Boston Bruins Should Extend David Pastrnak's Contract amid Trade Rumors

Nothing gold can stay, and the same goes for the Black and Gold. The Boston Bruins' core that led them to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019, where they suffered a heartbreaking loss at the hands of the St. Louis Blues in Game 7, has been slowly breaking apart.

In October 2020, after nine seasons with the Bruins, Torey Krug signed with those Cup-champion Blues. In December 2020, former captain Zdeno Chara left in free agency for the Washington Capitals, not wanting to take a diminished role. Last July, David Krejci left the NHL to return home to Czechia to play. And in February of this year, goaltender Tuukka Rask announced his retirement.

The essential remaining members include current captain Patrice Bergeron, alternate captain Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, who led the team in goals in 2021-22 with 40 and was behind only Marchand in points. Whether that trio would remain intact heading into the 2022-23 season has been a question this offseason.

General manager Don Sweeney has a big decision to make on Pastrnak's future in the Black and Gold. The 26-year-old has one year remaining on his six-year, $40 million contract and is slated to make $6.7 million this upcoming season.

Wednesday is the first day that Pastrnak is free to sign an extension with the team. But trade rumors have surrounded him ever since the Bruins bowed out of the postseason in the first round. On June 7, The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa reported that a source close to Pastrnak said there was "no chance he comes back with Sweens as GM.”

Sweeney himself signed a multiyear extension with the Bruins on June 27. The writing was on the wall when the team fired head coach Bruce Cassidy, with Sweeney slated to lead the search for his replacement.

On July 8, Sweeney told reporters he met with Pastrnak's agents, J.P. Barry and Ales Volek, in Montreal about the possibility of a contract extension, and while it "went well," the two sides did not discuss terms.

"We haven't exchanged numbers, we're just talking and being aggressive and saying we'd like David to be a lifelong Bruin," Sweeney said.

After Pastrnak tallied his 40 goals and 77 points in 72 games, one agent Shinzawa cited believes an eight-year, $68 million deal "would be fair for both parties." The Bruins, of course, have to decide what their immediate future looks like before going all-in on one last ride.

There's no question that, like the Chicago Blackhawks, the recently dominant Bruins will soon enter a full-on rebuild, with their Cup-winning veterans either traded away or retired. But that bleak future doesn't have to begin in 2022-23.

Though Bergeron is mulling retirement, recent reports suggest he's leaning toward returning for a final run at the Cup. And in a bit of news sure to lift Bruins fans spirits, Krejci and the team have been in talks about a possible return this season after he scored 20 goals and 46 points in 51 games for Olomouc HC.

The Bruins may balk at paying Pastrnak what he's worth, which is somewhere around $9 million per season. But they'll likely spend more trying to replace him in the next few years than they would to just lock him down and build around him.

Over the last five seasons, Pastrnak has led the team in goals in all but one, which was the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season in which he played just 48 games. Moreover, the Bruins aren't going to blow the whole thing up when they've got defenseman Charlie McAvoy tied into an eight-year, $76 million contract and just this year signed Hampus Lindholm to an eight-year, $52 million deal.

If the B's opt to shop Pastrnak, they hasten a rebuild that doesn't have to arrive just yet. Last season's roster wasn't perfect by any means, but it was a contender. In today's league, that's all you can ask for.

If nothing else, do it for the Dunkin' ads.