Bruins forward may force Boston to commit to a long-term deal.

The Boston Bruins have a good problem on their hands.

After two good seasons with the Bruins 20-year-old forward David Pastrnak is currently playing one of the National Hockey League's best young forwards and fortunately for him it's happening during what is a contract year for him.

Coming into this season most would have predicted that the Bruins and Pastrnak would battle over the terms of a bridge deal this summer, put at his current point a game pace he may be forcing the Bruins to consider a more long-term commitment. Pastrnak has 13 goals and 4 assists for 17 points in 17 games this season, and some like the Boston Globe's Fluto Shinzawa believes the Bruins need to act:

The bridge deal that he once looked likely to receive will not be necessary. His 17-game segment has provided enough evidence that he is now a grown-up and worthy of being paid long-term like one.

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While he may fall short of the $6 million annual threshold set by some of his older peers, Pastrnak deserves at least five years of additional service via his next contract. He would be the first forward from the Class of 2014 to sign a second contract.

The Bruins just committed long to term to Pastrnak's linemante Brad Marchand, and locking him now up for the long-term could solidify their forward core for the foreseeable future while also saving them some money down the line.