Pastrnak understands the business side of the NHL
by Greg Dudek 10 hours ago
In the blink of an eye, Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno became opponents of Boston Bruins star forward David Pastrnak’s teammates.
The Bruins made their first big move of the offseason Monday, trading Hall and Foligno to the Chicago Blackhawks for defensemen Alec Regula and Ian Mitchell, who used to have a connection to head coach Jim Montgomery. Boston also made another trade after dealing the two forwards.
Pastrnak understood that trading is part of the nature of the NHL, but it’s always hard to say goodbye to the close bond he had with Hall and Foligno.
“It’s definitely hard to imagine when friends are walking away,” Pastrnak said ahead of the NHL awards ceremony, according to The Boston Globe reporter’s Jim McBride. “It’s hard, they were close friends, but you know, we all know what kind of business this is. This kind of thing happens in hockey and it’s unfortunate for the friendship relationship, but we all understand and we all know this is business. But we’ll remain friends, so let’s hope they’re okay.”
A big part of the deal for the Bruins was getting relief from internationals. Hall, who struggled with injuries last season and had 16 goals and 20 assists for 36 points, has a base salary of $6.3 million for the upcoming season and his four-year, $24 million contract, according to Spotrac. he signed with Boston 2021 does not expire until 2025.
Montgomery, who won Monday’s Jack Adams Award, reacted to the trade in a similar way to Pastrnak.
“My reaction is that it’s time to move forward,” Montgomery told reporters, according to McBride. “It’s time to focus on next year. And you know, we lost two really good players. But we knew that if they weren’t, a few other players would be, because that’s the way business and the world works, right, in hockey? Now we are happy.”
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images