On the first day of training camp with the Boston Bruins, forward David Pastrnak’s contract situation caught the eye on Wednesday.
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The 26-year-old marksman will sign a six-year, $40 million deal this season and could become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
General manager Don Sweeney wants to avoid this scenario at all costs, it seems.
“Our goal is to get him to sign a new contract and make him a Bruin for life,” he said at a news conference.
“We are in talks and I intend to continue in talks. In an ideal world, I want us to come to an agreement as soon as possible.
Last Friday, Pastrnak hinted that he had essentially the same goal as his GM.
“This city gave me a chance to become the player that I am, the person that I am,” he said in particular. The Boston organization played a big role for me. I was a boy when I arrived and now I’m a man. So I’m very happy about that. […] It’s an honor to wear this shirt.”
Last year, the Czech-born scored 40 goals and provided 37 assists for 77 points in 72 games. It was the second time in his career that he had scored at least 40 goals in a single season, breaking the 30-goal mark five times.