over the weekend that the Bruins have made it clear they want to sign Pastrnak to an extension, but added that "if there's any hesitation on the player's part, they'll do what's necessary." That would likely mean trading Pastrnak, who is entering the final year of his contract, as the Bruins would not want to risk losing him for nothing next summer.
That would obviously be the worst-case scenario for the Bruins, but it's one that had to be considered, especially in the wake of The Athletic's report. Neely's optimism serves as a bit of a counterweight.
Pastrnak himself has not said anything on the record that would indicate that he doesn't want to sign an extension. In the days after the season, he said he hadn't yet given much thought to a new contract.
